Common Craft Blog
10 Lessons from My Speaking Coach
By leelefever on May 11, 2007 - 10:26am
I thought I was a decent speaker, really, I did. That was until I spent 4 hours with a speaking coach who essentially made me realize all things that should work together to make a speaker and presentation great. This is me last week at WebVisions:
I have a long way to go, and it's hard work, but I consider my time with a coach well-spent. I've called that time "boot camp" because I felt like I my speaking was broken down and rebuilt. Here are some of the major points that came up for me:
Presentation Content:
- You have 2-3 minutes to hook the audience. Thank them for coming, tell them your name and give them the one big reason why they should continue to listen to you. Show them that you will help solve a problem or fill a knowledge gap. Use an analogy or story. Get their attention early with something tasty. Keep it short.
- Outline your talk. Creating an outline will give your talk structure and coherence. Consider the overall theme or message of your talk - it's likely your hook. Everything must relate back to the theme. Outline each slide and each point you will make for each slide. Once you have it written out, go through it and ask yourself if the slides and points support the theme. If it doesn't, scratch it. Focus, focus, focus.
- Remember Door Points. Think of the audience leaving the room after the talk is done. What are the major points that you want them to think about as they walk out? These are your door points. Give them a simple way to remember these points.
- Use photos or graphics. No one wants to see another bullet point. Rely on your words to relate the information and let the presentation support your words. Never, never, never read from your slides.
Presentation Style:
- Control your movement while on stage. Your legs are roots and your arms are willow branches. Stay in one place for a while and then take a few steps to make a point. Don't dance around in a "box-step" motion like I was doing. Stay still.
- Keep your hands at chest level. Make points with your hands and don't stick them in your pockets or cross them in front of you.
- Make eye contact with the audience. Audience relations is very important and often overlooked. To really connect to an audience, you have to look into the crowd and talk to individuals. Divide the crowd into quadrants and speak to a person in each quadrant.
- Don't look down at the floor. Keep your head up and focused on the audience. Looking down makes a poor impression.
- Project your voice. Use more volume than you think is necessary. Get used to being loud when you practice.
- Slow down. Speak clearly and slowly. It will feel strange - like you're talking to someone who doesn't speak your language - but it works. Use pauses to emphasize your points. Take breaks to drink water or take a deep breath.
I worked with a local (Seattle) coach named Cathy Banks that I highly recommend. Cathy works through a company called Communication Power. I plan to continue with the coaching - it gives me confidence that I'm building on a solid foundation. In the end, confidence is the ultimate goal.
As a part of my training, I've also been keeping an eye out for speaking tips. Here are a few informative posts (thanks to Nick for the pointers from this post ).
- Jeffrey Veen: Seven Steps to Better Presentations
- Keith Robinson: How to Give a Great Presentation
- Guy Kawasaki: How to Get a Standing Ovation
- Doc Searls: The Problem with Presentations
- Kathy Sierra: Better Beginnings: How to Start a Presentation, Book, Article
- Bert Decker: 6 Do's to Open Your Presentation Bert's blog is all about speaking and communication.
Read it before your presentations
Good for you,
this kind of "ten tips" are so useful always.
This kind of things you know perfectly, but I recommend always to read before the presentation because it helps you to remind and concentrate in doing it great.
Thanks and another good resource
Lee,
Enjoy your blog in general and this post in particular.
One of my must-read blogs is Garr Reynold's Presentation Zen Always interesting and insightful, it's another good resource for your list.
Thanks for sharing and good luck and have fun with your next presentation!
Thanks Peter
I had seen Presentation Zen before, but never subscribed. Thanks to your recommendation, I am now a proud subscriber. Thanks!
Another tip
Absolutely right: slow down! Speak clearly and slowly, but dont overdo it :)
Be calm and see the audience as your friends that are interested in what you are telling them. Be relaxed! It relaxes your audience as they will see how you feel from your body language.
Video tape your presentation and watch it (with and without sound). Without sound makes you focus on your body language.
Know what you are talking about, but understand that your audience might not! Keep things clear and easy not to bore the audience and answer very detailed questions after the presentation to prevent loosing interest of your audience.
Dont look down at the floor? True! And certainly dont look at the exit/door as your audience will follow your gaze! Look at your audience. See all of them, making eye contact for just a couple of seconds.
Great post!
some more speaking tips
You received some good coaching. For some more tips visit my articles page and my blog at www.schrift.com
Good speaking,
Sandra Schrift
These are all really great
These are all really great tips, Initially I never really think the difference between a good speech and no so good speech is so involved. And your movement and body language is really just as important.
Just be yourself!
Another simple tip is just been yourself. Trying to pretend being somebody else won't help. You will just appear unnatural. Audiences like genuine people. They like listing to real presentations and they hate fake people.
OK to look at the floor sometimes.
In my view there are times when it is OK to look down at the floor.
One technique I use is after a slide change. I change the slide, look up at the slide (to jog my memory), then I glance down at the floor take a breath and then lookup and start speaking to the audience.
For me, it allows me to get into a rhythm.
Thanks for the other tips. Very valuable.
J @ http://www.sumolabs.com