Monthly Archive for February, 2008

The previous article in the Speech Preparation Series described how to select your speech topic and your core message.

This article describes how to support your core message with a speech outline, and provides numerous examples. This is the second step in the six-step speech preparation process.

Writing an outline is, unfortunately, a step that many skip. The most common excuse is simply “No time.” This is unfortunate because time spent on an outline is time well spent. It is necessary to ensure that you craft a coherent and focussed presentation.

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The first article in the Speech Preparation Series outlined how to prepare a speech in six steps. In this second article, we examine the first of these steps — how to select a speech topic.

Selecting a speech topic sometimes feels like shooting an arrow in a random direction and hoping that it hits a target. If this is your approach, you are probably quite frustrated.

Your topic — and, more specifically, your core message — must be selected carefully. If it isn’t, then you won’t be able to effectively deliver the speech, and your audience won’t be interested or prepared to receive your message.

This begs the question: How do you choose a great speech topic?

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Proper preparation prevents presentation predicaments!

Speech preparation is the most important element to a successful presentation, and also the best way to reduce nervousness and combat fear.

The Speech Preparation Series is a series of articles examining each of the six steps which are necessary to properly prepare for a speech.

These steps are briefly introduced here, and investigated in more depth in later articles:

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Saturday signals a scan of the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

Just a few of the topics featured this week are:

• Pauses and pause fillers;
• Public speaking in the mainstream news;
• Visual aids; and
• Toastmaster.

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A strong speech opening is critical to grab the attention of your audience.

Suppose you were delivering a speech to raise awareness in your community about school security. How would you open your speech?

• “I’m going to talk to you today about security in our schools…“
• “School security is an important issue that we must deal with…“

Both openings are direct, to-the-point, and boring! What if there was a better way?

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Happy Valentines Week! Once again this Saturday, we scan the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

Just a few of the topics featured this week are:

• visual aids;
• dealing with difficult audiences;
• handing a Q&A session; and
• Toastmasters.

[Before we begin, did you catch last week’s review?]

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This article reviews a fantastic talk by Majora Carter titled “Greening the Ghetto” at TED. I loved this emotionally charged talk detailing her fight for environmental justice and her efforts as director of Sustainable South Bronx.

Majora Carter’s TED talk has both incredible strengths — passion, energy, authenticity — and one unfortunate weakness — rapid speaking rate. Both extremes are worthy of public speaking analysis.

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The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling has one consistent message: that storytelling is a critical skill for business communication and public speaking.

Author Annette Simmons weaves hundreds of stories into The Story Factor. These stories — drawn from cultures around the world — illustrate well the power of story in conveying lessons.

I discovered this public speaking book two years ago in my Toastmasters club library. When I picked up the book again recently to write this review, I was delighted to reacquaint myself with several stories that I have since adopted into my own speaking repertoire.

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Another Saturday, and another review of the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

Just a few of the topics featured this week are:

• practicing;
• nervousness;
• humor; and
• Toastmasters.

[Before we begin, did you catch last week’s review?]

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It is Saturday, and that means it is time to review the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

Themes featured this week include:

• marketing yourself;
• body language;
• PowerPoint, Keynote, & slideware; and
• Toastmasters.

[Before we begin, did you catch last week’s review?]

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Conventional public speaking wisdom states that one should never apologize.

However, I recently argued that there are very few public speaking rules.

• Is “never apologize” a strict rule?
• What is the rationale? What’s wrong with apologizing to the audience?
• Under what circumstances, if any, is it okay to apologize?

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