Powerful Presentations. Jacques Waisvisz
Powerful Presentations
The Speakers’ Coach
JACQUES WAISVISZ
Copyright 2014 Jacques Waisvisz,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-2108-7
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to:
•my wife, Martine, who believes in me,
•my children, Sarah and David,
•Toastmasters International, and
•all first time speakers who have accepted the challenge
to stand up and be heard!
Jacques Waisvisz
June 24, 1995
FOREWORD BY DENIS CAUVIER
“Your personal success is likely to be determined not by what you know,
but how well you communicate what you know.”
Lisbeth Weiss
Many books have been written on the subject of public speaking. Often these voluminous books have been composed with the aspiring professional speaker in mind. However, most people do not want to become professional speakers. They just want to be able to address an audience, when required, and to deliver a presentation with grace, humour and confidence.
But most people are afraid! A study conducted by Reader’s Digest and Yale University has, for twelve years in a row, concluded that the number one fear amongst 75 per cent of North Americans is the fear of speaking in front of a group of people. Why do we have this fear of speaking in public?
“Powerful Presentations” answers that question and suggests ways to overcome that fear. The book takes the reader through eight easy steps to write a presentation and eight secrets to present with power and confidence.
This practical book on public speaking will help students, managers, executives and, in fact, everyone to communicate with an audience in a competent manner.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
When I first visited the Ottawa Carlingwood Toastmasters Club, in 1978, I had little idea why I was there. I knew that I had to do something about my shyness, which had developed since immigrating to Canada from Holland. You see, I had become self-conscious about the way I spoke English and someone suggested Toastmasters to me!
The first meeting was a real eye-opener! I discovered that I was not the only person afraid to speak in front of a group and that, in fact, there were many other people interested in learning better speaking, listening and leadership skills. I had plenty of company - - I was not alone. In any one year, Toastmasters International attracts an average of 170,000 members, world-wide, who enjoy the benefits this organization offers to those who accept the challenge.
It took half a year before I gained enough courage to make my first speech. But I did not stop there! I participated in speech contests, winning some, losing others. I conducted seminars in Canada, the USA and Europe, on communications and related subjects and received the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) accreditation. In 1991, I was elected District Governor for District 61, the only Canadian bilingual district in Toastmasters International.
Today, I make my living conducting seminars and delivering keynote speeches on communication and other life-enrichment skills. It all started with that first step, in 1978, when I attended a meeting of the Carlingwood Toastmasters Club.
Enterprises, both large and small, corporations, organizations and government departments are realizing important benefits by ensuring that the appropriate corporate and personal image is projected by their executives and employees during public appearances. My “Image Making” seminars teach participants how to project “their” personal and corporate image through enhanced visual- and verbal communication skills - skills that can be learned with a little effort and practice.
When I began looking for material to build these seminars, I found that most books on presentation skills were written with the aspiring professional speaker in mind. There seemed to be a void in the market for people who would like to enjoy the process of delivering an occasional speech in a competent manner, or give workshops once in a while. I also found that there are hardly any books that are useful to students who are asked to make presentations by their teachers or for students wishing to participate in speech contests... and win!
Therefore, I wrote “Powerful Presentations”. I do not claim to have originated any of the material that I share with you in this book. The skills you will learn have been practiced by many speakers before me. This book is based on the accumulation of material through many years of reading, studying, going to seminars and conferences, in my search for ideas and methods that work for most people. The result is before you. The essence of presentation techniques boiled down to simple and effective formulas that everyone can understand and use.
Jacques Waisvisz
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am deeply grateful to the many people who have helped me reach my goal of becoming a professional speaker.
First, I wish to thank my mentors in Toastmasters International who have evaluated my speeches throughout the years.
Special thanks must go to two Past District Governors of Toastmasters’ District 61. Ray Swanson DTM (1990-1991) suggested some exciting changes to the manuscript. Without the special editing touches of Jane Stuart DTM (1992-1993) “Powerful Presentations” would not be a reality today.
Many thanks, also, are due to Martine, my wife, who proof read the many manuscripts - and who continued to believe in me!
I also want to thank Jim York, who helped me put my thoughts in proper order at a critical time in my life and Denis, of Denis L. Cauvier Seminars who was a guiding light through the first few difficult months of my full-time speaking career. He helped me to concentrate on the importance of doing “first things first”.
I have included some proverbs and maxims in the book. A few of them are mine; some are partly mine; some are borrowed. I have given credit to the authors, wherever possible.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS BOOK?
Here is a list of benefits that you can expect to gain, if you study this book carefully, follow the suggestions and participate in all the exercises to be found in the appendix.
01. Self confidence and self esteem
02. Ability to construct a speech
03. Ability to deliver a speech effectively to audiences
04. Development of listening skills
05. Graceful acceptance of criticism
06. Skills to give positive feedback, rather than criticism
07. Greater leadership skills
08. More effective contribution to meetings
09. Career advancement
10. Social grace