Public Speaking Blogosphere: Week in Review [2008-03-22]

Every Saturday, we survey the best public speaking articles from throughout the public speaking blogosphere.

This week’s selection includes:

• speech preparation;
• a book review;
• making a great first impression;
• storytelling;
• visual aids and slideware;
• and many more…

Week in Review: Six Minutes

Three articles were featured this week:

1. Speech Preparation #10: Prepare to Win a Toastmasters Speech Contest
   The Speech Preparation Series concluded with advice for putting yourself in a position to win a speech contest. If you are among the dozens of new Six Minutes subscribers since this series began, you may with to start reading at the beginning of this popular series.
   • Jeff Bailey responds to the article series by urging speakers to actively contemplate during speech preparation.
2. Business Communications Book Review: Fire Them Up!
   Public speaking book reviews continue with an examination of communications coach Carmine Gallo’s latest offering.
3. Presentation Zen Slide Examples
   A set of 85 slides which reveal many insights into great design of visuals.

Week in Review: Public Speaking Blogosphere

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

• Dave Wheeler examines a news story where the Mayor of St. Paul is criticized for delivering a speech without notes or teleprompter. Criticized?
• Susan Trivers reminds business public speakers that time spent preparing is time well spent.
• Pete Ryckman suggests reading your speech aloud early in the speechwriting process.
• Pete also discusses the relationship between your presentation and the hierarchy of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom.
• Rhett Laubach provides a guide to authenticity from Norma Hollis.
• Thomas Sechehaye reports that you only have seven seconds before your audience forms their impression about you, and provides five tips for making those seconds count.
• John Kinde references Doug Stevenson’s 9-step storytelling method and provides a video link.

Visual Aids and Slideware

• Ellen Finkelstein answers: How many bullets should I put on a slide?
• John Windsor asks this about your PowerPoint style: Are you predictable?
• Dave Paradi argues that sometimes less is not more when it comes to slides.
• Garr Reynolds points to a few examples which show that words, not slide bullets, are the essence of the presentation.

See you Next Week…