Best Public Speaking Articles: Weekly Review [2008-06-21]

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

Topics featured this week include:

• using statistics in a presentation;
• persuasive speaking;
• sales presentations;
• humorous sounds;
• choosing the best type of visuals;
• the benefits of gesturing;
• and more…

Week in Review: Six Minutes

Earlier this week, I published one article as a guest article on John Hewitt’s blog:

• Wrap Your Naked Statistics in a Warm Blanket of Meaning
  Provides examples and a simple technique for using statistics which connect with your audience and strengthen your argument.

Week in Review: Public Speaking Blogosphere

• Kevin Hogan recently completed an article series about influence and persuasion, citing several examples of how you can persuade your audience to think in a certain way by “priming” their brain.
• Susan Trivers completed an article series on winning sales presentations, drawing examples from a real-life presentation coaching scenario.

Speaker Habits

• Lisa Braithwaite cites research to back up her claim that adequate rest and sleep before a presentation improves your performance.
• Pete Ryckman provides several recommendations for preparing notes that allow you to speak with them effectively.

Speechwriting Advice

• Kevin Cummings gives several tips for injecting humor into your speeches by focussing on the sounds of the words.

PowerPoint and Slide Design

• Andrew Abela writes about visualization taxonomies and offers a pair of illustrations aimed at helping you decide what type of visual helps you convey your idea most effectively.

Delivery Techniques

• Olivia Mitchell describes three benefits of gesturing.

Toastmasters Articles

• Matt Kleinosky pitches a bold grassroots proposal for a new Competent Evaluator track to run parallel to Communication and Leadership tracks.