The Best of Six Minutes: 2007-2009

Two years ago, the very first article was published here on Six Minutes.

Since then, we’ve added 172 more, all of which are available free in the article archives.

Today, we celebrate the best articles of Six Minutes as determined by you, the reader. We list reader favorites in the major Six Minutes categories, from speechwriting to speech critiques, from visual aids to speaker resources.

It has been a pleasure sharing these articles with you. Thank you for your readership, and thank you for all of your emails with great suggestions and feedback.

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Best Overall

Readers’ Favorite:

• Toastmasters Speech Series

Honorable Mention:

• Speech Preparation Series
• The 25 Public Speaking Skills Every Speaker Must Have

Speechwriting

Readers’ Favorite:

• Selecting a Speech Topic

Honorable Mention:

• 5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama’s Inaugural Speech
• How to Use the Rule of Three in Your Speeches
• Don’t Skip the Speech Outline

Delivery Techniques

Readers’ Favorite:

• Leading the Perfect Q&A

Honorable Mention:

• Never Read Your Speech… Never?
• How to Deliver the Talk of Your Life

Visual Aids

Readers’ Favorite:

• How to Improve Your Slides with the Rule of Thirds

Honorable Mention:

• Six Simple Techniques for Presenting Data: Hans Rosling (TED, 2006)
• Use PowerPoint Visuals, Not Bullets – What the World Eats
• PowerPoint Design Wish List: 8 Modest Proposals

Speaker Habits

Readers’ Favorite:

• The 7 Deadly Sins of Public Speaking

Honorable Mention:

• How to Study and Critique a Speech
• How to Practice Your Presentation
• 6 Key Steps to Dip Your Toe into the Professional Speaking Pool

Resources for Speakers

Readers’ Favorite:

• Gifts Public Speakers Really Want: Dozens of Christmas Ideas

Honorable Mention:

• Toastmasters: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
• Public Speaking Blogs: The Definitive List
• Speaking Survey says: Speaker DO’s and DON’Ts

The Lighter Side

Readers’ Favorite:

• 12 Days of Public Speaking Christmas

Honorable Mention:

• 32 Reasons a PowerPoint Slide Deck is Nothing Like a Bra
• Haiku for Public Speakers

Speech Critiques

Readers’ Favorite:

• Martin Luther King Jr. – I Have a Dream

Honorable Mention:

• Majora Carter – Greening the Ghetto
• Al Gore – 15 ways to avert a climate crisis
• Steve Jobs – Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.