So what is the difference between public speaking & a presentation?

Nobody seems to have a clear answer. Even the Oxford English Dictionary does not clear up the confusion. If you look at the OED definition of the word “presentation” it says “a demonstration or display of materials, information etc; a lecture” So if you are giving information about the life of Abraham Lincoln it would seem you are giving a presentation. If you are telling a customer about a new product similarly you are giving a presentation. So what the heck is public speaking, because most people I come into contact with would reckon that the two previous examples could be classified as public speaking?

I mean do you need to have great presentation skills AND public speaking skills? Or can you get away with just one of them? Or are they the same blinking thing?

In my travels the phrase “public speaking” is more widely used in the USA to cover the whole spectrum of speaking to an audience than in Britain. In Britain, public speaking is something politicians & lawyers do (along with the father of the bride, the after dinner speaker, the captain of a sports club at their annual meeting… oh dear it is getting confusing again)whilst any form of speaking to an audience in a business context seems to be called “a presentation”. My American friends will still call this sort of communication “Public Speaking”! Grrr it all gets very confusing.

Maybe we should dwell on the common British usage of the word “presentation” as when we speak to an audience in a business setting. Could there be something in this neat division. Upon reflection, there are some unique demands placed upon a speaker or speech writer when making a business speech aka “Business Presentation.”

An intimate audience.

You won’t be speaking to the masses. Often a business presentation will be less than a dozen, it might even be just to one person. This can lead to willingness for members of the audience to interrupt and to challenge mid way through your presentation.

You are on away turf

Rather than a conference hall where all speakers, chairmen, mc’s and the audience are on neutral territory, many presentations are held in a clients or your boss’s office. Not only do they feel very at home (& you feel very much ill at ease) but it is often harder to set the room up as you might prefer.

Facts and Figures are important

In a smaller business presentation (to people for whom facts and figures are critical to financial and organisational results) your facts and figures are likely to be challenged. It is essential that you are 100% sure of the accuracy of the content in a presentation.

Seniority of Audience

Very often the audience at a business presentation are likely to be in a more powerful organisational position than you (they are your CEO; they are your client etc). This can be intimidating.

Time is Money

At a conference, the audience have chosen to attend. With a business presentation there is more a feeling that you, as the presenter, are interrupting them. The challenge is to help your audience think that you have not wasted their time; that you have given them something valuable.

The need to get a Decision

The purpose of most business presentations is to get a decision. Rather like a contestant on a show like “Britain’s Got Talent” or “The X-Factor” you are mentally trying to impress the audience and nervous that the buzzer may sound!

“Death by PowerPoint”

Many people automatically think they need PowerPoint slides in a presentation. In fact when I have heard people talk about “putting a presentation together” what they mean is putting a slideshow together. Far too often the production of the slides becomes more important than the construction or the delivery of the message.

But after all this fundamentally presentation skills are very similar to effective public speaking skills.

And I still cant work out if speaking on behalf of your company at a major conference is public speaking or a business presentation.

Both are powerful business communication skills – I can’t remember ever coming across a business leader who cannot deliver both a speech and a presentation with equal confidence, clarity & style.

They rely on the same three core components:

· Understanding & speaking to your audience

· A clear & compelling message

· Engaging delivery

These are the Holy Trinity of Public Speaking.

If you understand these key components, know how to apply them & practise them you can deliver engaging, powerful, and successful presentations and speeches alike.

So at the end of all that it seems rather academic as to whether you call it a presentation or public speaking. The crucial thing is that you want to get a message across to an audience (however big) and get them to take some sort of action.

How do you actually do that?
Ah well, I will tell you that story soon.

I am a Managing Director of a large British based marketing Firm. Every week I interview people or read CVs or look at presentations from people trying to sell me their services. I know what it takes to get noticed, I know what it takes to look professional, and I know what it takes to get the job. Here I am going to give all you interviewees a few tips on how to land that job or get that contract.

The first thing I am going to tell you is that within 20 seconds of you waking into my office I will know whether or not you will walk out of it with what you want. How do I come to that decision? Presentation.

The obvious things first – wear a suit, wear good shoes, run a comb through your hair – present a positive image of yourself; straight back, firm hand shake and we are off to a good start.

The next phase of observation that you will undergo is your ‘peripherals’ – briefcase, laptop bag, maybe your car, your presentation folder or laptop, your business card, perhaps a customised clipboard. Individually these items are insignificant, like one of Monet’s Water Lilies; collectively they can paint a beautiful picture.

Think for a second. If you work for a company, or indeed own one, where is your logo? On a plastic badge? Take it off; I want to see professionalism – letterheads, presentation folders, business cards, custom folders – all things you can brand. The first 20 seconds are all about projecting your image.

It is infuriating for me when someone comes into my office and hasn’t taken the time to prepare themselves properly. It is the realm of the interview process that the interviewee has complete control over and it is one of the most important aspects of the interview, if you want to succeed – do not over-look it.

Conclusion

For those of you that are willing to go the extra mile – you will be rewarded, project yourself and your business as a positive, well organised machine and you will walk out of my office smiling. Don’t and you probably won’t.

To negotiate with credit card companies about your ever increasing debt, you must make sure that you are prepared to have some patience when dealing with them, especially when it comes to preparing all the required documents. It would also be very helpful to be flexible because it is not uncommon for the creditors who would be handling your credit card debt negotiation to suddenly change their minds about just anything. Here are some tips to help you understand better the concept of debt negotiation, as well as get the best deal for a debt negotiation.

Proper Documentation

The ultimate objective of a negotiation should be that of having everything properly documented. Remember that anything said or discussed between you and your creditor or credit card company, is not final. There are times when these creditors or credit card companies will just change their minds. At times, they also forget or misconstrue some parts of their verbal talk with the cardholders. And since the creditors have such reputation, it would be best to clarify and confirm with them in writing; that way, everything will be properly documented and you will be able to track all contracts, pacts and other important documents.

Records Maintained And Allowed In A Systematic Way

And while the credit card debt negotiation that would take place between you and your creditor would usually happen through a phone call, it would definitely be impossible to document any agreements. So, the best thing to do would be to record all the calls by simply asking for the name of the person you have spoken to; while jotting down the important points in the conversation. After that, make it a point to follow up on the phone discussions you have had by writing a specialized letter. In that case, even if the person you have talked to has forgotten any of your discussions or pleasantries, then you would be able to refresh their minds about the agreements and discussions you had between the two of you.

Time Factor

Remember that time is essential in getting a fine settlement. As time goes on, the creditors are usually thinking about new cases and they try to once more get what they can get out of their clients. And they are most satisfied if they are able to get the original amount once again, which on one hand, can be beneficial for the clients as well.

One more thing, it would be wise to follow through and fix anything you might have agreed on during the first or second sessions of the settlement plan. Also, it would be a good idea to remind the creditors of the expiration time of any stage in the negotiations in order for them to take care of everything so everything is ship-shape.

Bankruptcy

Last of all; let your creditor be aware that you have definitely filed for bankruptcy since you truly do not have any money to pay for your debts. There are times when you can be assured that the debt negotiation will really work out well; however, there are also times when they will not. Therefore, it would be best if you could just make yourself aware at all times that there are certain legal limitations that go with bankruptcy. Really, such debt settlement programs as well as tips will surely help you bring the creditors up on their toes as far as getting a good debt negotiation is concerned.

Credit card debt negotiation is actually an easy and significant way of helping cardholders get out of their financial troubles once and for all and get a good credit standing once again.