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Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #89

Andrew Dlugan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:15:54 +0000

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

This larger-than-usual new year’s edition review features topics including:

best-selling speaking books;
recap of the 12 days of Ask Six Minutes;
the best and worst communicators of 2011;
techniques to be persuasive and memorable;
non-verbal communication tips;
and much more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

Since our last review a month ago, we’ve been busy with a New Year’s guest article from Christine Clapp:

5 Speaking Resolutions to Wow Your Audience in 2012

… and the 12 Days of Ask Six Minutes …

Remember that your questions are welcome anytime. I’ll answer as many as I can, either via email or in future Six Minutes articles.

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

In weekend reviews, we usually feature recently released public speaking and communications books. Because there are few of these books this time, I thought I’d feature the best-selling speaking and communications books instead.

First, the best-selling speaking books among all amazon.com customers:

Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience by Carmine Gallo
slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations by Nancy Duarte

And here, the best-selling speaking books among Six Minutes readers like you:

Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln: 21 Powerful Secrets of History's Greatest Speakers by James C. Humes
The Story Factor by Annette Simmons
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds
Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion by Jay Heinrichs
Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

Not surprisingly, seven of the ten books listed above have been reviewed on Six Minutes, with an eight (Resonate) coming soon. You can find all Six Minutes book reviews here.

Speechwriting

Ben and Kelly Decker list the 10 best and worst communicators of 2011.

Our Top Ten Communicators List is all about Trust and Vision. Happily, we start with the Best list, where we honor those who communicate and lead well. Unfortunately, those who dominate the Worst list have garnered most of the attention in 2011 – for lack of trust on the high end and deception on the low end.

Denise Graveline highlights the power of emotional, personal storytelling.

But 17-year-old Kayla Kearney, a student at California’s Maria Carillo High School, reached far beyond the hall in which she spoke earlier this year when she used her assembly appearance to come out to her peers and identify herself as a lesbian. [...]
Difficult stories make the most compelling content: Part of finding your voice as a speaker involves telling difficult-for-you stories. That’s emotionally tough for the speaker, but yields great results in dramatic impact and in audience reaction–and makes your speech memorable.

Mike Consul states 7 time-tested persuasion techniques.

Repetition
Tell them why
Consistency
Testimonials
Comparisons
Anticipate and address objections
Storytelling

Lisa Braithwaite challenges you to create a memorable one-liner.

It’s not easy to come up with a brilliant and memorable one-liner. But when you’ve got a good one, that one sentence can be the difference between your audience walking away with only a vague memory of your topic and your audience sharing your message with everyone they know!

Kare Anderson also strives to craft a memorable statement.

The stories that grab us are those with the most vividly apt illustrations. Interestingness, like a cork, always bobs up to the top of our attention.

Delivery Techniques

Alex Rister delivers a suite of non-verbal communication tips.

Within the first six seconds of meeting you and shaking your hand for the very first time, John Smith has already formed an opinion of you. Similarly, when you begin delivering a presentation, your audience takes that six seconds to size you up and develop their first impressions. Often, before you even speak your first word, the audience has already made up their minds about you. [...]
Since your nonverbal communication (your face and body signals) are so important to making a first impression, let’s examine them. There are five simple ways to ensure you make a positive first impression: posture, facial expressions, clothing, gestures, and engagement.

Barbara Moynihan dissects the issue of speaking rate.

You need to think of ABS:
A – Accelerate, at times speak a bit faster
B – Brake, remember to pause
S – Slow, reduce the rate at times

PowerPoint and Visuals

Garr Reynolds cautions us to avoid using technology to fix presentations.

As more digital tools become available at a faster pace, it will be the intentional selection of less, the willingness to say no to more, and the thoughtful practice of restraint that leads to the clearest communication and best presentations.

Chiara Ojeda shares a slide deck with a plethora of slide design inspiration.

If the slides do not appear above, click here to view the original.

R. L. Howser relates the importance of matching visual metaphors to abstract concepts.

You can use PowerPoint to associate images with your ideas. If you are selling computer network security, an image of a bank vault door will anchor the concept far better than a dozen bullet points of technical data can. [...]
You can use an action, a sound, an image, an analogy, a story or an acronym to anchor your abstract concepts to something that is easier to understand and remember.[...]
Make it easier for your audience to recall what you’ve told them. Give them something tangible to associate with your concepts.

Speaker Habits

Nick Morgan reminds us not to feel embarrassed about being embarrassed.

What happens when we get embarrassed is that we feel shame for the initial faux pas, then we blush, and then we get embarrassed that we’re showing signs of being embarrassed. There’s a double jeopardy going on, especially if we think everyone has seen the blush as well as the initial incident. And so the moment feeds on itself. [...]
In short, being embarrassed means that you’re human, and we like you better for it. So don’t dread those moments of embarrassment as a speaker or a communicator – they’re doing good things for you with your audience.

Alex Rister explains how to use ethos, pathos, and logos to establish a strong instructor/student relationship.

Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion are important in any persuasive speech, but on the first day of teaching a new course, ethos, pathos, and logos are required. These tools are imperative in a persuasive speech because they tackle all of the audience’s concerns and needs. On the first day of teaching a new class, the three modes of persuasion are necessary in establishing your personality as an instructor and in creating both the classroom culture and the norms of the course.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Andrew Dlugan is the editor and founder of Six Minutes. He teaches courses, leads seminars, coaches speakers, and strives to avoid Suicide by PowerPoint. He is an award-winning public speaker and speech evaluator. Andrew is a father and husband who resides in British Columbia, Canada.

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #88

Andrew Dlugan — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:06 +0000

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!

Recently on Six Minutes

Gifts for Every Speaker… from Zero to Eighty Dollars
From stocking stuffers to more tantalizing items, this list is full of useful speaking items.
6 Communication Barriers and How You Can Avoid Them
Guest author Stacey Hanke shares a great video and article which will help you recognize and avoid these blunders.
Send in Your Speaking Questions: 12 Days of Ask Six Minutes
Get your questions in soon… the twelve days are about to begin.

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?”

If it’s a new problem – one we don’t fully understand, or haven’t articulated well, then we grant huge respect to the speaker who can do that for us. A real expert, we think.
But if the speaker can’t offer a solution, we eventually turn off. And that’s why you can’t inspire with a (solely) negative message.

Rich Hopkins advises how to sharpen your points.

Write your speech, and edit for impact.
Pause! Use verbal periods. You are more likely to repeat your point if you feel you have to fill the air with your voice.
Practice more. If you don’t get lost, you won’t have to reset yourself as often.
Use an outline. Once your point is made, pause, then check your notes in the silence.
Improve your speech. Make your stories so powerful, your point can’t help but be made, allowing you to be confident you have achieved your task.

Phil Waknell contrasts two presentation flow techniques: link and break.

[A link] means that you need to link the new idea to the previous one. [...] Never assume that the flow is as obvious for your audience as it is for you. That link sentence can be all-important.
[...]
[A break is when] you need to move from one point to something completely different. [...] Your audience will appreciate that clean break. Close the box on the last point with a simple concluding statement, pause, and then begin the next topic.

Jim Anderson suggests using poetry in your next speech.

I like to think of poetry as being a very concentrated form of communication. If it was a beverage, then I’d think of it as being similar to Turkish coffee – very strong and best enjoyed in small doses. It’s these very qualities that make adding some poetry to your next speech a great way to capture your audience’s attention.

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.

I recently heard a speaker who acknowledged up front that:
He had 90 minutes of material for a 30 minute presentation, and
He talks fast. His exact words were, “When people complain, I tell them ‘listen faster.’”

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #87

Andrew Dlugan — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:07:41 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

lessons for all speakers from the Gettysburg Address;
the importance of speech openings and speech titles;
incorporating quotes into slides;
conquering public speaking fear;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

Recently on Six Minutes…

Steve Jobs: Greatest Presenter of Our Generation
A collective tribute from public speaking bloggers.
Speech Analysis: Gettysburg Address – Abraham Lincoln
Five lessons that you can learn from this famous speech.

Speechwriting

Ben Decker emphasizes the need to prepare a strong speech opening.

It’s so easy to fall in to the rut of starting with, “I’m here to talk to you about [insert topic here]…” or “Thanks so much for being here, I know you’re all busy, so I really appreciate your time.” By the time you’re done with a Lovely-Bunch-of-Words opening like those, guess what? You’ve likely lost your audience. They’re thinking about their next meeting, to-do list, evening’s plans.
…
Dive right in with something memorable instead of diluting your opener. What’s your story or client example? Can you think of an analogy that will help bring your idea or product to light? Audience members are often very visual, so are there any images you could use to make a strong opening point?

Diane DiResta claims that provocative speech titles generate interest.

The other night I gave a presentation on the topic of communication for a women’s diversity group. My topic was Creating Confidence: Ten Ways Women Sabotage Communication in the Workplace. [...] [T]his topic hit a nerve. There was company-wide interest.
[...]
What did I learn from all this? When it comes to public speaking, titles sell. If I had led with Ten Tips to Maximize Your Communication I doubt that we would’ve had that much interest so quickly. Why? Because the word “sabotage” is provocative. It begs the question, How and Why. It creates curiosity.

Delivery Techniques

Denise Graveline urges you to eliminate the pointer.

Whether you favor the laser pointer or its wooden-stick ancestor, pointers tell me there’s a problem: Too much data on a slide, type that’s too small to see easily, or just a disconnect with the audience.

PowerPoint and Visuals

Brent Dykes shows how to incorporate quotes into slides.

When you’re trying to add more emphasis or credibility to a key point in your presentation, a quote can come in handy. I’m a fan of a good, well-placed quote. [...] However, just like inappropriate or tired images can detract from your content, so can poorly-chosen or over-used quotes.

Speaker Habits

John Zimmer relays a pottery story with an undeniable truth for speakers.

If you want to become a better public speaker, you have to speak. You can watch all the TED Talks you like; you can read all the great books that have been written about public speaking; you can follow blogs like this one—but if you never get up on your feet and actually speak in public you are not going to improve.

Nick Morgan explains 5 ideas to conquer public speaking fear.

Redefine the fear as adrenaline, and therefore a good thing.
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Rehearse a lot.
Breathe deeply, from the belly. Breathe slowly, and often.
Focus on the audience, not on yourself.
Focus on an emotion that you want to convey to the audience.

Scott Schwertly lists 5 things you should never do in a presentation.

Don’t be disorganized.
You are not your presentation.
Don’t overwhelm your audience.
Never say you’re sorry.
Don’t fold under questioning.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs
© Six Minutes, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #86

Andrew Dlugan — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:40:40 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

recently released speaking books;
generating humor;
using repetition and triggers;
charisma;
slide design tips;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

Recently on Six Minutes…

What can Mickey Mouse Teach You about Public Speaking?
8 key insights that speakers can learn from the famous mouse and the Disney entertainment empire.
Powers of 10: Time Scales in Public Speaking
An examination of the relationship between time and public speaking, from a tenth of a second up to a hundred years.

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Check out these recently released public speaking and communications books:

Word Hero: A Fiendishly Clever Guide to Crafting the Lines that Get Laughs, Go Viral, and Live Forever by Jay Heinrichs
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson
Obama's Secrets: How to Speak and Communicate with Power and a Little Magic by Gil Peretz
Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don't Work by Dan Roam
Charisma: Get What the Greats Have Got by David Gillespie

Speechwriting

John Zimmer teaches us how to generate humor through unexpected sentence endings.

Device: Paraprosdokian …
In plain English: A sentence or phrase that has an unexpected ending. …
The unexpected ending is most often used for a humorous effect.
The unexpected ending causes the audience to rethink the initial part of the sentence or phrase.

Jim Anderson discusses repetition and triggers to aid retention.

A trigger is an association that you plant in your audience’s minds that will cause them to remember the point that you were trying to make. An example of this would be if you were trying to motivate an audience and you wanted them to realize that they had an unlimited potential. You could tell them that the green light on a traffic light represented their unlimited potential and that every time they see a green traffic light they should remember what you told them.
The great thing about triggers is that they can last long after your speech is over. A well done trigger will continue to remind your audience about what you’ve told them for a very long time.

Delivery Techniques

Nancy Duarte relays lessons learned speaking with an interpreter.

Prepare half as much material.
Transcribe or write out your talk.
Work through idioms and metaphors.
Practice for pacing and pauses.
Complete your thoughts.
Have good chemistry with your interpreter.

Nick Morgan offers a definition of charisma.

Charisma is focused emotion. …
… when someone comes in the room with focused emotion – excitement, passion, energy, anger, joy – you name it – we instantly start paying attention. The emotion draws us, unconsciously at first, and then consciously as we try to figure out what’s going on. It’s a survival thing.

Ben Decker argues that it’s critical to stay on time.

The answer isn’t rushing and speed talking through all your content.
Despite what timing situation you find yourself in — whether your allotment was stolen by a change of agenda or you just lost track of yourself — it’s your responsibility as the presenter to respect time limitations and work with what you have.
Plan ahead and make timing an internal focus the next time you’re presenting. If you don’t play by timing rules, you’ll crash and burn.

PowerPoint and Visuals

Zach Holman highlights several slide design tips.
[Thanks to Denise Graveline for the link.]

A good set of slides won’t magically make your talk great. But a great talk is really hurt by terrible slides. Spend some time thinking about your slides. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes: is this readable? Is this interesting? Should I pay attention, or should I get my laptop out and hack until lunch?
I’m certainly not a designer, but it’s really remarkable how little design you need to put yourself far ahead of most talks. Huge text. Consistent colors. Less words. Worry about those, and it will already put you far ahead of the pack.

Jerry Weissman describes a five-second rule for comprehending slides.

…Mr. Khosla continues to monitor and critique the presentations they develop to pitch to their potential customers and partners.
For each of them, he applies his five-second rule: he puts a slide on a screen, removes it after five seconds, and then asks the viewer to describe the slide. A dense slide fails the test—and fails to provide the basic function of any visual: to aid the presentation.

Speaker Habits

Denise Graveline reflects on 6 ways to handle a contentious topic.

You may not like to speak in public. You may fret over your delivery, voice, outfit, the lighting. Or perhaps you’re a happy speaker, ever willing and comfortable. But when your topic or subject creates the difficulty, you’re facing the great equalizer, the challenge that might thwart both the confident and the shy speaker.

Lisa Braithwaite reminds us that improving your speaking skills requires work.

Your presentations won’t change if you don’t make the effort. Your PowerPoint will still be riddled with tiny text and too many bullets. Your content will be unfocused or boring, or mediocre. Your delivery will be disconnected or stiff or monotone, or just unmemorable.
… Unless we stop fantasizing and start DOING.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs
© Six Minutes, 2011. | Permalink | 11 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #85

Andrew Dlugan — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:26:27 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

introducing a speaker;
PowerPoint design philosophy;
5 powerful ways to start a presentation;
controlling your energy zappers;
handling speaking fear;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

Toastmasters Testimonials: 85 Years of Better Speakers
Readers spoke up to talk about the difference Toastmasters has made in their life.

Recently on Six Minutes…

How to Introduce a Speaker: 16 Essential Tips for Success
Learn how to create momentum for a speaker with a carefully-crafted and well-delivered introduction.
- [Lisa Braithwaite adds a 17th tip: Don't introduce someone 20 minutes early.]
Stop, Prepare, THEN PowerPoint
Jon Thomas urges us to begin designing our presentations outside of PowerPoint.

Speechwriting

Garr Reynolds gives 5 ways to start your presentation.

Conveniently, at least five proven ways to begin a talk form the acronym PUNCH. Some of the best openings include content which is Personal, Unexpected, Novel, Challenging, or Humorous.

Delivery Techniques

John Kinde cautions against factors which can kill your energy.

Lack of good eye contact is an energy zapper. Great eye contact gives you a presence and a connection with the audience that is critical to your success. Great eye contact completes the conversation loop. A speech is never a monologue. It’s always a two-way conversation. The feedback you receive from the audience works to energize you. Lack of eye contact drains energy from your presentation.

PowerPoint and Visuals

Jan Schultink suggests how to handle two charts on a single slide.

When it comes to comparing breakdowns on multiple dimensions though, the column chart cannot be beaten.

Speaker Habits

Jim Anderson addresses how to handle fear of speaking.

To feel fear when you think about standing in front of a group of people and speaking to them is very natural. However, it’s one of the things in life that has to be done and so you need to find ways to overcome your fear.
Much of what you can do to conquer your fear can be done long before it comes time for you to speak. Memorizing parts of your speech, creating a cheat sheet, and making sure that you show up early will all help you to remain in control of your fears.

John Zimmer talks about the importance of first impressions.

Walk confidently when called to the stage. Confidence is contagious. If you shuffle up and look at the floor, you send the wrong signal to the audience. Keep your head up, your shoulders back and walk with purpose to shake the hand of the person who has just introduced you.

Michael Hyatt describes the 10 psychological stages of public speaking.

Enthusiasm
Curiosity
Creativity
Panic
Despair
Confidence
Flow
Satisfaction
Depletion
Perspective

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #84

Andrew Dlugan — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 07:05:16 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

opening and closing your speech;
new public speaking books;
increasing your precision;
using quotes effectively;
working with images in PowerPoint;
mastering a webinar;
managing audience expectations;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

TEASE ‘em: 5 Ways to Start Your Speech
10 Ways to End Your Speech with a Bang
A pair of articles from Peter Jeff which provide tips for opening and closing your speech strong.

Recently on Six Minutes…

Speechwriting Hocus Pocus: Summoning Your Magical Powers
Allison Wood reveals the keys to magical speechwriting, and the perils which act against you.
Speech Critique: Elizabeth Gilbert @ TED (Author of Eat, Pray, Love)
John Zimmer shows what we can learn about speaking from the bestselling author.
Pump Up Your Speaking Voice with a Strength Training Workout
Kate Peters prescribes a set of vocal exercises to strengthen your voice.

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Check out these recently released public speaking and communications books:

Million Dollar Speaking: The Professional's Guide to Building Your Platform by Alan Weiss
Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down by John P. Kotter
resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte
The Laws of Charisma: How to Captivate, Inspire, and Influence for Maximum Success by Kurt W. Mortensen
Power Phrases: The Perfect Words to Say it Right & Get the Results You Want by Meryl Runion

Speechwriting

Vivek Singh suggests boosting your credibility by increasing your precision.

In our daily lives we make lot of statements which are generic, approximate and not concrete. They are not false. They are not misleading but they are less convincing. If we become more specific in the way we communicate, we can become much more convincing.

Denise Graveline dissects how to use quotations in speeches.

Stop and think about it: How may times have you used a quotation in a speech? For some speakers (and speechwriters), a speech isn’t a speech without a quotation…or three. I’m just wondering whether you know why you’re using a quotation…and whether it’s working for you as well as it might.

Rich Hopkins urges you to grab the audience’s attention.

Dramatic Openings and Shocking Statistics Create Thought – the right statements made to the audience can put them in a particular state of mind, either by jolting them out of the one they are in, or by challenging their belief system. If your introduction has gained their attention and built rapport, this opening can be more effective as a thought builder than an attention getter.

Lisa Braithwaite covers the pros and cons of self-deprecating humor.

Self-deprecating humor allows us to be smart, funny and confident, while also demonstrating modesty and humility about those qualities. After all, a person who uses self-deprecating humor has to be confident, or she wouldn’t risk making fun of herself! [...]
However, you should be careful when using self-deprecating humor:
Use it too frequently and you begin to appear less confident.
Use it too emphatically and you look like you’re fishing for compliments.

PowerPoint and Visuals

Ian Griffin offers a 3-article series (part 1; part 2; part 3) on the basics of using images with PowerPoint.

At a recent Toastmasters Club meeting, Tevis encouraged us to appreciate the impact of adding pictures to PowerPoint presentations. Unlike plain text, a memorable photograph adds to a talk without distracting from the speaker.
It was obvious from the discussion that some Club members did not know the basics of how to find, save and manipulate images. Since this is part of my day job, I offered to write up a series of simple ‘how to’ guides for Windows XP users.

Ellen Finkelstein advocates using anticipation to keep an audience engaged.

Speaker Habits

Olivia Mitchell presents 18 tips for conducting an engaging webinar.

1. Use more visuals
This is the major difference between a face to face presentation and a webinar. In a presentation, the audience can see you and if there’s no visual slide, their attention will be focused on you. But in a webinar, if there’s no visual or you have the same visual for an extended length of time, their visual attention will wander.
I used twice as many slides as I would for a face to face presentation – I had 85 slides for a 30 minute presentation, and most of these slides had some animation. Keep things moving visually.

Kathy Reiffenstein lists 6 ways to manage audience expectations.

As a speaker, you will always deal with audience expectations.
They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they’re always the lens through which the audience hears, interprets and values your message.
[...]
While meeting or exceeding any expectations the audience may hold is a worthy objective, a sensible parallel one is to learn to manage them.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs, public speaking books
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #83

Andrew Dlugan — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 03:31:57 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

7 deadly sins of public speaking;
how to deliver the talk of your life;
a critique of the YouTube sensation speech by Phil Davison;
tips for better eye contact;
posture and authenticity;
slide makeovers;
how to work a room;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

The 7 Deadly Sins of Public Speaking
The speaker’s equivalent of sloth, envy, lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, and pride.
How to Deliver the Talk of Your Life
Becky Blanton describes her TED talk preparation and experience.

Recently on Six Minutes…

Speaking is a Team Sport: 3 Ways to be Responsive to Your Audience
Stefania Lucchetti shows us how to analyze, connect, and stay engaged with our audience.

Speechwriting

Olivia Mitchell lists 7 types of presentations to avoid, including:

The “grab bag” presentation is one where the presenter has a miscellany of points which are only loosely related to each other and appear in no structured order. I’ve seen highly experienced, professional speakers fall into the trap of the “grab bag” presentation.
The solution to the grab bag presentation is to plan your presentation around a key message. That provides you with focus.

Delivery Techniques

John Zimmer critiques a political candidate’s speech by Phil Davison, which you can view below.
[Ed: You really must see this speech as it provides ample examples of what not to do. John's critique evaluates it skillfully.]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Olivia Mitchell suggests ways to look more authoritative.

Having to deliver a presentation to people who are older than you, more important than you, or more expert than you, can make you doubt yourself. To look more credible and authoritative, do the opposite of what a person lacking in confidence would do.

Stephanie Scotti offers 10 tips for better eye contact.

Remember, a presentation is more than a one-way communication; it’s a dialogue with your audience. As you scan the audience, they are communicating with their eyes, their body language and their facial expressions. Take advantage of this non-verbal communication and adjust your delivery accordingly.

Nick Morgan demonstrates how posture impacts your authenticity.

Click here to view the embedded video.

PowerPoint and Visuals

Jonathan Thomas offers 5 tips to avoid reading your slides.

Whenever I speak to someone about presentations, especially those who aren’t presentation designers, their biggest pet peeve as audience members is when presenters read directly off the slide. Doing so is a pretty big insult to your audience. You’re basically telling them that you simply don’t know what you’re talking about and thus have to read.

Rick Altman describes the three-word challenge as a means for reducing text on slides.

[...] clean up [each] slide by mentally reducing each bullet point down to three words. Ditch the adjectives, jettison the pronouns, eliminate the flotsam.
Even with your sharpest knife, you might not be able to cut all the way down to three words, but the reward is in the effort.

Lisa Braithwaite gives a before-and-after example of how to re-invent a bullet slide to a series of visual slides.

Instead of giving your audience a reason to be reading ahead and not paying attention to what you’re talking about at that moment, divide up your slide into its separate ideas. [...]
Don’t be afraid to spread out your ideas, giving each one the focus and attention it deserves, and keeping audience distractions to a minimum.

Speaker Habits

Jim Anderson asserts that good speakers know how to work a room.

Speakers who want to be successful know that they have to connect with their audience. How to do this is the ultimate question that we’ve struggled with for years. I’m not claiming that I have all of the answers, but when I recently gave a keynote speech I had a chance to practice my “working the room” skills…

Kathy Reiffenstein gives techniques to keep a presentation fresh when you have to deliver it over and over again.

How do you keep a presentation fresh when you deliver it over and over and over?
The key to success…and the most difficult thing to accomplish…is staying totally present and connected to the audience. Extreme familiarity with your content can cause you to sound like a robot as you deliver your remarks from memory; however, it can also give you the comfort and security to free you up to be fully engaged with your audience.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 18 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #82

Andrew Dlugan — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:38:35 +0000

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

This review features:

new public speaking books;
interviews with speaking experts;
trimming your presentation;
boosting your speaking confidence;
wedding toasts;
crying while speaking;
PowerPoint image sizes;
eliminating bad habits;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

Two Years Ago…

Interview with Nancy Duarte
We chat with the author of the awesome slide:ology.

One Year Ago…

Do You Provide Great Customer Service to Your Audience?
Are you making it easy for your audience to receive your message?

Recently…

How to Axe Your Presentation… and Still Deliver Value
Advice on how to react when your time slot is drastically cut.
Interview with Kristin Arnold
We chat with the President of the National Speakers Association.
Professional Speaker Associations
A compilation of professional speaker associations around the world.
Boost Your Speaking Confidence Through Improv
Guest author Leon van der Walt praises the speaking benefits realized by stretching your skills and your comfort zone.
Toastmasters Speech 7: Research Your Topic
A continuation of the extremely popular Toastmasters Speech Series.

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Check out these recently released public speaking and communications books:

Perfect Speeches for All Occasions by Matt Shinn
The Exceptional Presenter Goes Virtual: Take Command of Your Message, Create an In-Person Experience, and Captivate Any Remote Audience by Timothy J. Koegel
The Jelly Effect: How to Make Your Communication Stick by Andy Bounds
Better PowerPoint: Quick Fixes Based On How Your Audience Thinks by Stephen Kosslyn
27 Powers of Persuasion: Simple Strategies to Seduce Audiences & Win Allies by Chris St. Hilaire and Lynette Padwa

Speechwriting

Dave Paradi advises how to decide what data to share.

When a presenter dumps data on their audience and expects the audience to figure it all out, they are setting themselves up for disappointment. The “data dump” presentation is not effective communication. So if you’ve done a lot of analysis and the research to back up your points, how much of it should you put in to your presentation?

Jonathan Thomas offers tips for wedding toasts.

Being chosen as a groom’s Best Man or a bride’s Maid of Honor is truly an honor (as the name implies). It’s a title that one receives when they’ve meant the most as a friend to the bride or groom.
Of course, once the emotion subsides it gives way to the fact that being a Best Man or Maid of Honor comes with great responsibility – not the least of which is the Wedding Toast.

Mark Tamer lists phrases to avoid when speaking.

Uh
You know
Basically
Obviously
Whatever
Like
Unbelievable
I want…

Delivery Techniques

Denise Graveline reflects on crying while speaking.

Showing emotion when you talk–especially when it involves tears or tearing up–has long been a double-edged sword for women speakers. Speaking with emotion is usually a woman’s strong suit, an advantage. Yet women (and sometimes men) who cry during public speaking appearances are ridiculed as weak and unable to control their emotions, particularly when they’re running for election. So are tears while speaking a bad thing?

Visual Aids

Vivek Singh suggests the ideal image size for a PowerPoint slide: 640 x 480.
[Ed. Personally, I recommend 960 x 720 to fill the slide without needing to stretch it up]

Remember that the width : height ratio of PowerPoint slide area is 4 by 3 (which is the same as 1.33 by 1). So images whose width by height ratio is 1.33 by 1 will fit in the slide area perfectly. Examples 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768. Images whose ratio is not 1.33 by 1 need to be cropped to fit the slide area completely.

Olivia Mitchell lists 9 cases where words on slides are effective.

I hate bullet-filled PowerPoint slides, but neither do I advocate having no words on a slide. That’s just going to another extreme. Images and words combined are the most effective PowerPoint slide design for most technical and business presentations.

Speaker Habits

Kathy Reiffenstein shows how to eliminate bad habits.

People who speak in public are often not aware of their bad presentation habits. That is until they see themselves on videotape.
[...]
The annoying behavior videotape exposes may be avoiding eye contact with the audience, clenching hands into fists, using an abundance of filler words [um, ah, like, you know], putting hands in and out of pockets, absentmindedly fidgeting with glasses, hair or jewelry. Whatever it is, it’s done without conscious thought.

Garr Reynolds quotes Kyuzo Mifune with a Judo lesson that applies to speaking:

Do not place hope in finding a secret technique. Polish the mind through ceaseless training; that is the key to effective techniques.”

Political Speeches

Bert Decker critiques the recent Oval Office speech from U.S. President Barack Obama.

President Obama gave a speech tonight – second one from the Oval Office in his 19 months in office. It was a yawner. What’s going on here?
First of all I want to confess I’ve not reviewed Obama recently because he basically is the same. In delivery. Think of teleprompter, predictability, cadence, professorial, etc.

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs, public speaking books
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #81

Andrew Dlugan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:05:44 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

convention speech flashbacks;
persuasive speaking;
speech critiques;
being charismatic;
PowerPoint and Star Wars;
making money from speaking;
speaker gifts;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

Two Years Ago…

Speech Critiques – Obama, Democratic Convention 2008 and
Speech Critiques – McCain, Palin, Republican Convention 2008
Flashback to the 2008 party conventions, with speech videos and critiques of the headliners.

Recently on Six Minutes…

What is Logos and Why is it Critical for Speakers? and
17 Easy Ways to Be a More Persuasive Speaker
Two articles which complete (at least for now) our series on ethos, pathos, and logos and how every speaker can improve their skills.
Ready, Set, Go! Nail Your Pre-Speech Ritual
Guest author Stephanie Scotti shares tips you can apply before you begin speaking.

Speechwriting

John Zimmer critiques a thought-provoking TED talk by Elif Shafak, shown below.
[Ed. I'm listing it this week, not only for John's probing critique, but also for the lessons in storytelling that all speakers can gain from Elif's presentation.]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Delivery Techniques

John Kinde suggests that laughter is contagious.

In my opinion, a common comedy myth is that humor plays best in a dark room. I definitely feel that you’ll get more laughs if the room is lit. People need to see each other to maximize the laughter. [...]
The contagious nature of laughter requires that you master the pause. An audience response will never be instantaneous. You’ll need to be patient for the contagious element of your audience response to kick in. In fact, with a really large audience, you may notice the wave-effect as laughter rolls over the audience.

Nick Morgan gives a video explanation of 4 steps to being a more charismatic speaker.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Visual Aids

Garr Reynolds provides a humorous look at PowerPoint in Star Wars.

A long time ago — before PowerPoint was invented — in a galaxy far, far away, leaders gave presentations backed by large electronic wall displays. [...] Notice how he uses the entire wide screen to display only visual information [...] Notice too how he has gathered the [audience] close to the front, how he himself stands close to the back-lit screen (even slightly in front of it at times), and maintains eye-contact with the audience, occasionally pointing to key areas of the animation on screen.

Brent Dykes provides a tutorial on using shadow effects in PowerPoint 2007.

PowerPoint ninjas ensure their shadows are consistent. Approach shadow effects as though the imaginary light source casting the shadow is always in the same position on the slide (e.g., top left corner). In other words, find a favorite style and use it consistently across your slides — same intensity, same angle.

Speaker Habits

Denise Graveline explains why you should greet your audience at the door.

It’s a great grace note that will make you memorable.
You’re adding value to their experience.
You’ll hear more from the introverts.
It works for introvert and extrovert speakers.
You’re warming them up better than any bad joke can.
You have a better chance of sharing your business cards.
You can assess the mood of the room.
It’s the best introduction you can get.

Professional Speaking

Barbara Haislip writes that speaking can be a lucrative path to more business.

Give a speech. Win a client.
As simple—or even scary—as that formula sounds, a host of entrepreneurs have found that conquering public speaking can be the route to more contacts and customers. Impressing people with your expertise at a conference, in a classroom or over the radio can sometimes win more business than making sales calls or manning a booth at a trade show. Not to mention that the most successful speakers can take home thousands of dollars in fees for an appearance.

John Watkis questions the heavy costs associated with poor speaking skills.

How much money are you losing because of poor public speaking skills and lack of preparation? How much credibility are you losing because your speeches are boring? How badly is the reputation of your organization suffering because the executives are simply horrible when they give a speech? [...]
There was $750,000 on the table, but the speaker gave a $10 speech. He wasn’t prepared and he wasn’t interesting. [...] Poor public speaking and lack of preparation cost him … big time!

Laura Bergells delights with an unusual story with a great lesson about giving meaningful speaker gifts.
[Ed. One of the best workplace gifts I ever received was a box of Smarties from a co-worker, months after I mentioned that I liked them. I still have the empty box on my office wall.]

However, you’ve really got a challenge when you give a speaker gift. [...]
[...] One of the keys of giving a truly thoughtful gift is to listen to your speaker. If you’re hiring someone to speak at your event or for your organization, read their blog. Follow them on FaceBook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Watch for that offhand comment — it may be about a mackerel, a passion for falconry, adventures in beekeeping — who knows? Once you know a little bit more about your speaker, you can find something more personal that the leftover SWAG that’s been gathering dust in your office.

Not the Way to End Your Speech…

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments so far

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review [2010-08-14]

Andrew Dlugan — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 07:02:43 +0000

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

This review features topics including:

recently released speaking books;
another TED talk critique;
using video in your talk;
overcoming youth-centric stereotypes;
moderating a panel;
and more!

From the Six Minutes Archives

One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

6 Key Steps to Dip Your Toe into the Professional Speaking Pool
Jane Atkinson reveals what you need to do to transition to be a paid speaker.

Recently on Six Minutes…

Book Review — Boring to Bravo
A look at the strengths and weaknesses of Kristin Arnold’s recently published book about engaging your audience.

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Check out these recently released public speaking and communications books:

Visual Meetings: How Graphics, Sticky Notes and Idea Mapping Can Transform Group Productivity by David Sibbet
How to Give a Pretty Good Presentation: A Speaking Survival Guide for the Rest of Us by T. J. Walker
Demystifying Technical Training: Partnership, Strategy, and Execution by Wendy L. Combs and Bettina M. Davis
It's the Way You Say It: Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken, and Clear by Carol A. Fleming
Presenting Yourself With Impact At Work by Gill Graves

Visual Aids

Gavin Meikle debates the merits of including video clips in your talk.

Less is more is always my mantra. Ask yourself, do I really need a video clip here? Remember you are your own best visual aid and anything else should add value.

John Zimmer critiques a fascinating TED talk by Roz Savage with a focus on when you should black out the slides to bring attention back to yourself.

Having an image that is incongruous with your words is never a good idea. At best, it will be mildly distracting; at worst, it could be confusing for some members of the audience. Besides, the audience’s main focus for any speech should be the speaker, not the slide presentation. So if in doubt, black it out!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Speaker Habits

Denise Graveline ponders what to do when your youth undermines your credibility.

I am a 30 year-old executive at a life science company. The blessings of my Asian genes is that I look about 10 years younger, but professionally it is my number one curse. I teach seminars around the globe, speak at universities and give regular presentations before the senior management of companies. Usually the audience is in shock when I begin speaking because they thought I was the intern or assistant. How do I establish credibility in as a public speaker when my looks work so dramatically against me?

Kathy Reiffenstein offers 5 suggestions to get the most from a presentation skills course.

Be generous in your feedback to others. By generous, I don’t necessarily mean nice, although you certainly do want to look for the positives in others’ presentations and comment on them. But equally important is the constructive feedback — pointing out to others where they could have done something more effectively and what impact that would have had on you, their audience.
[...] And best of all, if you’re generous with your feedback, others will return the favor.

Ian Griffin shares 10 tips for moderating a panel.

Like any blood sport, a good panel discussion needs a referee. The moderator’s job is to be the voice of reason, the champion for the audience and, if necessary, the inquisitor who probes beneath the surface for compelling comments.

Lisa Braithwaite reminds us that first impressions form before you speak.

You may think that the moment you walk onstage is the first impression your audience gets of you. However, you are onstage from the minute you arrive at the venue. In fact, you are onstage when someone is browsing your website to determine if they want to invite you to speak!

Have a Question?

Contact me anytime,
or find me on Twitter: @6minutes

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Weekend Reviews
Article tags: public speaking blogs, public speaking books
© Six Minutes, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments so far

Six Minutes » public speaking blogs

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #89

From the Six Minutes Archives

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

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Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #88

Recently on Six Minutes

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

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Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #87

From the Six Minutes Archives

Recently on Six Minutes…

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

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Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #86

From the Six Minutes Archives

Recently on Six Minutes…

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

Similar Articles You May Like...

Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #85

From the Six Minutes Archives

﻿One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

Recently on Six Minutes…

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

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Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #84

From the Six Minutes Archives

﻿One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

Recently on Six Minutes…

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Speechwriting

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

Similar Articles You May Like...

Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #83

From the Six Minutes Archives

﻿One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

Recently on Six Minutes…

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

PowerPoint and Visuals

Speaker Habits

Similar Articles You May Like...

Have a Question?

Public Speaking Tips: Weekend Review #82

From the Six Minutes Archives

Two Years Ago…

﻿One Year Ago…

Recently…

Resources for Speakers – Public Speaking Books

Speechwriting

Delivery Techniques

Visual Aids

Speaker Habits

Political Speeches

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One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

One Year Ago from Six Minutes…

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