These slides were designed for a teleseminar that shared the underlying biological reasons that human beings get anxious before and during a presentation, and offered quick, free, simple ways to lessen that anxiety. To hear the teleseminar audio, please visit http://www.sparkpresentations.com/Spark_Presentations/Teleseminars.html.

1. FEAR TO FUN
Why you freak when you speak in public,
and how to calm your nerves and wow the crowd
Spark Speaker Series Teleconference Slides
Dial in: 218-862-7200 • Conference Code: 678581
Andy Saks • Spark Presentations • 781-454-7600 • andy@sparkpresentations.com • www.sparkpresentations.com
All slides and verbal content ©2009 Andrew Saks, Spark Presentations. All content may be shared with credit to Spark.

2. What scares you
about speaking?

3. MOST COMMON FEARS
(from The Book of Lists)
1.
2. Heights
3.
4.
5. Deep water
6.
7.
8. Flying
9.
10.

4. What’s possible when you
conquer America’s #1 fear?
1. 2. 3.

5. WHY YOU
FREAK
WHEN YOU
SPEAK

6. 1. High-Stakes Setup

7. 2. Content Anxiety

8. 3. Environment-
o-phobia

9. 4. Talking Blind

10. a. Grounding

11. b. Entrainment

12. 5. Evolution

14. “Fight or Flight” Cycle

15. SIX WAYS TO
CHANGE YOUR MIND

16. 1. Remember ____ ____ ____.
(Hint: ___ ___)

17. 2. _______ your fear.

18. 3. _____ an ______.

19. 4. Visualize ______.

20. 5. Be your _____.

21. 6. ________
it out.

22. SPARKLERS

23. http://tinyurl.com/mh7wvp
Complete by June 28 for 5% discount

24. The Spark
Pitch Poem

25. Free Tweets & Teleseminars

27. www.SparkPresentations.com
Free Downloads
Andy Saks
Chief Sparkler
781-454-7600
andy@sparkpresentations.com
www.sparkpresentations.com
SCRIPT TIPS
TEN WAYS TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION SPARKLE
Most presentations are stuffed with facts, figures and formal prose, confusing and alienating your
audience. Shifting to a relaxed, clear, customer-centric style connects you to your crowd, so they’ll
listen, learn, and remember. Here are ten tips to get you started:
1. KEEP IT SHORT: No one in the history of speaking ever complained that a speech wasn’t
long enough. Say your peace and exit stage left. Your audience will thank you for respecting
their time.
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE: Speakers often try to squeeze in every single product benefit, just in case
#67 really sways ‘em. Resist the temptation. Stick to the 3-5 top benefits that make you stand
out. You want them to have questions; it motivates them to talk to you afterward.
3. TALK LIKE YOU TALK: Don’t force your audience to decipher your complex or flowery
prose. Set them at ease with a friendly, conversational style. “You’re right on target” makes
the point quicker and easier than “You are currently matching the pre-arranged sales goals
for this quarterly sales period.” And avoid vague, overcooked marketing-speak; everyone in
your industry “facilitates complete turn-key solution.”
4. SPEAK TO THEM, NOT “THEM”: Audience members care about themselves, not your
imaginary sample customers. Always aim your wording at the people in the room, i.e. “ABC
software lowers YOUR CRM costs while keeping YOUR profits up” instead of “Those in the
CRM industry will lower their costs…”
5. DEFINE YOUR TERMS: Don’t assume everyone in your audience knows the lingo; many
don’t, and are too embarrassed to ask. Enlighten them (“HDMI, which as you know stands for
high-definition multimedia interface…”) and bask in their gratitude.
6. DRAW THE BOTTOM LINE: Customers only embrace a feature when they know how it
rd
actually helps them. Link your feature (“It weighs 1/3 less…”) to their bottom-line benefit
(“…which lowers your shipping costs by 23%.”), which almost always involves reducing time,
effort and expense, and raising income, ease and enjoyment.
7. BE CONCRETE: Familiar, evocative imagery always beats vague, bland statements. “Move-
in day can be stressful” is accurate, but “Imagine your knees wobbling as you lug 78 heavy
boxes on a scorching July day…” paints the picture and gets the sale.
8. COLOR IT IN: Feature lists are factual, but painfully dull. Use stories, statistics, analogies,
quotes, props, tap dancing, anything surprising and colorful to drive your point home. The
more creatively you say it, the more your audience will remember it.
9. DON’T FEAR THE CHAIR PEOPLE: Spontaneous interaction with your audience turns your
monologue into an engaging conversation and shows you care about them. Ask questions
and welcome feedback. It lowers your speaking anxiety too!
10. BRING THE FUNNY: Humor keeps them relaxed and attentive. Find common pain points
and make fun of them. If comedy just ain’t your thing, bring free stuff.

28. Free Phone Coaching

33. Andy Saks
Chief Sparkler
781-454-7600
andy@sparkpresentations.com