Monthly Archive for September, 2010

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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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!

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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.

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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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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!

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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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The floor is open for discussion. You have a burning question that you want to ask, but as you try to formulate it, someone asks a different question and the topic has moved on.

Have you ever been at an industry conference, a PTA meeting, or a community gathering where you wanted to stand up and voice your opinion, but couldn’t find the words or didn’t have the confidence to put yourself out there?

This article shows how you can gain public speaking confidence using an unlikely method — by practicing improv comedy.

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Our recent interview with Kristin Arnold, President of the National Speakers Association, led me to several questions:

  • How many professional speaker associations exist?
  • Where are they?
  • How long have they been around?
  • How many members do they have?

Do you know the answers? Read on!

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