Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident, Calm, and Competent Presenting by Matt Abrahams

The title on Matt Abrahams’ business card is “Lecturer in Organizational Behavior” at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

Matt is also the co-founder of Bold Echo Communication Solutions, a presentation skills consulting practice that specializes in helping speakers become more confident and compelling.

The Host’s Perspective:

So why is a marketing book podcast guy talking about public speaking? Because it is one of the most effective, powerful marketing tactics.

In Joe Pulizzi’s book Epic Content Marketing, he lists three things that have contributed to the growth of The Content Marketing Institute, which has put it on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies: Guess what one of them was? Public speaking. The other two were his blog and his book.

We’ve all heard about the surveys where people say they’re more afraid of public speaking than death. Matt Abrahams’ book not only acknowledges this, but he explains physiologically and psychologically why that happens and how to manage it. But that’s just the beginning.

The book also walks you through how to prepare for presentations with deep insights into what audiences are thinking, how they feel about speakers and what they really want from a speaker. What’s also interesting (and admirable) is that the book is just over 100 pages. It could have easily been 300 pages. And, the book itself is only 5” x 7” so you can take it with you. Like a security blanket.

If you’re terrified of public speaking, this book will help you take the stage and be successful.

And if you’re a professional speaker, the book will make you an even better speaker.

Listen to the interview:

Show Notes:

Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting by Mattew Abrahams

The small BIG by Steve J. Martin, Noah Goldstein, and Robert Cialdini

How the Body Knows Its Mind by Sian Beilock

Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Madson

Matt’s Website (No Freaking Speaking)

Matt’s Agency (Bold Echo Communication Solutions)

Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk:

Matt Abrahams’ Video:

Infographic created by Stanford’s Graduate School of Business:

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