When you hear the term “presentation design”, what do you think of?
PowerPoint? Or perhaps Keynote if you’re a Mac fan, right?
When you take the first step in designing your presentation, how do you start? I believe most people sit down in front of their computers and open their favorite slide software (slideware). Sounds good, right? Wrong.
Speech introductions are often an afterthought, hastily thrown together at the last second by someone with little knowledge of the speaker, their speech, or the value for the audience.
And yet, speech introductions are critical to the success of a speech.
While a strong speech opening is vital, nothing helps establish a speaker’s credibility more than a carefully-crafted and well-delivered introduction.
This article gives you a series of practical tips for how to introduce a speaker to position them with the best possible chance to succeed.
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Does your voice convey confidence and conviction every time you speak?
Or does your voice need strength training?
A Six Minutes reader whose career depends on a strong, confident voice sent in this question:
“One thing I need help in is voice control. For some reason my voice quivers. Is there some kind of exercise that may strengthen my vocal cords? Any ideas what may contribute to that?
Also, as a Realtor, I encounter the quivery voice as I’m talking with my clients and it conveys an impression of not being sure of what I’m saying.”
One of my favorite TED Talks is that by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the international bestseller Eat, Pray, Love. In her talk, Gilbert speaks about the fears and frustrations of those who pursue a creative life, especially during those moments of angst when the creative juices are not flowing, and offers some advice and encouragement.
It is a touching performance. Even though I have seen it numerous times – I use it as part of one of the courses that I teach on public speaking – I never tire of it. Although there is room for improvement, the positive aspects of Gilbert’s talk make it moving and memorable.
This is the latest in a series of speech critiques here on Six Minutes.
I encourage you to:
For many of us, the appeal of writing a speech falls somewhere down there between getting a speeding ticket and being audited.
But take heart! You’re in a very powerful position as a speechmaker, and that’s a good place to be. A well-written speech can drive sales, deepen commitment, motivate hearts and minds, and even change the world. It can be magic.
Now, you may not feel very powerful as a speechwriter, especially if you don’t do it often. But the truth is, you already have some magic speechwriting powers at your disposal, and you don’t need to spend seven years at Hogwarts to learn how to use them.
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Most speakers approach their presentation as if they were the star actors in a theater play. They decide on the content, rehearse, and then deliver their impeccably prepared speech.
Giving a presentation however is different from playing Hamlet. When watching a play, or a dance show, the audience wants to be entertained and emotionally engaged. When attending a presentation, the audience expects to hear a relevant message and bring home something of value. They will evaluate the speaker based on whether he or she can convey information that they can understand, digest, remember, and utilize.
Six Minutes is dedicated to helping you become a confident and effective speaker.
One way to realize this goal is to offer not just one opinion from one person, but many opinions from many in the larger public speaking community. Last week’s article on using improv to boost your speaking confidence from guest author Leon van der Walt is a great example.
In this light, I invite you to write an article for Six Minutes.
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Imagine that you are writing your next great speech. As you scour your mind for the fact that will clinch your case, you will discover one of two things: either you know it, or you don’t.
Most of the time, you won’t know every piece of information you need to make a compelling argument, but you can find it.
The seventh Toastmasters speech project encourages you to go beyond your own knowledge and opinions, and fill in the gaps with various forms of research.
This article of the Toastmasters Speech Series examines the primary goals of this project, provides tips and techniques, and links to numerous sample speeches.
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