Instant story

Fellow speaker,

To develop a story for your speech, tell a story to a friend or friends, record it, and write out what you said. Then "tighten up" the story.

Storied,

Tim

Hear here

Fellow speaker,

Write out your speech (or have a service write out your speech) to see what you actually said and how you said it.

Seeing the hearing,

Tim

Up close and personal

Fellow speaker,

When trying to make your speech more personal and intimate to your audience, imagine that you are telling the speech to someone you know very well (e.g., a relative, close friend, etc.). Your goal is to help this person develop and grow in their life by clearly getting across to them the main points in your speech.

Personally,

Tim

Storytelling questions

Fellow speaker,

When telling a story mention:

• When it happened
• Why it happened
• Where it happened
• What caused it to happpen
• Which thing/who was involved
• How it happened

Mentioning,

Tim

Find a theme

Fellow speaker,

When answering an audience question, it is sometimes helpful to find a "theme" in your answer and expand on your answer based on that theme. So if the question is "How do I use your method to develop my life?" the "theme" of your answer might be "be a "high flyer"" and your reply would be about how your method can help a person "be a "high flyer" in their life.

Theming,

Tim

Get a little more thinking time

Fellow speaker,

When you are asked a question of the audience that you are not quite sure how to answer you can "buy some time" by greeting the person with, "That's an interesting question. Let me tell you how I would answer that one." This gives you thinking time to figure out how to answer the question.

Stalling for time,

Tim

The three Ps

Fellow speaker,

To get your audience on your side talk about the:

1. Past - "I used to do things this way"
2. Present - "Now I do things this way"
3. Future - "In the future this will lead to..."

Focused on the future,

Tim

Modularity

Fellow speaker,

When developing your content, Craig Valentine (World Champion of Public Speaker) suggests using the PARTS formula:

• Phrase – foundational phrase in the speech fewer than 10 words (makes it easy for speaker and audience to remember it)
• Anchor – tie the information to something (Anecdote, Activity, Analogy, Acronym)
• Reflection – get people to reflect on how these ideas can work for them (ask questions)
• Technique – give way to practice the theory
• Sale – sell your ideas (“You get…”, "If you do this then you get that. If you don't do this you might get something else.")

Partly,

Tim

Two sides to every question

Fellow speaker,

Create humor by combining two different backgrounds together followed by "which means". For example, World Champion Darren LaCroix says, "I'm a Toastmaster and a marketing expert which means whenever I come up with a brilliant marketing idea, I clap" (Toastmasters encourages its members to applaud every speaker who speaks at a Toastmasters club).

Doubly,

Tim

Whoops!

Fellow speaker,

Humor and comedy come from expanding on your failures.  For example, World Champion Darren LaCroix said, "I don't want to brag or anything, but I took a $60,000 debt and in three short months...I doubled that debt!"

Humorously,

Tim

In a speaking spot

Fellow speaker,

If you are asked to say something and you have had no time to prepare a suitable response:

• Say the first idea that comes into your mind - for example, if someone asks you "What do you think about Chicago?" you might say, "It's a very windy city."
• Free associate to come up with as many things related to this idea as possible - "I was in Chicago coming across a bridge with my head down, and the wind was whipping all around me. I had to hold tightly onto my briefcase to keep it from being blown away."
• Expand this idea out into different categories - "Chicago is known for its wind, but it's also known for its sports teams, and the Sears Tower."

Speaking of speaking,

Tim

Obviously

Fellow speaker,

When giving a speech in front of people who are very different from you in some way, make sure to mention the difference between yourself and the audience in some way to make it clear that you recognize and accept that difference. For example, Darren LaCroix (World Champion of Public Speaking) gave a speech in front of a Hispanic association beginning with, "I have never ever ever ever in my entire speaking career felt so Caucasian."

Making it obvious,

Tim

Prep them!

Fellow speaker,

The "PREP" system is for making a statement when you haven't had time to prepare:

1. Point - "The point I want to make is..."
2. Reason - "The reason I say this is..."
3. Example - "For example..."
4. Point - "In summary, my point..."

Prepped,

Tim

Then, Now, and How

Fellow speaker,

Craig Valentine (World Famous Champion of Public Speaking) suggests you use your story to sell your products.  Tell about a time THEN when things went badly for you, talk about how successful you are NOW, and explain HOW you made the change from bad to successful.

Productively,

Tim

Story selling

Fellow speaker,

To sell your story to your audience, Craig Valentine (World Champion of Public Speaking) suggests:

• Include something your audience wants to avoid
• Include something your audience wants to attain
• Have a relatable character
• Evoke emotions
• Make your offering scarce
• Sell the result, not the product

Selling,

Tim

Pause

Fellow speaker,

Pause just before saying what you want your audience to focus on.

Focusing,

Tim

Wide-mouth

Fellow speaker,

Opening your mouth wider when you speak creates a deeper voice.

Deeply,

Tim

I can speak clearly now...

Fellow speaker,

When speaking beware of:

• Cutting off your words
• Replacing one of your words with another word
• Running your words together

Clearly,

Tim

Time to talk

Fellow speaker,

The act of speaking is a four-step process:

1. Articulation - clarity
2. Resonation – tonal quality
3. Phonation – pitch
4. Respiration – strength or loudness

Processing,

Tim

Know the need

Fellow speaker,

Know your audience's:

• Knowledge level
• Interest
• Status
• Ability to act on what you present

Knowing,

Tim

Check in

Fellow speaker,

"Check in" often with your audience with questions such as:

• Does that make sense?
• Do you understand that?
• Do you have any questions so far?

Questioning the audience,

Tim

Group questions

Fellow speaker,

If you are giving a team/group presentations:

• Have each speaker prepared to answer questions in a particular area and to follow up if another speaker needs help
• Avoid having every speaker comment about every question

Speaking in groups,

Tim

Can you see it?

Fellow speaker,

Here are some tips for using visuals/slides:

• Have someone other than the speakers handle the visual aids during the presentation.
• Practice to achieve synchronization between the speaker and person handling the visuals.
• Make sure that all slides or overheads follow the same format.
• Use the same method of giving visuals (e.g., everyone uses PowerPoint).

Grouping,
Tim

Grouply

Fellow speaker,

When presenting with other speakers, ask the meeting planner if you can distribute speakers either by their areas of expertise with the topic or by their presentation strengths and weaknesses. For example, people with strong presentation skills are the best candidates for opening and closing the talk, where persuasiveness counts most.

Group presenting,

Tim

Answering questions

Fellow speaker,

To answer questions during your speech:

• Make the transition to Q&A clear
• Repeat the question for the audience to hear
• Rephrase the question and give the answer to the whole group

Question answering,

Tim

Get up, stand up!

Fellow speaker,

If you are in the audience listening to others before you give your speech, a short time before your speech begins, stand up and move to the side of the stage, ready to go on.

Standing up,

Tim

Mirror mirror

Fellow speaker,

To make sure you always look your best when you go out onstage, carry a small, palm-sized travel mirror. Right before going onstage check in the mirror to make sure your collar, coat, etc. is in place.

Mirroring,

Tim

Questions questions!

Fellow speaker,

To prepare for your audience's questions:

• Before you present ask someone to ask questions about your talk
• Before you present anticipate your listeners’ concerns
• While presenting let your audience know when and why you will take questions

Questioning,

Tim

Keep it positive!

Fellow speaker,

To create a positive image onstage:

• Dress and present your self confidently
• Make your facial expressions show interest in your audience
• Make and maintain eye contact with audience members

Positively,

Tim

Visual tips

Fellow speaker,

When using visuals use:

• Simple graphics, icons, and symbols to reinforce or communicate a concept
• Key words, not full sentences
• One concept per slide or overhead
• Three to six ideas per flip chart sheet
• Color

Visually,

Tim

Terrible death

Fellow speaker,

Mark Twain said, "It's a terrible death to be talked to death", so don't make that mistake! To keep your speech to the point:

• Make the speech only long enough to be clear and complete within the allocated time.
• Make a few points and make them well.
• End the talk a little early if you run out of things to say.
• Plan on what to delete if your time is cut short.

Keeping it interesting,

Tim