No, I don’t! I just got stuck with this!
Austin Boyd
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Lots of public speaking experience, but . . .
I am rarely paid… but I do work with speaker bureaus.
I am not trained in formal rhetorical theory.
This presentation has not been vetted by a professional.
I speak to help audiences learn or inspire them to do something.
I’m here today to share lessons learned.
Some of my lessons will fit, others will not.
Feel free to ask questions . . . Dialogue!
Rules of the road:
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About Whitespace Innovations
Founded just a few days ago!
Based on my 17 years of experience serving local business development needs and winning many procurements.
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Bottom line: My company helps your company to grow profitably
Vision: Know where you’re going.
Strategy: Have a plan to get there.
Opportunity: Identify the right leads.
Capture: Shape opportunities for success.
Win: Bid with confidence.
Plan ahead.
Plan Ahead
A search of related quotes or related terms.
Prayer.
Develop a theme. What is the core of your message?
Whenever possible, use a team, or at least one other person, to help you develop your theme and key points. You’re not as smart as you think you are.
Develop synonyms and memorable key phrases that highlight your core message. Use those phrases and synonyms throughout the talk.
What impact do you want your talk to have on your audience?
Words have power! What impression do you want your words to leave?
What do you want your audience to understand about your subject and recommendations?
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whitespace innovations. All rights reserved.
I Mean It! Plan Ahead!
Handwrite your speech in draft.
Re-write it in a smooth draft. Imprint this message on your brain!
Then type the speech.
16-font, double space, 1” margins ~ 1 minute of speaking.
Many times your audience will want a copy, and you can email it to them.
Always insert page numbers.
Practice your speech out loud 3 times. 7 times is better.
Imprint this message on your brain!
Take plenty of time to do this.
Rush = panic = speaker meltdown
Sometimes, you’re stuck. Take a deep breath and believe in yourself.
Make two copies. Take both copies with you.
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Know Your Audience
Deliver!
Speak directly to some of the people in the audience.
Recognize them and their contributions. Thank them. Make it personal.
Find your “anchor” in the audience who sustains you.
What is the audience’s “state of being?”
Did they just eat?
Do most of them have babysitters?
Are they worn out from the speakers before you?
Is your message appropriate for the audience?
Don’t lecture about mortgage derivatives to the monthly MOPS luncheon.
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Really Know Your Audience
High school and college:
20-30’s
40-60’s
70-90’s
Can sit still for longer periods, but appreciate shorter presentations.
Speak up!
Again, understand the demography of your audience.
Women versus men:
Be careful of stereotypes and clichés
Racial diversity?
Again, be careful of stereotypes and clichés
Cultural diversity?
Example: Are you willing to take an unpopular stand before a hostile group and then back up your position with reason?
Example: Are you speaking about philanthropy to jobless people?
Example: Are you railing against Islamic terror without understanding it?
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Keep It Simple
The Gettysburg Address
November 19, 1863, delivered in 2 minutes, following another 2-hour speech.
Lincoln was weak, in the early phases of smallpox. He thought his talk was a disaster.
Harrow School Address
October 29, 1941 at Winston Churchill’s boyhood school, delivered in 4 minutes.
Five weeks before Pearl Harbor attack. Included these famous “never give in” words…
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Emphasis: Keep It Simple
Don’t use too many anecdotes. Not a preacher or story-teller.
Keep to your theme, and repeat key words … but with care.
Repetition: “what I plan to tell you. I tell you. What I told you.”
Avoid “rabbit trails.”
Speak slowly, but not in a monotone.
If you rush to make your time, you will sound frantic and lose credibility.
Don’t be a simpleton. Avoid jokes.
Be extemporaneous, when possible… but with care.
Example: You see someone you know in the audience and can recognize their contribution or capability.
Example: Churchill noticed that the Harrow School students had added a verse to a school song and made comments about it.
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Keep It Short
Your talk always takes longer than you plan.
Speak for less time than you are allotted. Everyone will appreciate this courtesy.
Audiences remember a short speech better than a long one.
Watch the length of your sentences.
Check your breathing. You will be nervous. Gaps are good!
Long sentences will drift off, unintelligible, as you gasp for breath.
Never ever be caught in this situation.
“I just have ten more slides” or “Just another ten pages . . .”
Mark Twain did NOT say: “If I had more time, I’d have written a shorter letter.” But it’s still a neat quote and it applies here.
Take the time. Write a shorter speech.
If you start earlier in this process, it will be a better product (most of the time).
But don’t over analyze!
The bottom line: Speak from your heart, with brevity.
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Engage Your Audience
Volume:
Don’t depend on volume to fix your weak presentation.
Humor:
Self deprecating humor (poking some fun at yourself) is valuable when used sparingly and in the right audience.
Rejoinder: Be careful how you kid about your mountain heritage when in WV.
Shock effect:
Use shock strategically and sparingly.
Shift the tone and volume as needed to wake up the audience.
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Really Engage Your Audience
Austin’s “magic engagement tools”
Image and sound. Use videos but with care. ALWAYS embed your video and do not depend on the local wireless to succeed.
Eye contact. Rove the room. Connect directly with listeners. Make them a little uncomfortable.
“Teacher’s Pet.” Single out one person who you might know as an example, or ask for a “show of hands.”
Strike some fear in their hearts: “He might call on me!”
Questions. Ask the audience questions. Rhetorical questions are easier, but a direct assault is sometimes better.
Silence. The careful use of silence draws people back to the speaker, when used correctly.
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End With A Call To Action
Encourage your audience.
Instill a passion to take action.
Prod the reluctant to wake up and join in.
Recommend a course of action.
Then directly ask them to do something.
“Why am I here?”
“I want to hear her again!”
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“Ride The Rocket”
Your speech almost never works out just right . . . So plan ahead!
The person before you runs over time (frequent.)
An emergency or a change of schedule cuts down your time or moves it.
Always have a stump speech ready in your pocket.
“I need help! Can you do this for me, just this once?”
Bring water to the podium.
A bottle is much safer—but far less elegant—than a glass.
Meet the IT support person before you start
Using a laptop? Let them help set it up but check it out afterwards.
Use the IT support to avoid a personal panic.
Plan for lights in your eyes
They prevent you from seeing the audience.
Don’t despair.
“Ride The Rocket”
Snickers.
Watch the crowd and be flexible with your delivery.
Audience asleep? Bring in tone, volume, anecdote, or shock.
Ask a question.
Keep your eyes roving, and find your strongest supporters.
If you find someone who is engaged, look back to them often for morale support.
If someone is sleeping, look right over them and move on.
Don’t ever despair. Remember King George V…
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Summary
Then speak from your heart, with brevity.
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