All-inclusive

Fellow speaker,

When doing a question and answer session, involve as much of the audience as you can.  Take a question from the front, then the back of the room, then the sides.  Make it clear that everyone gets to have their say.

Included,

Tim

Make it memorable

Fellow speaker,

When giving answers in a question and answer session, be brief.  The goal is to respond to the question with a short, powerful, memorable that "sticks" in their mind.  If they can't repeat your answer after your presentation is over, then your answer was too long.

Briefly,

Tim

The frame game

Fellow speaker,

When answering a question in a question and answer session, frame your answer so the audience understands where you are in your response.  Answer the question in one sentence if you can. If it's going to take awhile to answer the question, let the audience know.  Saying something like, "That's a complex question and here are some of the things you need to be aware of.  Firstly..."  This will let the audience know that they are about to get an in-depth answer.

Framing,

Tim

"What questions do you have?"

Fellow speaker,

To encourage people to participate in the question and answer session, ask open-ended questions such as "What questions do you have?"  This approach is based on the idea that people do have questions and need to feel the speaker is open to listening to them.

Openly,

Tim

Q and A what to say

Fellow speaker,

When doing question and answer (Q and A) sessions, let people know that you will be completing your presentation after the Q and A session.  So say something like, "I will take a few questions and then I will wrap my presentation."  This encourages people to remain after the Q and A session, so they can hear your final comments.

Staying on,

Tim

What to do...what to do...

Fellow speaker,

World Champion Speaker Ed Tate says that some listeners are "evaluative listeners".  These are the people who have some sort of problem and want your speech to help them solve that problem.  They want to take action, or come to some type of a decision on something.  Make sure that your speech contains valuable, dependable information that people can apply in their life, and you will make this listener happy with your speech.

Thinking it over,

Tim

What was that you said?

Fellow speaker,

Ed Tate, World Champion of Public Speaking, says that we may have a "discerning listener" in our audience.  These people want the "big picture" and will often ask many questions.  Their goal is to find the most important point in the speech.

Big picturing,

Tim

So how do I use this stuff?

Fellow speaker,

World Champion speaker Ed Tate suggests that some of your listeners may be "comprehensive listeners".  These people are looking to see what they can get out of your speech, and want to take your ideas to apply them directly to their own life.  For these speakers you have to make sure that your speech is structured and easy to follow, with clear organization all the way through it.

Organized,

Tim

I feel your pain

Fellow speaker,

World Champion Ed Tate suggests that some people in  the audience are empathic listeners.  They want to support you and your speech and they will often nod to show they agree with you.  The challenge is to "touch their heart" with your speech, get across a deeply meaningful message.

Truly madly deeply,

Tim

Show a little love

Fellow speaker,

Ed Tate, a World Champion of Public speaking, suggests that some people in the audience are "appreciative listeners":  they just want to have fun...and they lose interest quickly.   They like a good story or joke...anything that's fun.

Funnily enough,

Tim

Having "the talk"

Fellow speaker,

Before going onstage, talk to the person who will be announcing you.  Agree on where you will wait to be announced:  in the audience, onstage, in the wings, etc.  Also answer and questions the announcer has.

Working it out,

Tim

Clocking your speech

Fellow speaker,

Professional speaker Patricia Fripp suggests warming up your eyes by looking at an imaginary huge clock, look on the imaginary face of the clock at the 12 (eyes up), the 3 (eyes right), the 6 (eyes down), the 9 (eyes left), and and then the 12 (eyes up) again.  Repeat three times.  Then reverse the direction of looking (i.e., look at the 12, the 9, the 6, and the 3) and repeat three times.

Clocked,

Tim

Roll roll roll your shoulders...

Fellow speaker,

Before speaking, your shoulders and neck, to loosen up the muscles in your shoulders and neck.

Rolling along,

Tim

Chew on this

Fellow speaker,

Professional speaker Patricia Fripp recommends "chewing" with your mouth in highly elaborate way using lots of mouth movements as a way to warm up your mouth before your presentation.

Chewing,

Tim

Shake it, baby!

Fellow speaker,

Professional speaker Patricia Fripp recommends a hand shake warm up.  Shake your hands quickly, holding them above your head, bending at the wrist and elbow.  Bring your hands down.  Pretend to "conduct" with your hands.

Hand waving,

Tim

Getting a leg up

Fellow speaker,

Patricia Fripp professsional speaker and coach recommends this warm up exercise:

Stand one one leg and shake the other.  Then switch legs and repeat.  This makes your legs feel lighter and more comfortable when giving your speech.

Legging it,

Tim

The pause that refreshes

Fellow speaker,

Put in pauses that match your speech delivery.  If you are a fast speaker, have long pauses.  If you are a moderately fast speaker use moderate pauses.  This will allow the audience to "catch up" to your point and gives them time to think about what you said.

Adjusting,

Tim

Talking politics

Fellow speaker,

If you are running for office, here are a few speaking tips:

• Write passionate speeches on what is of most concern to your voters
• Speak "off the cuff" to easily handle any topic at any time
• Present in a direct and "straightforward" style that is easily understandable
• Ask the audience for their vote

Politically,

Tim

Being a personable person

Fellow speaker,

To get invited back to speak again:

• Before the event, be responsive, easy to deal with, and meet all the organizer’s deadlines.
• During the event, don’t demand, change the equipment requested, or act like a celebrity.
• Before your speech, meet, shake hands, chat with attendees, and be visible and involved for at least part of the meeting

Invitingly,

Tim

Study up!

Fellow speaker,

Here are questions to ask the key members of your audience:

• Who am I speaking to?
• Why are they there?
• What part of the agenda am I supporting?
• What is the purpose of the meeting?
• What are the expected outcomes of my speech?
• Is there a theme for this meeting?
• What is the current state of your industry?
• What is the organization proud of?

Asking questions,

Tim

The 5 P's

Fellow speaker,

Professional speaker Patricia Fripp says:
“The best way [to engage your audience] is to be prepared, personable, polished, practical, and profound.”  So be ready to speak, be nice to the audience, know what you are going to say, make sure people can use what you talk about, and have some "deeper" meanings in your speech.

Deeply,

Tim

Those who want to get better at doing...teach!

Fellow speaker,

Teaching people how to be better speakers makes you aware of what works...and what doesn't work with public speaking.  It forces you to think clearly and talk in an easily understandable way.  Teaching others teaches you.

Teaching and learning,

Tim

Getting better all the time

Fellow speaker,

After every speech you give, set aside some time to think, "What went well?  What could have gone better?  What will I do differently next time?"  By thinking and rethinking each speech you give, you will quickly improve your speaking and your speeches.

Improving,

Tim

Opening up

Fellow speaker,

Memorize the words of your speech "opener"...even if you refer to notes for the rest of your speech. Use your speech opener to make that all-important impactful and memorable audience contact.

Opening,

Tim

Six times strong

Fellow speaker,

Spend at least six times as much time practicing as the length of your speech. So to prepare for an hour speech, take six hours, for a half-hour speech, 3 hours, etc.

Taking the time,

Tim

Fast speech...long...pause

Fellow speaker,

If you are a "fast talker", have long pauses in your speech, to make sure your audience is "caught up" with your ideas.

Catching up,

Tim

Audience test

Fellow speaker,

To find out how your speech is going pay attention to your audience. Do they appear to be "getting it"? Or are there lots of puzzled looks out there? Being aware of your audience will help you be more aware of your audience's needs and wants...and help you give a better speach.

Audience-aware,

Tim

Think it over

Fellow speaker,

After you have finished your presentation, take some time to think over how well you did. What worked in the speech? What didn't work in the speech? How can you change the speech so it works better the next time?

Working it out,

Tim

One at at time

Fellow speaker,

When learning new methods of doing your speeches, only "take on" one new method at a time. Then learn that new method VERY well, then go onto learn and apply the next method.

Step by step,

Tim

Pre-presentation

Fellow speaker,

When you arrive where you are going to speak, you are already "onstage". How you handle yourself at the airport, on the bus to the hotel, with the staff at the hotel, to other people, is how other people will see you. Remember, there is a good chance that some of the people you meet will be in your audience when you go onstage!

Onstage all the time,

Tim