Public Speaking Tips from 997 Ways To Be A Great Speaker » Rob Christeson

10 Mostly Good Public Speaking Tips

Cynthia Lay — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:11:15 +0000

by Cynthia Lay

I just ran across this article by Nick Morgan over on Forbes.com. It’s got some great tips for effective public speaking. A couple of them were especially helpful — and one of them was… well… REALLY bad!

Morgan’s 10 Holiday-Inspired Rules for Surviving
Public Speaking Disasters – or Avoiding Them in the First Place

In Tip #1, “Don’t take on a technical problem alone,” Nick mentions the idea of asking, “Are there any computer experts in the room?” when we have tech issues during a presentation. Pretty much any audience these days will include at least one techy-geek person, so you’re sure to get help much faster than you might expect. The cool thing is, that — by asking one simple question — you’re also getting the audience involved in the problem. They want you (and the techy-geek) to succeed! Use it as a team-building exercise! (Seriously, it works… I’ve seen it happen!) And, more importantly, your audience members won’t feel like they’re being left in the dark when you’re suddenly distracted by a computer.

Tip #7 is another one of my favorites (and a pet peeve!): “If someone asks a question, the most important response is to repeat the question, clarifying it for the whole audience.” I have a tendency to sit in the back of the room at workshops… it’s weird, I know… but that’s what I do. I like to people-watch, and this gives me the best means to do so. Those of us in the back can’t always hear somebody up front who’s asking the facilitator a question. In my (not-so-humble) opinion, it absolutely 100% the responsibility of the speaker to ensure that everybody in the audience understands what’s going on 100% of the time. This means, repeating the questions… then answering. Every time.

So, I was nodding my head enthusiastically all the way through the article . . . until the very last point . . . #10 “Close with ‘thank-you’ and wait for the audience to applaud.”

You want me to WHAT ? ! ? !

ANY self-respecting, public (and professional!) speaker KNOWS that we NEVER, EVER end a speech with “thank you!” To do so would be like… like… well… I’m SO flabbergasted that I can’t even think of a clever example! Nevertheless, there’s no better way to turn your audience OFF than to end a speech with “thank you.” It’s unimpressive, boring, and less-than-memorable. What about the message they’re supposed to walk away with?

Hall of Fame Speaker & Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, is well-known for her fabulous — and extremely effective — speech openings & closings. Her closing suggestions include:

Finish the “end of the story”
Circle with the opening
End with a challenge
Wrap it up with a call-to-action

I’ve experienced Fripp’s trainings & presentations dozens of times — and trust me, she’d never just say ‘thank you.’ She’s much more creative! And, more importantly, she cares too much about her message to do something like that!

Professional Speaker & Speaking Coach, Rob Christeson, on his his blog, shared what I think is the best — and most understandable — suggestion for beginning & ending a speech:

“You should open your presentation with your second strongest material, and close with your best material. You can’t do that if you just stop before you get to your conclusion. Practice your conclusion, watch your time, and avoid extra content in the middle. Don’t drop it off of the end.”

That says it all, doesn’t it?

If ‘thank you’ is the best material you’ve got, then it’s time to start over and write a completely new speech!

Nicely said, Rob! Sounds like Nick over at Forbes.com could learn a few things from you! :o)

Speaking Tips – Writing For Speakers

Guest Blogger — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000

Should a speech be written before it is practiced and presented? I have heard a variety of answers to that question, and I have even made different choices in my own speaking experience. In this post, you will learn some specific tips on when you should answer yes, and when you may want to answer no.

Sometimes, the answer is clouded by the fallacy that if you put it in writing, you are planning to either memorize it or read it. This, of course, is Hooey. Taking the time to write your speech out before you give it can accomplish at least these few things:

1. You will be able to see your outline, your opening, and your conclusion to see if it fits in your plan
2. You will be able to see how the timing of your speech works
3. You will have clearly done some preparation, rather than just “wing it”

Many experts would tell you that, in fact, it is important not to memorize your speech, but to internalize it. What’s the difference? To internalize it, you need to practice and really know your topic. You may not (and should not) present it exactly the same each time, but the overall content and message would be the same.

Example: You have a main point about setting goals, and a story about how you completed your college degree. For a high school audience, you may point out that it is never too early to start thinking about their future. In your story, you would mention than when you took you SAT test, you were already thinking about where you would go to school one day. For an audience of adult learners, your point would be that it is never too late to move forward in their educational goals, and in your story cite statistics about adult graduation success that drove you to go back to school to finish your Masters Degree.

When would you not want to write out your speech? Good question. Here are my thoughts: Anytime you are happy with doing less, than it’s your best.

Keep in mind, this does not mean it needs to be written out word for word. Some preparation may call for more detail, some may allow you to use some of your own shorthand, like “Tell the University of Maryland graduation story – focus on how I felt seeing the Masters Degree students walk across the stage”. (A true story of mine, by the way)

Should a speech be written before it is practiced and presented? That answer is going to be yes, anytime you want to increase the success of your presentations. Don’t try for a literary masterpiece, just get your thoughts down on paper so you can deliver the best presentation possible. The extra few minutes you spend crafting the written word will pay dividends in reduced practice time, and a better result in front of your audience. Try it, and you will be glad you did.

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Rob Christeson is an IT Project Manager, freelance writer and speaker based in Wichita, Kansas. His Talk to the Human™ blog is based on the premise that while on-line social networking, e-mail and text can be very useful for building contacts and staying in touch, nothing beats real live human communication when you need to get stuff done.

Visit his website using either of the links below:
http://www.robchristeson.com
http://www.talktothehuman.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Christeson

Public Speaking Tips – Ace Your Opening

Guest Blogger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:57 +0000

Imagine yourself standing in front of a room full of people, all waiting for you to begin your presentation. Now imagine that you begin with the words “Did you hear the one about…” Believe it or not, you just started digging a very deep hole for yourself. You may be thinking, “but Rob, how do I avoid that?”

You have probably heard the old adage, tell them what your going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them. The thing that is missing there is the essential need for you to develop a connection with your audience. You do not want to jump into that first main point until you have established that connection.

Here are three ways you can establish a connection right from the start. Each of these techniques is designed to be the very first thing you say when you address the audience. Let me repeat that, the very first thing you say. Why do I repeat that? Because someone will think I meant for you to use these techniques after “Ladies and Gentlemen,” or “I’m really glad to be here,” or “thank you Mr Toastmaster,” or… you get the idea.

What I am suggesting is to use one of the options below starting with your very first word.

The first method you can use is to open with a story or a quote. This is a 1-dimensional approach, since it only includes you speaking. If you use a story, remember to keep it “you focused” as much as possible. For example, “do you remember what it was like at your high school prom? You should have been there at mine when… you would have seen me…” Use this method to include your audience in the story. Of course, the story should meet a few criteria:

- it should relate to your presentation
- it can include humor, but probably not include jokes
- you should be able to call back to it throughout the presentation. i.e. “Just like my high school prom date told me, ‘It’s just the way it is’.”

If you choose a quote, make sure you do a couple of things:

- again, it should relate to your presentation
- you should quote a source most (if not all) of the audience would be familiar with
- both the subject and the source should relate to your presentation. i.e. quote Gen Patton or Stephen Covey on leadership, Jay Leno or Dave Berry on humor, etc.

The next method you can use is to open with a question. This is a 2-dimensional approach, and had two really good purposes. The first is to get them thinking right off the bat. Once they are thinking, they are involved… and you are getting connected. Second, you can gauge their overall energy level by their response, and work your next segments accordingly.

The final method is opening with an activity. This is a 3-dimensional approach, since it involves true audience interaction. BEWARE – this is not for the novice or the unprepared crowd. It can be tough enough to make activities work in the middle of a presentation, but to open with one, you will need to be on your game. If you pull this one off, you will have a high energy room with an audience that is glued to your entire program. If you bomb it, well… ouch. I recommend feeling comfortable with leading activities in other parts of the speech before trying this.

A successful connection with your audience does not have to be a difficult pursuit. By using one of the techniques I have discussed, you can make that connection, feel comfortable and confident, and with practice, Ace your Opening!

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Rob Christeson is an IT Project Manager, freelance writer and speaker based in Wichita, Kansas. His Talk to the Human™ blog is based on the premise that while on-line social networking, e-mail and text can be very useful for building contacts and staying in touch, nothing beats real live human communication when you need to get stuff done.

Visit his website using either of the links below:
http://www.robchristeson.com
http://www.talktothehuman.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Christeson

Speaking Tips: Blogging for Speakers

Cynthia Lay — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:18 +0000

What is the point of a blog? I’ve heard, read, and even asked this question myself in the past. In an early assessment, I thought that a blogger fell into one of these categories:

1. Someone who wanted to be discovered as a writer or reporter.
2. Someone with way too much free time on their hands.
3. Someone with a bone to pick with a segment of society (i.e. politicians, other bloggers or the local electric company).
4. Someone just slightly insane.
5. All of the above.

Upon further review, I’ve discovered an interesting mix of the above, as well as some completely normal people out there using blogs to get their message out. And, believe it or not, there are some pretty good messages working their way out into the world. This brings me to the point of this post: How blogging can help your writing and speaking skills.

A few months back, I read a book called World Class Speaking, and in that book one of the authors, Craig Valentine, talks about the power of writing every day and how it was integral to his success. He issues the challenge to the reader to make a personal pledge to write a set number of words each and each day. His number was 747, which has an obvious connotation for most people. When I first read this, I thought, “Gee, that sounds like a good idea…” Then I went on with my life.

After a bit of time, and an opportunity to meet Craig in person, I realized that this goal wasn’t just integral to my future success, it was critical! As a person who wants to see success as a speaker, writing is – frankly – the only way to get there from here. If I ever want to create anything in life, I need to be a better writer. Some examples include:

1. Any type of speeches
2. Books
3. Checklists (like I have on my website)
4. Training Sesions
5. Newsletters
…you get the idea

Some of you might be thinking “I can give speeches without writing…” Here’s the truth: Not if you want to be successful doing it.

As for the rest, it’s the same answer, but you may question the need to write every day, or post to a blog every day like I do. My answer? You don’t need to blog every day,or post your work to be seen by others. It’s a pretty big leap of faith to feel comfortable putting your words on display at all, much less every day. Should you write every day? Yes. 747 words? hmmm…that’s your call. I personally shoot for 300, but I do make a note when I have more than 747, just because I find it interesting to meet that challenge from time-to-time.

For my goal, the idea was to write a topic about speaking, leadership or project management every day. The reasons I chose the blog (and WordPress) format are:

1. It allows me to see how my work looks “in public”
2. It allows me to collect comments and feedback
3. It keeps me honest (I’ve been asked, “What are you going to write about today?”)
4. I thought it might be fun (!)
5. I wanted to protect my “Talk to the Human™” idea, so this made it publically mine.

This doesn’t mean every post has to be my best work. Heck, did you see the post from 23 September? Ack. Not my best work. However, for every one of those “ack” posts, there is at least one I think would make a good article, of feed into a chapter in a book. Just the day before, my post on reading was pretty well received.

In the end, only you can decide if blogging is the way you want to put your thoughts on paper, or if actual paper might be the better choice. If you do decide to blog, I recommend you follow these few tips:

1. Don’t commit to posting every day. Try every week, then add “bonus content” if you want to post more.
2. Don’t worry about the theme at first. Find your voice and the theme will present itself.
3. Don’t worry about background colors at first either. You can (and should) make changes over time.
4. Don’t type anything in a blog you wouldn’t be willing to say in a meeting with your boss and their boss.
5. Don’t do this all by yourself. Encourage “guest columnists” and Talk to some Humans™ about your posts.
6. Be explicit about your goals, and don’t post material unless it helps you reach those goals. Unless it’s funny.
7. Sharpen the Saw…oops, that’s Covey’s seventh thing. Well, do that too. Take a college class to brush up on your skills. It will show!

Whether you blog, write to a file, or handwrite your thoughts, taking the time to write everyday can make a powerful difference in who you are, who you become, and what you’ll accomplish. Not only will your writing improve over time, but you’ll find stories about yourself that you had forgotten, as well as some great ideas for new ones. If you’re a speaker, you’ll be amazed at all of the “new” content that was already available in your very own head. Getting it out on paper will make it forever accessible, and set you up with topics to inspire audiences far and wide (disclaimer: your audiences may vary). Give it a 30-day trial run. Do 300 words a day for 30 days, and send me a note when you get there. I’d like to hear the results, and I’ll be glad to post your thoughts on my blog (it will save me some work).

Start with this line: I _________________ will write no less than _______ words per day for the next 30 days.

You can do it, human.

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Rob Christeson is currently the Lieutenant Governor Marketing for Toastmasters International in Kansas and Western Missouri, including 105 clubs. He has mentored numerous speakers to increase their success through better presentation skills. He can be reached online at www.TalkToTheHuman.com.

To learn more about Toastmasters, visit www.toastmasters.org.

Speaking Tips: 3 Mistakes to Have Fun With

Cynthia Lay — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:00:24 +0000

Looking for a way to ruin that perfect speech? How about a tried-and-true method to disengage with your audience? Tired of people asking you to speak again? What if I told you that following just one bad course of action could help you with all of these goals? How much would you pay for that advice? $12.00? $17.94? One Million Dollars?

Well here it is… free of charge (shh!): …wait for it… … … … Give out too much information. <– That’s the ticket. Now you’re probably wondering, “Hey Rob, what are the 3 best ways to do that?” I’m glad you asked!

First … Cram too much material into the time allotted. … Imagine the perfect mutual fund speech: First point, the entire history of mutual funds. Second point, what mutual funds are. Final point, how to invest in mutual funds for your future. Time? not just 5-7 minutes… no… no… you extend this gem out to 6-8 minutes. Sweet!

Serious, boring part: Don’t be afraid to just talk about one fraction of one topic in your presentation. i.e. Pick history, and just talk about how the mutual fund got its start in the ’70s (or whenever they came into being). Now, people will be able to absorb what you’re talking about and understand your points. Bonus! You can talk about the current state of mutual funds in a future speech, and your audience will remember that you were informative last time, so they’ll listen this time too.

Second … Keep talking until you’ve said everything you can think of, no matter how long it takes. This is the best idea, because your audience is trapped! They wouldn’t dare walk out while you are speaking about this topic! You are the King, or Queen, or Jack… whatever. The point is you own the stage Ace, so they need to pay that rent and listen until you’re done, right?

Serious, boring part: Your audience is probably expecting a set time presentation, and a reasonable amount of information to be provided in that time frame. Make your promise, i.e. “You’re going to learn the 2 steps to investing in mutual funds”. Then don’t blabber on about anything that doesn’t meet that promise. Even if it makes you cool. When in doubt… drop it out. No audience ever gets mad at a speaker who finishes early. Ever!

Finally… Look at your watch in the middle of the presentation, and just stop talking! No conclusion. Or better yet, just say “Thank you.” and step off the stage. Victory!

Serious, boring part: You should open your presentation with your second strongest material, and close with your best material. You can’t do that if you just stop before you get to your coclusion. Practice your conclusion, watch your time, and avoid extra content in the middle. Don’t drop it off of the end.

Now! You know my secrets to less communication! Talk more… say less! It’s a winning combination. Take the time to add useless drivel and pointless content to your next speech, and your audience will be sure to ask for me to speak in your place next time! Victory!

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Rob Christeson is currently the Lieutenant Governor Marketing for Toastmasters International in Kansas and Western Missouri, including 105 clubs. He has mentored numerous speakers to increase their success through better presentation skills. He can be reached online at www.TalkToTheHuman.com.

To learn more about Toastmasters, visit www.toastmasters.org.