Monthly Archive for February, 2010

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

This review features topics including:

• frequently asked questions about Toastmasters;
• tactics for persuasive speaking;
• speechwriting tips;
• storytelling help from a Google ad;
• Obama’s State of the Union address;
• hands in the pockets;
• visual clichés;
• Sarah Palin and notes on her hands;
• the believability of Tiger Woods’ apology;
• and more!

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Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die packs powerful wisdom that will help you express your message so that your audience remembers it and acts on it.

This article is the latest of a series of public speaking book reviews here on Six Minutes.

• What’s Inside?
• The Price
• What I Loved
• How could it be better?
• What Others Think
• Verdict

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Have you taken a college course in public speaking?

Have you taught a college course in public speaking?

Which textbook did you use, and would you recommend it?

I’m interested to hear all your recommendations, the good and the bad.

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If you are an average speaker, you suck.

So do all of your colleagues with average presentation skills.

Let’s see why this is so…

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Your speaking ethos is critical to ensure that your audience is present, listening, and open to being persuaded by your ideas.

But, how do you maximize your ethos for a given speech and a given audience? Is ethos fixed before you open your mouth? Is there anything you can do during a speech that makes a difference?

This article shows you practical tactics you can employ to establish and increase your ethos.

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Twice each month, Six Minutes weekend reviews bring you the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

Please share them with anyone you feel would benefit from the tips and techniques.

This review features topics including:

• recently released public speaking books;
• storytelling and details;
• remedies for voice malfunctions;
• handling hecklers;
• thanking the audience;
• cartoons in presentations;
• rehearsal strategies;
• a speech critique of Sir Ken Robinson;
• and more!

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Have you ever fainted in mid-sentence?

Have you ever shown up for a 1-hour seminar only to be told you had to give it eight times in a row?

Have you ever had your blouse pop open while speaking?

These were just a few of the confessions shared by Six Minutes readers in our contest to win a copy of Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun.

Thank you to everyone who participated. The responses are collectively funny, surprising, and educational. A few of the most shocking confessions and the most valuable insights are featured below. Click here to read all of them back at the original contest article.

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