Verbal Crutches

How many of us have heard a great speech given with hands in the pockets? Doesn’t happen.

So, these are the little tips that I am hoping to pass on. Today, the big problem with presentations are what we call verbal crutches. Does anyone know what we mean by verbal crutches? It is like saying “like”? I’m not going to mention any names, I’m going to use my name, but this is a speech that I heard:
“Hi, I’m, umm, Ernie Boxall, and, uh, the company is, uh, ErnieSaid, and, uh, I, umm, I mentor businesses, umm, in, uh, small businesses in helping them to increase their, umm, uh, …” I’m sorry. I’m not going to use you. Not as a Business Mentor, if you are putting those “umm’s”, “uh’s”, and “ah’s” in. And that really just comes down to the practice or comes down to “?” the nerves.

They can be defeated the more you do it, hopefully, the more confident you become. So what are the benefits of getting the 4 P’s right?

• Apart from more business?

• It increases your testimonials.

• It increases your referrals.

• It increases the number of people who at least want to have a one-to-one with you. Because in the room of 20, 30, 40, 50 people, you have stood in front of have been educated.

  I am with a networking group where there there is no exclusivity.. As many people can come in from your trade as possible. I like that. There’s no exclusivity. Because if another wellbeing instructor comes in, it means I’ve really got to be on my game. Whereas if you go to a networking meeting that’s exclusive, there’s a tendency to give the same speech so that when somebody stands up, you already know what they’re going to say.
  
  That’s OK, if you change it after 2 months. But if you don’t, how many of us fall asleep? So what are the other sort of pitfalls that I’ve seen that you might want to take notice of? Have you ever been to a network meeting where the person speaking has started to say “I’m Ernie Boxall of ErnieSaid, we are a company working in Coventry, … “ They told you their name, and their company, as they’re walking away from you. They are so keen to get to this podium, and to get away from the podium, that they’ve started before they got there.
  
  That’s a big no, no for me. It’s also what I call the Rabbit in the Headlights. You start to talk to one person. Because the person’s in the front row. You start to talk to them, your voice is only just strong enough. if you’ve not got a speaker, make sure you do not stand “?” and have your back to people, because I guarantee within 10 seconds all the people behind you will have switched off. Make sure your position is somewhere where everyone can see you.

  Want your deep dive into presentations, contact me at ernie@erniesaid.info