Fourteen antsy clowns stood in the parade line up. This was our first parade. I waited in line to sign in. Finally, the parade master placed us in the sixth slot directly behind a high school marching band. I smiled and asked, “Exactly where are we going? I am not familiar with the parade route."
“Just follow the band in front of you,” replied the parade master.
“‘Follow the Leader.’ That’s a game I can play!” Moments later I returned to our group. As the parade began, Gilbert asked, “Where are we going?” Pointing ahead at the band already resounding their first piece of music I shouted, “Follow the Leader!”
We marched down Main Street performing clown antics, always keeping in step with the marching band. Unknown to us, the band planned to avoid after parade traffic and leave a little early. So one block past the judge’s stand, they left the designated route and headed to their bus…
As we faithfully followed the marching band, we led an entourage down a side street including four antique tractors, a vintage car carrying a beauty queen and a troop of boy scouts. It seemed that every parade entry received the same instruction to, “Follow the Leader.”
To our surprise, the marching band doubled their pace when they realized that the entire parade followed them down the wrong route. Suddenly, we were leading the parade!
As Christians we are instructed to “Follow the Leader.” Jesus said, “Follow me.” Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” My parade experience taught me that when you play follow the leader, it’s wise to make sure the leader knows where he is going – or you could end up following a bunch of clowns!
“You have great eye contact!” The evaluation caught my eye because “seeing” my audience as individuals is one of my goals as a speaker. The eye is the pathway to the heart and when you look at your hearers, you create an engaging keynote address, workshop presentation or speech. Eye contact is a necessary platform mechanic for a winning presentation. Here are seven more:
Open your mouth. Years ago, I took my younger daughter to the pool. While there, I questioned one of the lifeguards, “Where is the clock?” He came back with, “Mumble, mumble.”“What?" I asked. “It’s Mumble, mumble,” he again replied. Now I am not hearing impaired but I could not understand this guy’s words. He barely parted his lips. Get your lips involved, open your mouth and speak.
Breathe deeply and fill your lungs with air. When a speaker is nervous, her breathing becomes abbreviated and her words sound choppy. This detracts from the presentation because audiences get caught in the singsong rhythm of the speaker. Some audience members may wonder if the speaker lost her place. Right before and during my presentations I take in large breaths. This helps me relax and makes for a more fluid presentation.
Body language must be neutral. When you’re on the platform people see you as “the expert.” Being an expert can make some people feel disconnected from you. Try making your body language neutral and inviting. Stand with both feet firmly planted on the floor, legs slightly apart. This is especially difficult for women to master but necessary for an unbiased stance. Similarly, keep arms open, at your side, or use them. Resist the urge to fold your arms across the chest as this can be interpreted as having a closed attitude or the air of superiority. Neutral body language sends the message that even though you are knowledgeable you are approachable.
When you make a point, don’t. Again, when you’re on the platform people may feel subordinate. To be perceived as less threatening or condescending, use a four finger openhanded gesture to make a point. Watch political leaders or persuasive speakers and you’ll see this technique.
Move around. It’s fun to watch a moving target. You don’t have to dance to get attention but neither should you be motionless. When I am sitting in an audience and the speaker stands in one position, I get board. So as a speaker, I move around the platform. I know colleagues who diligently choreograph their movements-I cannot be that precise. However, I genuinely make movements to correspond to my point. Then I observe my audience to see if there is a look of boredom-or worse-somebody is dozing off. Sometimes I determine to become more animated. Try putting some motion behind your emotion.
Speak deliberately and slowly. This requires practice. I practice enunciation and pacing of my words before going on the platform. It ensures each hearer understands and is given time to let my words penetrate. Most of my audiences are feverishly taking notes. By speaking slowly, I grant time to take notes and capture valuable thoughts. When you speak slowly, it also makes you appear to have authority. Pace yourself and avoid rushing through your well-prepared presentation.
Drink water before and during your presentation. Speakers lose about a quart of water while doing their craft. It is thirsty business. We must re-hydrate by taking in water before and during our presentation. Watch professional speakers and you will witness this habit of self-care. Personally, I don’t like my audience watching me take a sip so I often assign a group activity and while they are preoccupied I grab my glass.
Our clients and audience deserve our best efforts. I encourage you to cultivate a professional and successful delivery at your speaking engagements.
Article taken from Brenda's publication “You Can Speak”
"Greet Andronicus and Junias (Junia) my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was." Romans 16:7 NIV
When died Egypt’s Great Pharaoh Queen Hatshepsut died Thutmose III destroyed countless artifacts in an attempt to wipe her memory from history. Diligent archeologists and Egyptologists continue to unravel her life and history.
Like Hatshepsut, the female apostle Junia, was lost for centuries. The record of her ministry was cleverly disguised by biblical copyists. It appears that medieval copyists beginning with Aegidus of Rome (1245-1316) started adding a masculine ending to her name to hide Junia’s gender. They were so successful that for years Junia was considered a man. Moreover, if they recognized the manuscripts and acknowledged that the fact that Junia was a woman, they refused to give her the title “apostle” choosing instead to consider Junia as one whom the apostles “highly regarded.”
Unravel the mystery
Best manuscripts listed Junia as a woman
The early church fathers considered Junia a woman.
Archaeological evidence supports her claim to apostleship.
Etymological evidence indicates that masculine ending is awkward and difficult. Furthermore while the name Junia (meaning “youthful”) was a popular female name there is no record of it’s ever being used in masculine form.
"Without exception the church fathers in late antiquity identified Andronicus' partner in Romans 16:7 as a woman as did minuscule 33 in the 9th century which records Iounia (Greek for Junia) with an acute accent. Only later medieval copyists of Romans 17:7 could not imagine a woman being an apostle and wrote the masculine name Iounias (Junias) with an s. This later name Junias did not exist in antiquity; its explanation as a Greek abbreviation of the Latin name 'Junianus' is unlikely." The Anchor Bible Dictionary, (1992), Vol. 3, p. 1127
Links on Junia
English Bibles Blog http://englishbibles.blogspot.com/2006/11/junia-apostle-part-7.html God's Word to Women http://godswordtowomen.org/rissjunia.htm
