The Goals of Public Speaking

  1. People forget 92% of what they hear. Therefore, you must narrow the focus of what you tell them, plus give numerous examples for each key point.
  2. People will fall asleep or zone out if you bore them with any aspect of your delivery or content.
  3. Speak so that your audience understands you.
  4. Speak so that your audience remembers your message.
  5. Motivate your audience to act on your message.

Perfecting your Sound

  1. It’s good to listen to the voices of people you admire in the media, but don’t try to mimic them and don’t feel bad if you don’t sound exactly like they do.
  2. There are all kinds of good, strong, solid voices. - not Not everyone has to sound the same.
  3. Television will suck the natural energy out of your voice. - Speak louder and with more energy than usual -, but don’t yell.
  4. If you don’t boost your energy level, like you are telling a story in a noisy restaurant, you will sound flat and monotone on TV.
  5. If you are nervous, you may speak softer and flatter than usual.
  6. You need to speak with more range and variety when on camera. If you just speak with more volume, you’ll seem unnatural.
  7. Don't drop the volume at the end of a thought. This is OK and common in normal conversation, but when speaking to a group or on TV, no one will be able to hear or understand you.

BY TJ Walker



Break Out The Tux And Gown

If there is one hobgoblin I wish I could eliminate, it would be the notion of a "Formal Speech."

There is no such thing as a "Formal Speech." There is no such thing as an "Informal Speech."

There are only two main types of presentations in the world. 1. Interesting speeches that are memorable, and 2. Boring speeches that are forgettable.

That's it!

The second I hear clients tell me they are about to give a "Formal Speech" and they want to rehearse, I put the coffee pot on overdrive and I cool our training studio down to 65 degrees, because I know I am about to be subjected to a snooze fest and it will be a struggle to stay awake.

Of course there are presentation opportunities that are more structured than others, such as when you are given exactly 20 minutes to make a new business pitch to an important prospective client and they are seeing five of your competitors before you speak and another ten after you present. There may be times when you are speaking to five hundred people at an investor conference, you are given exactly 15 minutes, and the entire future of your company is at stake.

So yes, there are some speaking opportunities that are more structured than others or have higher stakes. But the real problem is that most speakers think that a so-called formal speech is an opportunity to throw out every natural strength they have as communicators.

To most business communicators, a formal speech means that you stand stiff and rigid behind a lectern, you quickly go through as many bullet-pointed facts and concepts as possible, your use big words in long sentences, you avoid contractions, you eliminate examples and anecdotes that might have made your message points memorable, you stop gesturing in a normal manner, and you make your voice more monotone. And to top it all off, in case there is anyone left who hasn't fallen asleep during the first five minutes of your speech, maybe you'll just read the rest of your speech with your head buried in your notes. If you were any more formal, you could be an extra on "Six Feet Under" as a cadaver.

Think about yourself when you are an audience member. Do you really think about whether you are listening to a formal speech or an informal speech? Of course not. You are probably thinking something like this: "This guy is boring me to tears. What a waste of time. Perhaps I"ll pretend to take notes on my Palm so that I can actually check my email."

Or, you are thinking this, "This is interesting. I can see how this benefits me. I better make a note of this."

Those are the two main reactions to any speech.

So the next time you have to give a so-called formal speech, remember that you still have the same responsibilities you have in any other speech. You have to 1. Be understandable, 2. Be memorable, 3. Move people to action, and 4. Motivate them to tell other people about your message.

Your style and substance are still equally important in these speaking situations. You still must make sure your audience doesn't fall asleep. And the best way to do this is to use a conversational tone of voice, an engaging manner, and a narrow focus on a handful of message points - each one fleshed out with memorable stories and examples.

That way, the only starch your audience members will observe is in your shirt color and not your delivery.

More insights from TJ Walker

   

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED !

TJ Walker & Jess Todtfeld along with The Speaking Channel team wants your questions about speaking to audiences, presenting, or speaking to the media. Have a burning question?
We want to answer it.

Send questions to: jess @ speakingchannel.tv

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Publisher: TJ Walker
Managing Editor: Jess Todtfeld
Creative Director : Kris Gentile

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