Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              You will then introduce him to speak, at the proper time or
when ever you have rescheduled him on your agenda. Don't
mention he was late. He may explain or apologize during his
speech. If he does, you can acknowledge his excuse or
apology, in a gracious manner, in your thank- you speech
b) Vou are ready to start and the mike doesn't work.
Send the gopher to find the facility person. While
waiting, ( if you must have the mike) check the switch, check
the cord all the way back to where it plugs in the wall, and
check any extension cords. Most times, you have it fixed
before help arrives B I T send for help immediately. During a
longer wait, a sing- song might be appropriate, or suggest
the audience just relax, or have another drink... whatever
may work in that group
c) Dinner is not ready on time
Try to bring something forward from your after-dinner
program ( because if dinner is late starting, it will be
late ending. therefore program will be late starting). If you
will be running late, explain to the diners that the program
will start before dinner is completely finished and either
speak to the caterers yourself or have your gopher speak to
them Tell them that you will start the program at
o'clock and ask them to be very quick and very quiet clearing
tables so as to disturb the program as little as possible ( It is
their fault, after all.)
d) The guest( s) of honour are late ( the Bride & Groom or the
person who is being awarded)
You can't start without them Announce to the
audience what has happened and that the program will be late
starting. Keep them posted if you ( your gopher) have any
up- dates on what has happened, where they are, etc. Some
quiet piano music might be in order or, if you can, this is the
time for some jokes
e) If the guest( s) of honour cannot appear. ( For instance a car
accident on the way)
Once it is confirmed that they will not be
coming announce it Talk to the program director ( or the
parents) as to how much should be said about the reason
With the program director's ( or parents') agreement, you
can, in their name, invite the guests to stay, eat, drink or
visit, whatever fits the occasion The program director,
parents or hosts may wish to extend this invitation
themselves, i f so, just introduce them. " Mr. Joe Smith,
president of the company would like to address you"
In some case there might be some part of the program that
can still be presented.
Remember, you can never be prepared for everything. Just do
your best and, as someone once said, never let them see you
sweat!
Overall hints
Be aware of everything that is happening, even if
it is not part of your duty
Carry a parachute'. Some jokes, an appropriate
poem or writing can fill in some dead time , for instance, if a
speaker is late
Time! Plan it: watch it: control it: use it wisely.
Always start on time, whether everyone is there or
not. The ONLY exception to this is the absence of the
guest( s) of honour. Plan it well and practice it well. This is
how you will appear confident and poised.
Spotlight the stars. Always plan around the basic
premise that the guest( s) of honour are the whole reason for
this event . be sure to focus on them
Read books ( in library) about your duties, the
protocol and suggested agendas of various events and
speaking tips
Read other chapters in this handbook for bints and
rules of basic public speaking and protocol' speeches
Back to Webster's Dictionary
The definition of'success9
is...
" The achievement of
something aimed at"
So a im high!