Present your way to the top! : because every presentation can make or break your career

David J. Dempsey, JD, is the President & CEO of Neon Zebra, LLC, an executive presentation skills coaching and consulting company that works with senior leaders at global and Fortune 500 businesses. David is a veteran of the courtroom, a business executive, a university professor, an acclaimed author, an award-winning speaker, and a sought-after presentation skills consultant to C-Level executives worldwide. He has written two critically acclaimed executive presentation skills books, Better to BEST: How to Speak for Extraordinary Results . . . Every Time! ) and Legally Speaking: 40 Powerful Presentation Principles Lawyers Need to Know Many prominent CEOs have endorsed Better to BEST as the go-to resource for business executives. His straightforward blend of expert advice and hands-on teaching techniques will help you wow your audience every time!. Contents......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 Part I: Master the Mental......Page 28 1. Channel Your Stage Fright......Page 30 Six Stage-Fright Secrets......Page 32 2. Visualize Speaking Success......Page 36 Eight Tips to Boost Your Confidence......Page 38 3. Park Your Ego at the Door......Page 44 Attitude Is Everything......Page 46 Even the Best Can Get Better......Page 48 Part II: Prepare to Present......Page 50 4. Build a Speech Foundation......Page 52 Five Speech Resources......Page 53 5. Use Presentation Building Blocks......Page 58 Thirteen Sources for Speech Content......Page 59 6. Analyze Your Audience Before You Speak......Page 68 Why You Need to Know Your Audience......Page 69 What You Need to Know about Your Audience......Page 71 7. Use These Tools to Get to Know Your Audience......Page 76 Eight Tips on Researching Your Audience......Page 77 8. Adopt from the Best Speakers......Page 82 Eight Powerful Speaking Techniques......Page 84 Part III: Build with a Blueprint......Page 88 9. State Your Purpose......Page 90 Limit Your Points......Page 93 10. Organize for Coherence......Page 96 Eight Ways to Organize Your Speech......Page 97 11. Open with a Hook......Page 102 Eight Openings to Avoid......Page 103 Four Proven Openings......Page 107 12. Revise, Revise, Revise......Page 110 Twelve Rules for Revising Your Speech......Page 111 13. Harness the Power of Stories......Page 122 Seven Keys to Powerful Storytelling......Page 124 14. Make ’Em Laugh......Page 130 Ten Tips for Adding Humor to Your Talks......Page 131 15. Quote for Credibility......Page 138 Seven Questions to Ask Your Quotations......Page 139 16. Close with a Bang......Page 144 Five Closings to Shun......Page 145 Six Dynamic Closings......Page 148 Part IV: Practice for Perfection......Page 152 17. Polish with Practice......Page 154 Twelve Practice Pointers......Page 155 18. Master Your Notes......Page 164 Eight Tips on Using Notes Effectively......Page 165 19. Minimize Memorization......Page 170 Five Parts of a Speech to Memorize......Page 172 Seven Distracting Sins to Avoid......Page 176 21. Critique with a Camera......Page 182 Six Tips for Capitalizing on Recording......Page 184 22. Project Vocal Power......Page 188 Eight Vocal Power Secrets......Page 189 23. Capitalize on Potent Pauses......Page 196 Nine Ways to Pause with Impact......Page 198 24. Stand Tall......Page 202 Eight Guidelines for Posture and Movement......Page 204 25. Gesture with Conviction......Page 208 Eight Gesturing Tips......Page 210 Part V: Focus on the Details......Page 214 26. Plan Carefully......Page 216 Ten Things You Need to Know for Every Speech......Page 218 27. Prepare Your Introduction......Page 224 Eight Critical Introduction Rules......Page 226 28. Check Your Checklist......Page 230 The Perfect Presentation Checklist......Page 232 Part VI: Dazzle with Delivery......Page 238 29. Focus on Your Audience......Page 240 Eight Ways to Read and React to Your Audience......Page 242 30. Act Confident......Page 248 Eight Ways to Project Confidence......Page 250 31. Persuade with Passion......Page 254 Three Styles of Persuasion......Page 256 32. Look ’Em in the Eye......Page 260 Seven Eye-Contact Secrets......Page 262 33. Adhere to the Time Allotted......Page 266 Seven Rules about Speaking Time......Page 267 34. Take Command of “Q&A”......Page 272 Seventeen Q&A Rules......Page 274 Part VII: Talk with Tools......Page 282 35. Master the Microphone......Page 284 Three Microphone Options......Page 285 Seven Microphone Guidelines......Page 288 36. Capitalize on Visual Aids......Page 292 Nine Visual-Aid Options......Page 294 37. Know the Visual-Aid Rules......Page 300 Twenty Rules for Using Visual Aids......Page 301 38. Create Multimedia Magic......Page 312 Twelve Steps to Multimedia Power......Page 314 Part VIII: Confront Special Challenges......Page 322 39. Speak Spontaneously......Page 324 Eleven Keys to Speaking Spontaneously......Page 325 40. Overcome the Obstacles......Page 332 Five Solutions to Setbacks......Page 333 Conclusion......Page 340 Notes......Page 342 Bibliography......Page 348 Recommended Resources......Page 352 A......Page 358 C......Page 359 E......Page 360 H......Page 361 M......Page 362 P......Page 363 S......Page 365 T......Page 366 W......Page 367

A communications expert specializing in executive presentations gives readers a time-tested, 8-part program to deliver amazing presentations that will impress their audience and get them noticed by the people at the top.

For middle- and upper-level managers, the stakes are higher when delivering presentations. Whether they are presenting directly to senior-level or corporate management, or are being watched (and being evaluated) while giving presentations to their staffs, middle and upper-level professionals not only have to engage, persuade and motivate their audiences, but also have to prove to their senior management team that they have what it takes to take the next step up the corporate ladder. In Present Your Way to the Top, David Dempsey, one of America's top speakers and consultant to senior managers and CEOs around the world, reveals timeless strategies for drafting and delivering dynamic presentations that not only produce tangible results, but that are geared to help the presenter get noticed at work, demonstrate the skills that upper-level management wants to see, and get ahead in their careers. Step-by-step, using an engaging style and a straightforward blend of expert advice and case studies, Dempsey demonstrates how to speak with the unshakeable, confident style of someone who is already at the top of their game, and is ready to climb higher. The 8 part program, which has been used by executives the world over, shows readers how to:
• Ensure they address critical details before they speak: Having a full understanding of the situation at hand is crucial in making yourself appear like a leader.
• Draft a cogent, persuasive and unforgettablespeech
• Revise their presentations to remove extraneous ideas: Clarity, focus and staying to the point at hand is essential in identifying yourself as a person on the rise.
• Weave compelling stories into the narrative
• Creative vivid images with clear, crisp language: Audiences and senior management appreciate presenters who can make their points come alive.
• Move, gesture and pause advantageously
• Read and react to their audience: Being able to handle questions and give seemingly "off the cuff" answers is crucial to presenting like upper management.
• Track Record of Self-Published edition: Present Your Way to the Top has sold 6,000 copies since December 2006 (to his corporate clients)
• Proven Corporate Success: The principles of Present Like a CEO have been tested and proven by CEOs of Forbes, Delta Airlines, Cox Enterprises, Coca Cola and numerous others (see attached).
• Expert Author: David Dempsey is a sought-after consultant who has coached thousands of CEOs and senior level management. He is a trial lawyer, an award-winning author, a professor, an speech writer and an accomplished professional speaker. He has also won numerous Toastmaster International titles.
• Author speaking schedule: The author has delivered over 1,000 presentations and workshops to audiences ranging in size from 10 to 10,000 people. He has ten additional workshops scheduled for 2009, with more to come.
• Special Sales potential: Many of the author's largest clients: (UPS (425,000+ employees), Dell (90,000+ employees), Siemens (400,000+ employees), Porsche, etc.) have purchased many copies of the book, and he has just begun to scratch the surface of the potential sales for these organizations.
• An 8 part program for unforgettable presentations
• Presentation secrets that have been used by CEOs and senior level executives.

Contents 12 Acknowledgments 18 Introduction 20 Part I: Master the Mental 28 1. Channel Your Stage Fright 30 Six Stage-Fright Secrets 32 2. Visualize Speaking Success 36 Eight Tips to Boost Your Confidence 38 3. Park Your Ego at the Door 44 Attitude Is Everything 46 Even the Best Can Get Better 48 Part II: Prepare to Present 50 4. Build a Speech Foundation 52 Five Speech Resources 53 5. Use Presentation Building Blocks 58 Thirteen Sources for Speech Content 59 6. Analyze Your Audience Before You Speak 68 Why You Need to Know Your Audience 69 What You Need to Know about Your Audience 71 7. Use These Tools to Get to Know Your Audience 76 Eight Tips on Researching Your Audience 77 8. Adopt from the Best Speakers 82 Eight Powerful Speaking Techniques 84 Part III: Build with a Blueprint 88 9. State Your Purpose 90 Limit Your Points 93 10. Organize for Coherence 96 Eight Ways to Organize Your Speech 97 11. Open with a Hook 102 Eight Openings to Avoid 103 Four Proven Openings 107 12. Revise, Revise, Revise 110 Twelve Rules for Revising Your Speech 111 13. Harness the Power of Stories 122 Seven Keys to Powerful Storytelling 124 14. Make ’Em Laugh 130 Ten Tips for Adding Humor to Your Talks 131 15. Quote for Credibility 138 Seven Questions to Ask Your Quotations 139 16. Close with a Bang 144 Five Closings to Shun 145 Six Dynamic Closings 148 Part IV: Practice for Perfection 152 17. Polish with Practice 154 Twelve Practice Pointers 155 18. Master Your Notes 164 Eight Tips on Using Notes Effectively 165 19. Minimize Memorization 170 Five Parts of a Speech to Memorize 172 20. Eliminate Distractions 176 Seven Distracting Sins to Avoid 176 21. Critique with a Camera 182 Six Tips for Capitalizing on Recording 184 22. Project Vocal Power 188 Eight Vocal Power Secrets 189 23. Capitalize on Potent Pauses 196 Nine Ways to Pause with Impact 198 24. Stand Tall 202 Eight Guidelines for Posture and Movement 204 25. Gesture with Conviction 208 Eight Gesturing Tips 210 Part V: Focus on the Details 214 26. Plan Carefully 216 Ten Things You Need to Know for Every Speech 218 27. Prepare Your Introduction 224 Eight Critical Introduction Rules 226 28. Check Your Checklist 230 The Perfect Presentation Checklist 232 Part VI: Dazzle with Delivery 238 29. Focus on Your Audience 240 Eight Ways to Read and React to Your Audience 242 30. Act Confident 248 Eight Ways to Project Confidence 250 31. Persuade with Passion 254 Three Styles of Persuasion 256 32. Look ’Em in the Eye 260 Seven Eye-Contact Secrets 262 33. Adhere to the Time Allotted 266 Seven Rules about Speaking Time 267 34. Take Command of “Q&A” 272 Seventeen Q&A Rules 274 Part VII: Talk with Tools 282 35. Master the Microphone 284 Three Microphone Options 285 Seven Microphone Guidelines 288 36. Capitalize on Visual Aids 292 Nine Visual-Aid Options 294 37. Know the Visual-Aid Rules 300 Twenty Rules for Using Visual Aids 301 38. Create Multimedia Magic 312 Twelve Steps to Multimedia Power 314 Part VIII: Confront Special Challenges 322 39. Speak Spontaneously 324 Eleven Keys to Speaking Spontaneously 325 40. Overcome the Obstacles 332 Five Solutions to Setbacks 333 Conclusion 340 Notes 342 Bibliography 348 Recommended Resources 352 Index 358 A 358 B 359 C 359 D 360 E 360 F 361 G 361 H 361 I 362 J 362 K 362 L 362 M 362 N 363 O 363 P 363 Q 365 R 365 S 365 T 366 U 367 V 367 W 367 0071739947,9780071739948 Eight easy steps to delivering presentations that capture your audience--and boost your career! Dempsey's largest clients are UPS (425,000+ employees), Dell (90,000+ employees), and Siemens (400,000+ employees) He is a well-known consultant who has won numerous Toastmaster International titles Dempsey has delivered more than 1,000 presentations and has ten workshops scheduled for 2009 David J. Dempsey, J.D., (Atlanta, GA) is president and CEO of Neon Zebra, LLC, an executive presentation skills coaching and consulting company. With Dempsey's foolproof step-by-step approach, you can tackle your fears, improve your speaking skills, and present your ideas with the same expertise and enthusiasm that has taken world-class CEOs to the highest levels in their fields