Speaking Survey says: Speaker DO’s and DON’Ts

Andrew Dlugan — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:29:08 +0000

Ever wonder what the audience really wishes you would do better when you speak?

Chris Brogan conducted a quick and informal survey asking the question:

Quick: Give me YOUR 3 things you wish speakers would do better, or not do at all!

The raw results are interesting to look at, but not very accessible. So I did some further analysis:

First, I stripped out all the noise, and divided it up into three columns so it was easier to read.
Then, I began looking for sets of responses which were identical or closely related.
I grouped these under a single phrase which collectively described them.
For example, I grouped four responses — “have great take-home notes“, “give a deliverable“, “use handouts“, “give me more than PP as their handout” — under the collective description: “Provide useful handouts (not just slides)”
This process involved some interpretation, but I tried to make reasonable assumptions.

Do’s and Don’ts: Time to Change Your Speaking Strategies?

The results of this analysis are:

19 responses: Be engaging; Involve the audience; Conversation not presentation
14 responses: Do not read the slides
9: Focus on the message; avoid lengthy self-promotion
8: Better(more) visuals/diagrams/stats/other media
8: Show passion; Show enjoyment; Smile; Relax
8: Clear, simple, and useful messages and language
6: Do not use Powerpoint (or “bullets”) at all
6: Do not go over time
6: More time for Q&A / Answer questions thoughtfully
5: Use stories / metaphors
5: Challenge the audience; Don’t “dumb it down”
4: Know your audience
4: Better takehome handouts (not Powerpoint slides)
3: Make your presentation fun
3: Use humor (but only if you are funny)
2: Answer “what’s in it for me”
16 other responses which didn’t “match up” with others, such as “be confident“, “practice“, and (one that I’ll certainly remember) “Don’t wear ties with horrible patterns and mismatched colors“

The top two are particularly telling. It would be hard to imagine any speaker could be engaging if they were reading their slides.

Not satisfied yet, I continued looking for patterns among these groups. After some juggling, I massaged them into three meta-groups.

Presentation Techniques (47 responses)

14: Do not read the slides
8: Better(more) visuals/diagrams/stats/other media
8: Show passion; Show enjoyment; Smile; Relax
6: Do not use Powerpoint (or “bullets”) at all
5: Use stories / metaphors
3: Make your presentation fun
3: Use humor (but only if you are funny)

Audience Focus (37 responses)

19: Be engaging; Involve the audience; Conversation not presentation
6: Do not go over time
6: More time for Q&A / Answer questions thoughtfully
4: Know your audience
2: Answer “what’s in it for me”

Content Focus (26 responses)

9: Focus on the message; avoid lengthy self-promotion
8: Clear, simple, and useful messages and language
5: Challenge the audience; Don’t “dumb it down”
4: Provide useful handouts (not just slides)

Viewed under this light, I believe the survey provides a wealth of information. I’m always looking for ways to improve my presentations, and the numbers above provide excellent clues as to where I should focus my efforts.

How about you? What are YOUR 3 things you wish speakers would do better, or not do at all?

Raw Survey Data

Responses to the survey are given below. Each row corresponds to three responses from one person.

Not repeat speeches	have great take-home notes	be genuinely engaging
create metaphors	relate to the audience in the room	add humor
Don’t read off the fscking slide
extend past the preso	give a deliverable	inspire
Don’t hide behind a podium	Learn to use your voice	follow presentationZen
actually answer questions with real info, not high level, been-said-a-million times, fast responses
dont read the slides	provide practical application	Tell me how I can use it/do it
assume the audience is intelligent	less text, more action	tell me why you are the best
provoke me	be confident	bannish bullet points
Eliminate the following words from their vocabulary: 1. Resource (referring to people). 2. Monetize. 3. Leverage.
I wish presenters wouldn’t read off powerpoint	give me more than PP as their handout	not go over time
speakers should spend less than one whole sentence on their own credentials. I didn’t pay to hear a resume.
Tell stories	show statistics	keep my mind energized
use diagrams	use handouts
Meet the people in the room	Allow participation from the start	Show pretty pictures
Not read the presentation slide to me	Allow time for questions	Talk to the whole room not just the front row
manage time better	use visuals	not give a lecture, engage people instead
practice	relax	listen
Don’t read long text slides to me	Don’t make me hold my question until the end	Don’t run out of time
Not chew gum. It is very distracting
Be passionate about what they’re talking about	Not use lousy powerpoint presentations	Engage the audience
be more engaging	add an element fo FUN to the presentation (esp if subject is dry)	Talk to me not at me
smile	engage the audience	be simple & clear w/points. like don’t assume the audience knows current catch-phrases
Make Presentations FUN	Speak Clearly	Have Great – CLEAR – Takeaways
not use Powerpoint slides as notecards	Not start by saying they won’t talk too long	tell more stories less theories
Not read Powerpoints verbatum	Not tell lame ‘icebreakers’	Stay on Target’
stay away from powerpoint	no rambling	ask questions and involve the audience
engage with the audience	forget the slides	mesmorise me
Anchor on 3 or less very clear points	Convey messages for these points via interesting and engaing stories
Don’t read long text slides to me	Don’t make me hold my question until the end	Don’t run out of time
DON’T READ YOUR #$@#% SLIDES	DON’T READ YOUR #%#$# SLIDES	DON’T READ YOUR #$#$% SLIDES
Actually give useful information
Engage the audience more	Better media in slides	Stop reading the slides
Stop telling us how wonderful something is, and how excited you are… get to the meat and potatoes	Don’t talk soft and slow, like we won’t get it unless you do	Don’t bring me down at the end (emotionally) to make a serious point… especially if you’ve been up-beat and funny unti
dont read from slides	dont use humor if you cant or havent practiced	dont give talks on things ur not passionate about
NOT give long, detailed biographies that I could have read in the program. Get on with the talk
No more Bulletpoints	Dont read the script	Do involve the conversation and the community
no PP pls	ENGAGE, INTERACT, INFORM	USE RICH MEDIA APPLICATION – show some YouTUBEs
they should frame the speech better to lessen tangents
Don’t try to be someone you’re not	don’t be stiff as a door nail	DO end when you’re supposed to
Not dumb down their presentation but challenge us instead	Look like they are enjoying being there even if nervous	Don’t wear ties with horrible patterns and mismatched colours
DON’T READ ME YOUR SLIDES!	Care about what you’re saying. Or pretend to.	Know your audience at least a little.
Give me the Why factor!
Don’t give a speech I already saw you give on YouTube.	Don’t include the phrase “join the conversation” ad nauseaum	No pants.
lead with most relavant point	be engaged with that specific audience – don’t memorize	open up follow on conversations
Good speakers establish genuine rapport in the first few minutes	make points through story not text	finish early
people are there to listen, not read	Cut down on slide clutter
Poor speakers hide behind facts, podiums, and accomplishments
know your audience	be humble, be fun, be honest, informative, not advertorial	. leave lots of time for q & a
be more engaging	add an element fo FUN to the presentation (esp if subject is dry)	Talk to me not at me
show passion	have conversation not presentation

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.

Author of this article: Andrew Dlugan
Category: Resources for Speakers
Article tags: PowerPoint, audience analysis, audience interaction, surveys
© Six Minutes, 2007. | Permalink | 18 comments so far

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