I’m often asked who some of my favorite presenters are. Steve Jobs is always one that I mention. Here’s why:
1. Always conversational

2. He took 100% of his personality into each and every presentation. Steve, the presenter, was the same Steve you would meet on the street.

3.His PowerPoint slides were incredibly vivid and simple

4.He usually had some sort of creative surprise for the audience: pulling a floppy disk out of his pocket as though he were a magician, sitting on a living room chair as he was demonstrating the iPad…..

5.He cared – through his voice and through his expression, there was no doubt in your mind that he really cared about the products, the message. He was authentic. He had charisma.

6.He spoke in everyday language. He left the techno-babble behind.

7.He dressed in a way that reflected his style: simple and different.

8.He was always well-organized and often used a numbered list for his organization. I am a great fan of lists.

9.Steve used the stage freely – took up space and addressed all sections of his audience.

10.He always exuded pride in his products and his company. His vocal inflection and facial expression gave us a clear picture of his feelings.

Steve was one of the very best role models for business presenters. He was an iPresenter. Just like his iproducts. He was one of a kind.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

Does everyone want a Bulldog?

I am very excited today, because I have just finished an enormous project. I’ve just shipped (well-emailed) my popular Sales Presentations Training Camp to Ireland. Soon it will become available to the other Certified Instructors in the US and around the World. I really enjoyed plunging into the depths of sales and researching the question,”why do people buy?”.

There is one secret that pops out – people buy for their reasons, not yours. So the key is to ask the #1 question: “What are your top-two priorities for choosing this product/service?” Then, in an interactive discussion, address those top-two priorities. Sounds simple, and it is.

Think about why you bought your last car. Was it because it was sporty? Fast? Great reputation? Big enough for your family of 5? Safety record? Ideal for hauling the boat? These are all very distinctive reasons. As a great salesperson, you need to unlock the buyer’s top-two priorities. My top two priorities in buying my last car were: a car dealership with a service center no more than 20 miles from my home (I live in a rural area), and a car that would be big enough for my 2 dogs and agility gear for competitions. The salesperson that keyed in on my needs received my business.

Does everyone want a Bulldog? Thinking that someone might want your product or service could be that farfetched…until you ask that person the magic question: What are your top-two priorities?

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

1. Practice going from a low level of energy to a high level. Think of something that you do not like (maybe you don’t like cats), and practice speaking about that topic in a very flat, soft, uninteresting voice. Then think of something that you are wild about (maybe a certain sports car). Speak about it in a very loud, energetic voice with lots of inflection and expression. Now go back to the cats…. then to the sports car…. then back to the cats. What you will be experiencing is a “texture” change in your message.

2. Find a sentence in a magazine, and read it with 5 different emotions: excited, bored, scared, tired, questioning. Those emotions should bring out a great vocal range.

3. Use the elements of voice change to let the audience know that you really care about the topic. Your voice has is like a radio with lots of buttons: you can change the volume, the speed, the pause button, and the frequency (high pitch, low pitch).

Release those vocal qualities. Remember that variety is key. Unleash your voice for a more memorable message.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

I am very excited to announce that the SpeakersTrainingCamp® will be coming to Washington, DC on July 9-10 and September 24-25. People have been asking me for years to do more East Coast sessions. The workshops are hosted by The Protocol School of Washington. I have been training for the School for over 15 years, and they offer world-class training in protocol and etiquette. Everything they do is fabulous, including the location, the attention to detail, and even the snacks are the best! When you attend a workshop all day and work hard – those snacks really help to maintain your energy level. Registrations are already coming in, so you will want to reserve your space right away. The SpeakersTrainingCamp® has been top-rated, hands-on, and famous for results for over 25 years. You will learn to be a fantastic and fearless presenter – and have fun doing it – guaranteed! (Can you tell I’m excited about it??)

For registration and more information, click your desired date:

July 9-10

September 24-25

Hope to see you in DC – for a great workshop, great people, and great snacks!

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

Wow! I loved the movie, The King’s Speech. The characters were rich and the story was terrific. Most of all, it reminded me of my jobs, both past and present. My degree is in Speech Therapy, and I began my career as an elementary school speech therapist. I remember working with a few stutterers, and they were always a puzzle. Some improved, and some did not. There is no known cure for stuttering.

The thing that struck me the most in the movie, however, relates to my current position – helping nervous speakers. Lionel, the speech therapist in the movie, gave the king my #1 tip on overcoming nervousness during a speech. When the King was standing by the microphone, ready to give his coronation address, Lionel gently reminded him, “Say it to me as a friend.”
Bingo! That’s it – one of the best ways to overcome nervousness in a presentation. Imagine that you are talking to a friend – in your living room or at lunch. It will help to keep you relaxed and conversational.

So the next time you are faced with a burst of anxiety, take Lionel’s advice. It really works.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

President Obama’s memorial speech for the victims of the Tucson, Arizona shootings received a standing ovation, not only from the crowd in attendance, but also by the media and political commentators. It was rousing and perfect. As I listened to his speech, I extracted these five tips that will help make your next speech or presentation outstanding:

1. Show Emotion. You could tell with every word and every expression that President Obama really cared. He looked serious when speaking of the tragedy; he smiled when telling the story of victim Phyllis Schneck who sewed aprons with Jets and Giants logos to give to her friends, his voice rose as he was beckoning Americans to become more civil.

2. Highlight a Theme. Two days after his speech the theme has emerged: “…talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds.” This is what is being repeated over and over again by the media. What one phrase or sentence do you want your listeners to remember for the long term? It should be memorable and repeatable.

3. Personalize with Stories. This was a terrific part of the speech. President Obama shared a story about each one of the victims – the couple with the RV, the husband who shielded his wife from the gunman, the brave woman who wrestled the ammunition away from the shooter, the little girl who wanted to be a professional ball player. He named them by name and by story one by one.

4. Use the Magic of 3. Obama told the crowd that he had just come from the hospital where he saw Representative Gabrielle Giffords. He remarked to the crowd: ” and then Gabby opened her eyes (the crowd cheered), she opened her eyes (the crowd cheered again) … she opened her eyes (and again the crowd cheered). This was a spontaneous addition to the speech. It was not in the text. Obama used the moment and the power of 3 to create a memory. You can too. Repeat something important three times in a row when you want to create a memorable moment.

5. Lift Them Up at the End. This was a sad time. It was a memorial. The tragedy ran deep. Obama lifted that spirit up, especially toward the end of the speech. He called for Americans to unite in spirit and peace and to imagine the youngest victim, Christina Taylor Green jumping through rain puddles in Heaven. Even if your presentation is about job layoffs, find a way to be uplifting at the end.

This was an amazing speech with a heartfelt message and it was delivered with passion. It was written by Obama’s speechwriter, Cody Kennan, a Chicago native.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

Surely someone has suggested that you imagine your audience naked in your next presentation. Remember, the audience frightens you because, if you believe you did poorly, you will think they think you did horrendously, and that might destroy your self-esteem.

And of course, if you imagine them bare-skinned, you will be a lot less nervous, since they will appear ludicrous – and thus inferior – to you, so you will not perceive your audience as imposing, and your nervousness will just evaporate.

Fun, but it does not work. If you have not tried it yet, do it the next time around and let me know if you agree with this:

First, you get distracted from the message you want to convey to the audience. You will focus on yourself, trying to carry out a complicated exercise of imagination. It is already difficult to try it while you are bored at the beach, watching people walk by, go figure while you are facing a whole bunch of people staring at you. You won’t have enough time! All right, that guy at the back surely has a fat hairy belly, the lady in the corner is a tanning bead freak, the blonde in the first row has had her cellulite removed, and Mr. Straight-Face here must be wearing his army cammo underwear. Too much work when you are engaged in something as intense as public speaking, which occupies your mind fully.

Also, you disconnect from your audience. You are fantasizing, instead of thinking about them as the receivers of your message. You need to connect with each one of them, to talk to them as individuals, and to make sure they understand your message and find it relevant. If you detach yourself from the situation, you lose the opportunity to convince them

And, how do you think your face looks like when you are eyeing someone while imagining him or her naked? You will surely have problems in maintaining visual contact!

Instead of imagining them naked, imagine how much they are enjoying your presentation. Imagine yourself bowing to a standing ovation. It is in that precise moment, if you really have that perversion, that maybe you can imagine them all naked.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

Christy Demetrakis, Certified Instructor, and new author

I am so excited to announce that Christy Demetrakis, SpeakersTrainingCamp® Certified Instructor, has become an author. In fact, Christy was the very first person who ever contacted me about the Certification Program way back in 2007. I knew when I met Christy that she was something special. She even took me out to dinner one night to “pick my brain” – she wanted to soak up every single piece of information I could give her. Writing a book certainly takes that self-starter gene, and Christy has it! I recently contacted her to find out her process of going from idea to published author. Here’s what she had to say about writing her book:

Faith to Conquer Fear: Inspiration to Achieve your Dreams – Christy Demetrakis

1. What is your new book about?

“Faith to Conquer Fear: Inspiration to Achieve your Dreams” unfolds one basic truth…All of us are afraid of something! Unfortunately, that fear often prevents us from following and achieving our dreams. Despite your fears, you have the power to achieve your dreams in both your professional and personal life. No matter how small or lofty your goals, Faith to Conquer Fear will give you the motivation you need to move forward with confidence.

2. What was the book writing process like for you? How did you get motivated to write?

In hindsight, the book writing process was fairly quick. I began the process in late Fall ’09 and received the first published copy in the mail November 2, 2010. There was a lot of night and weekend research and writing. Initially, I planned to write a book in order to have product to sell after my speaking engagements. However, in the midst of the process, I could see my passion flowing onto the pages and “Faith to Conquer Fear” took on a life of its own.

3. What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

1- Once you make up your mind to write your book, set a target date for completion. I had a speaking engagement in November that would be my first opportunity to sell my book. That was the date I worked against to have my books in hand.
2- Schedule dedicated time on your calendar to work on your book.
3 – Always keep a note pad nearby because once you start the process, your mind will constantly think of ideas to include in the book.
4 – Let’s get on with it! Get started.

To order a book or for more information, contact Christy through her website

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

When you Skype a potential client or current customer, what should you wear? The answer is very simple – wear what you think they would expect you to wear. Last week I Skyped a potential client in New Zealand. It was a very casual day for me at the office, but I actually changed into a business suit for the Skype date. I only had one shot at projecting the image I wanted and I had two choices:

1. A top-rated trainer worthy of her business (including a trip from New Zealand and a three-day training fee)

2. Someone who was having a nice casual day at work

Of course I chose Choice #1. I learned my lesson about a year ago on Facebook. Thinking that Facebook was a more casual meeting place, my profile picture included me wearing a pink top, holding my new Golden Retriever puppy in a beautiful fruit orchard. Someone from the Philippines sent me a personal email explaining that she was shocked by my Facebook photo – this was not the Sue Gaulke image that she saw on my website. Immediately I changed the profile picture to a corporate look. The lesson I learned was that image needs to be consistent throughout your cyber existence. People expect consistency. Imagine if Cheerios suddenly changed to a blue box!

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email

“Oh, you look too serious,” is a comment often given during the coaching sessions of the SpeakersTrainingCamp®. People often ask, “Well, why should I smile, I’m not saying anything funny.” The reason you want to smile is that it conveys enthusiasm for what you are talking about and it also conveys friendliness toward the audience. People rarely smile. And I’ll admit that it’s really hard to do if you’re nervous (which causes lots of facial tension). I can remember one video shoot that I was doing for a training video. I was really trying hard to be energetic and enthusiastic. While I was filming the clip, I was thinking, “This is probably way over the top,” but when I reviewed the tape, there wasn’t enough smiling. What we think is enough facial expression, is usually not enough for the audience. I’ve only worked with a few people who smile too much – it’s very rare. One of them was an executive from the IRS! Enough said.

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email