Public Speaking Blogosphere: Week in Review [2008-01-26]

It is time again to review the past week here at Six Minutes and throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

As always, there is a wide range of great advice for speakers.

This week also features a series of articles on speech analysis, reflections on Martin Luther King Jr., several opinions on PowerPoint, and the first articles of Toastmasters contest season.

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

Week in Review: Six Minutes

This focus this week was the Speech Analysis Series. Four articles were published this week to join the opening article last week.

• The Art of Delivering Evaluations
  Explains how to improve as a speaker by evaluating others.
• Modified Sandwich Technique for Evaluations
  Guidance for structuring the content of an evaluation.
• Evaluation Forms, Tools, and Resources
  Includes a simple and flexible speech evaluation form.
• Toastmasters Evaluation Contests
  Describes why you should attend, and how you can compete and win.

Finally, on the lighter side:

• Do you Fear Public Speaking Death?
  Google proof that public speaking is a not a life-threatening activity.

Week in Review: Public Speaking Blogosphere

These are the best public speaking articles I read in the past week.

• Bert Decker was one of several bloggers to reflect on the speaking style of Martin Luther King Jr. [View the “I have a dream” speech.]
• Common Craft highlights the need to answer questions without confusing terminology.
• Craig Strachan provides a pair of articles about speaking logistics: what to pack with you to the event and proactive solutions once you are there.
• Ian Griffin shares a wealth of information for speakers interested in writing and publishing.
• Dana Bristol-Smith ponders how to connect with an audience.
• Nick R Thomas extracts four practical tips from a speaking journey.

PowerPoint and Slideware

• PowerPoint has been taking a beating in the blogosphere lately, but Indezine provides an interview with a senior program manager at Microsoft which offers some insights on the oft-maligned slideware.
• Dave Paradi opens our eyes to designing slides which are accessible to those with visual or hearing impairments.
• Gavin Meikle tells us how to crop pictures within PowerPoint.
• John Watkis asks “Have you spent enough time crafting your speech so that it’s just as good without the visuals?“

Toastmaster Contest Season Kicks Off

• Yow Kia describes the first contest of the year.
• Eric Feng interviews Rich Hopkins (3rd place, 2006 World Championship).
• John Spaith offers six keys to winning.

Articles to Read See and Hear

I’d like to point out the efforts of two bloggers who, in addition to writing articles mentioned above, also contributed personal audio and video to the blogosphere this week.

• John Watkis posted a series of video clips from a presentation he delivered to the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. His argument is fascinating – the connection between music and public speaking. I mentioned one segment [part 2] last week. The rest of the series [part 1, parts 3 and 4] is worth watching too.
• Ian Griffin posted an audio podcast of an interview with Elfrena Foord discussing several topics of interest to public speakers.

I hope others (including me) in the public speaking blogosphere will adopt these formats so that we can read, see, and hear their articles too.