Public Speaking Tips:
Weekend Review #88

Six Minutes weekend reviews bring the best public speaking articles to you.

This review features topics including:

• new speaking and communication books;
• inspiring your audience with a negative message;
• using poetry;
• vocal variety explanations;
• better visuals;
• and more!

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Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Check out these recently released public speaking and communications books:

• Presentations in Action: 80 Memorable Presentation Lessons from the Masters by Jerry Weissman
• Communicate with Confidence, Revised and Expanded Edition: How to Say it Right the First Time and Every Time by Dianna Booher
• The Power of Storytelling: Captivate, Convince, or Convert Any Business Audience by Jim Holtje
• Technical Training Basics by American Society for Training and Development
• How to Get Your Ideas Adopted (and change the world) by Anne Miller

Speechwriting

• Nick Morgan asks “Can you inspire an audience with a negative message?”

• Rich Hopkins advises how to sharpen your points.

Delivery Techniques

• Denise Graveline lists 12 tips for using gestures, including:

Trying to master gestures? Be sure to record yourself on video. Gesturing is among my 9 not-to-miss reasons for video practice. You might be like the trainee in one of my workshops who was convinced she was gesturing too much; a review of the video showed she gestured just once or twice. But you’ll never know without some video practice.

• Cal Habig explains vocal variety.
  (Editor note: I love the 4 quadrant breakdown).

Each quadrant plays a role, not only in keeping the interest of the listener, but also of persuading the listener of your sincerity, authority as well as helping them want to take the journey with you.

• Slow and loud – Authoritative
• Slow and soft – Authenticity
• Fast and loud – Animation
• Fast and soft – Anticipation

PowerPoint and Visuals

• Kristin Arnold delivers 8 tips for better visuals.

#4 Keep It Simple.
The best visuals are simple and easy to understand. If the material is complex, or you want more impact, think about how you can do a gradual build: start with an easy-to-understand visual and work up to the more complex. You can also put more detail in a handout or takeaway.

Speaker Habits

• Lisa Braithwaite ironically describes how to be an inconsiderate speaker.