PUBLIC SPEAKING
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Public Speaking Tips From My Year Of Speaking Dangerously
When my book first came out , I did what I called a Year of Speaking Dangerously . Below are ten public speaking tips I learned along the way :
1 . FOR MANY SPEAKERS — AND ESPECIALLY FOR INTROVERTS — PREPARATION IS KEY .
Take your time crafting the speech so that it flows logically and is illustrated with stories and examples . Practice it out loud , until you ’ re comfortable . If it ’ s an important speech , videotape yourself . The main reason public speaking can be uncomfortable is that you have no idea how you ’ re coming across . If you went to a job interview without fixing your tie or applying your lipstick in front of the mirror , you would hope that there ’ s no scarlet lip gloss smeared across your teeth , but how could you know for sure ? Better to take the guesswork out of it .
2 . THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR PARTICULAR AUDIENCE WANTS TO HEAR .
Are they craving new information ? Insights ? What problem do they hope to solve ? Give them what they want and need .
3 . IF YOU HAVEN ’ T SPOKEN PUBLICLY IN A WHILE AND FEEL RUSTY , WATCH VIDEOS OF SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SHOTS TAKEN FROM THE SPEAKER ’ S VANTAGE POINT , WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT ’ S LIKE TO FACE THE AUDIENCE .
( Many TED talks have these shots .) As you watch , pretend you ’ re the speaker . Get used to what it feels like to have all eyes on you .
4 . SIMILARLY , IF YOU CAN , VISIT THE ROOM WHERE YOU ’ LL BE SPEAKING .
. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO A GREAT SPEAKER OR HEAR SOMEONE MENTION ONE , GET A TRANSCRIPT OF THE SPEECH .
Study it . How was it constructed ? What kind of opening and closing were used ? How were examples presented ? How did the speaker engage , inspire , and educate the audience ? Most people are not born great orators . They study , and practice . ( This tip comes from Steve Harrison , the co-founder of Reporter Connection .
6 . KEEP A VIDEO DIARY OR VIDEO BLOG .
I always enjoy my friend Gretchen Rubin ’ s video posts on her Happiness Project blog .
7 . KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AS A SPEAKER , AND ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE .
If you have a great sense of humor , use it . If you ’ re not a natural cut-up , don ’ t try to be . Instead , focus on what you do best . Do you have a great story to tell ? An interesting idea your audience hasn ’ t considered ? Information they need to hear ? Frame your speech around your message — and around who you are as a person . Thoughtful and thought-provoking is every bit as powerful as dynamic and entertaining .
8 . AT THE SAME TIME , PUBLIC SPEAKING IS A PERFORMANCE , AND THAT ’ S A GOOD THING , EVEN IF YOU ’ RE NOT A NATURAL ACTOR .
Have you ever wondered why people enjoy costume parties ? It ’ s because they feel liberated when interacting from behind a mask , from within a role . Dressing up as Cinderella or Don Draper removes inhibitions as effectively as a glass of wine . Think of your onstage persona the same way .
Practice standing at the podium , looking out into the rows of seats .
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