Public Speaking If You Need To Address A Small Group at a Municipal Hearing (NP)

There is one secret to be a public speaker and that is ... be yourself.

Notes on leadership coach Ronald Carpenter in "Choosing Powerful Words" suggest that a strong delivery hinges on a few key points. 1) Vocal Variety 2) Movement and Gesture 3) Directness

Vocal Variety is achieved by varying your pitch, volume and speed. One should aim at conversational speed ... 2 to 3 words per second, Carpenter says "Listeners who must exert too much energy to keep up with the speaker's rapidity often tune out. If someone speaks too slowly he won't be heard over the audience's yawns."

Slow down the speed slightly for adding emphasis.

Pitch, the relative highness or lowness of your voice, should be conversational and occupying a normal, natural range. Vary the pitch slightly without sounding like a sing-song extremist avoids a monotone style. Carpenter recommends recording yourself on audio or videotape and then studying it to dee where you may need to improve.

Vocal variety, up and down tones, is natural in daily speech so varying the volume and force of your voice should be the aim.

Movement and Gesture
"Gesture refers to parts of the body, particularly arms and hands, helping the speaker communicate. Movement refers to the entire body changing position by stepping backward or forward, or purposely stepping to one side or another," Carpenter said.

Keep movement and gestures to a minimum to avoid distracting the audience.

With podiums, if present, many speakers us the "death grip" on the sides of the podium. Avoid it since it focuses the eyes of the audience on the hands and makes the speaker appear nervous and rigid. Even though one is constrained by a microphone or lectern, Carpenter says, "speakers' arms and hands still are free to point, enumerate or indicate acceptance or rejection."

Directness
Carpenter says, "Speakers can face physically in the direction of their audiences but still be psychologically oblivious to them. Effective communicators are constantly aware of their listeners are reacting." he said.

"No other facet of delivery demonstrates speakers' genuine interest in their audience than eye contact," Carpenter said Know your material so well that steady eye contact is possible and you can seem speaking off the cuff.

The facts: Use good comparable's within the timeframe allowed for the year you are appealing. Make your arguments like a top-notch trial lawyer. Open with a one sentence theme concentrating on the central idea you want your audience to remember. Give supporting points to nail down your logic.

The appeal board members are the ones who decide the case on the county level, not the adversarial tax assessor or the town attorney. Never tell the board or the tax assessor that you are appealing your taxes - you are appealing your assessment. You are seeking equalization in assessment to similar properties such as yours.

FREE Resource:

Draw Floor Plans: More than 20,000 people download SmartDraw every day. Why? Because it's absolutely free, there's no learning curve, and you'll get professional results in just a few minutes, guaranteed. Create Perfect Floor Plans Make Professional Home Floor Plans, House, Building & Landscaping Plans. Thousands of ready-made graphics that you simply drag-and drop to create your drawing. It's fast and easy! Design anything: House Plans, Landscapes, Decks, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Office Spaces, Facilities and more!

Save on Legwork: To save you some legwork - this may just be what you are looking for. You'll still may have to look at the property and neighborhood to visually fine tune your adjustments.

Sold Data: House value documented evidence and backup for your home value conclusion. For a very modest outlay, obtain sold date data, square footage, living area, amenities, number of rooms, pool, fireplace, air conditioning, sales price, assessments, lot and block number, address, ... AND comparable properties without having to chase down and dance with real estate brokers.

See a free sample. It may save you time gathering the facts and instant information you need. It's quick, easy and useful.

Best wishes to you and with your financial future.

There is one secret to be a great seminar public speaker and that is ... be yourself.