Balance and Power in the News

Eileen Lichtenstein in Newsday

Small Business: Effective Public Speaking
From newsday.com, May 28, 2010 By Jamie Herzlich
Herzlich writes the Small Business column in Newsday.


Public speaking can be a great way to establish yourself as an expert and generate new leads, or it can be a tremendous waste of time.

You can deliver endless speeches to endless groups and walk away with nothing to show for it.

If you're looking to maximize your public speaking engagements, then you need to deliver an effective lead-generating speech that not only captivates your audience but also leaves them asking for more, experts say.

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This can be in the form of asking them what they'll do the next time a problem arises or even offering a handout, where they can offer feedback, get tips or sign up for your e-newsletter/articles, etc.

Just be sure to check with organizers to make sure handouts are allowed, says Eileen Lichtenstein, a professional speaker and chief executive of Balance & Power Inc., a Baldwin-based peak-performance success coaching business.

Also see if they'll provide you with their sign-in sheet, she adds, noting you can always distribute your own.

Find ways to engage with attendees, either through a question-and-answer period or by talking with attendees after your presentation, Lichtenstein suggests. "I think when people become personally involved, they're more apt to follow up with you later on," she says.


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