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Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California

The Trouble Spots

In addition to the six major speaking faults, there are five trouble spots speakers consistently run into. These are times that are hardest for the speaker and easiest to lose the audience. The trouble spots are:

  • Openings: How to get and keep attention while making a strong, confident connection to your audience.

  • Closings: How to avoid fading away at the end, and the techniques used to leave people on a high.

  • Transitions: This often makes the difference between an average presentation and a great one (and also helps reduce the "uh's").

  • Questions and Answers: How to stay in control and remain the expert, no matter who asks the question.

  • Visual Aids: Visual aids used badly are not aids; they cost you 90 percent of the audience's attention. Used well, you gain 90 percent of their attention.


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