Stand or Sit?

If you want to see an effective public speaker in action, attend a Weight Watchers meeting.  I've seen a wide variety of presenters at these meetings over the years and they do a great job presenting information, interacting with the audience, offering support and motivation and also keeping it real.

At a recent Weight Watchers meeting, I arrived a few minutes late and was surprised to see only three people in the audience.  The presenter quickly rearranged the chairs and joined the members in the seats.  I pulled up a chair and joined the group, noticing how the presenter still maintained a high level of energy and enthusiasm.

This is not always easy to do.  Once I gave two identical presentations to undergraduate students at the University of Detroit Mercy.  During the first presentation, I stood at the front of the room, moved around a bit, and felt like I had a lot of energy.  A week later, I gave the presentation a second time,  this time to only about two or three people.  It felt odd to stand in front of such a small group, so I sat while I presented.  It wasn't the same.  I wasn't the same.  My energy level had dropped and I felt off my game.

Sitting while presenting to a small group can be quite effective and it will create a level of intimacy and familiarity that can really energize an otherwise stand-offish presentation.  Just be careful to not let your energy, volume or enthusiasm drop too much.

The Best Presenter I Never Heard

A few years ago, a good friend suggested I read Left To Tell, a memoir of Rwandan Holocaust survivor, Immaculee Ilibagiza.  It was a riveting read and I have since recommended the book to others who have also been deeply touched by reading her story.

A couple of years after that, I learned that Ilibagiza would be speaking at a fundraising dinner near my home.  So my friend and I bought four tickets for the big event and made a night out of it with our husbands.  There was an elaborate silent auction and a fairly nice dinner and program before Ilibagiza took the podium.  The venue was a Catholic high school and the event was held in their brand new gymnasium.  I think it was the first formal event held in that room.

I don't think I heard one word that Ilibagiza said.  The microphone system and acoustics were so bad that it was impossible to make out any word she said.  I was beyond frustrated.  And I grew more and more agitated the more I strained my attention to try to hear anything she was saying.  My friend and I exchanged sympathetic glances at each other.  The event organizers were trying to improve the sound system but to no avail.  Ilibagiza said her remarks and I suppose those tables nearest to the podium were able to hear them.

My friend seemed much less annoyed than I was.  She smiled at me and said that she wasn't going to dwell on it and that, if asked by anyone how the event was, she said she was going to say it was great.  End of story.  She had made peace with the disappointment.  Her gracious attitude certainly took the sting out of the evening for me.  Thanks to her attitude, I recall getting over it rather quickly and didn't make a point of complaining about it when friends asked me later about the speaker.

Is there a point to this story?  I guess you could say it's a cautionary tale about the need to make sure you have an effective sound system.  Or it might just be a story about a good friend who already knew the real meaning of Ilibagiza's life and didn't need to actually hear about it at the event.

Not Suitable for Viewing

Sometimes I think I have seen it all.  And that's not always good.

Creating an engaging presentation aid can be a challenge.  A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself:  What can I show my audience that will convey my point more easily than if I just use words?

It's much more compelling to show actual images of the places you've visited, the abnormalities you discovered, the renovations you made possible, or even a graph or chart that illustrates a dramatic downturn.  Images are powerful.  Sometimes too powerful.   I'll never forget when an undergraduate student finished up his speech about the need for diagnostic heart testing by putting one of his cell phone pictures up on the screen:  it was a picture he had taken of his recently deceased brother on a hospital gurney in an ER.  It felt unfair and sensationalized that he closed with that picture, without giving us any warning.  He had gone too far.

We all know that a picture can be worth a thousand words, but what if I told you that one of the most memorable images I saw on a PowerPoint was of nothing at all?

One of my Wayne State University undergraduate students was doing a persuasive speech about the deplorable conditions in puppy mills.   This is a popular topic among college students and I think I have seen just about every sad puppy, mangy dog and dirty cage out there.  But this student, when describing the conditions, went to a slide with a CENSORED logo on the screen.  He told us that the images were just too disturbing to show in class.  By doing so, he very effectively left it all to our imagination and made a powerful impact.

Sometimes less is more.  Be sure to give your visuals a second and even third thought before subjecting your audience to something they may never forget.

Better Without the Sound

I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a video playing, without the sound.  At first I thought it was a late night host doing a monologue. It looked like Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel standing in front of one of their brightly colored sets.  The hand gestures and body mannerisms were confident and casual.  Like a performer. 

I did a double take.  It was actually Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in front of the crowd gathered at the opening of the 2017 Invictus Games.

I clicked on it so that I could hear the sound.  And I didn't like what I heard.  He was speaking in English when the sound came on and his voice sounded high pitched and thin.  Or maybe it just sounded artificial to me - like he was trying to rev up the crowd by speaking more loudly.  I'm used to listening to Trudeau speak to either a smaller gathering or in a recorded video message while seated and speaking to a camera.  It was my first time hearing Trudeau as he tried to rally a crowd of thousands in a large arena.

When he switched to French, the timber of his voice didn't appear as high but I admit it was probably my own bias since I couldn't understand the French.  You can listen to his remarks here.

It's not advisable to try to lower your voice by projecting from the lower part of your throat.  This can be damaging to your vocal cords.  Rather, by practicing on breathing from your diaphragm (and not your chest), you can ever so slightly lower your pitch.  Aside from that, it is always best to use your natural voice and to make sure you are injecting your words with expression and warmth.

Yes, I'm probably being overly critical, but I think I prefer his voice when he's not trying to shout. But I would still give him a passing grade.

Is A Speech Ever Just A Speech?

First Lady Melania Trump spoke at a UN event last week.  I haven't listened to the whole speech yet, but it's widely available.  Clocking in at 7 minutes, it's probably too long for the average person to view in its entirety.  Our attention spans are just not that long as we multitask and try to glean information quickly from our phones.  Instead, in this age of social media, people tend to prefer to look at memes and think they know the whole story.  You can view the speech here and also read about the latest pseudo-scandal:  Did Melania Trump plagiarize Michele Obama yet again?

No, she didn't.  Snopes, as usual, does an excellent job debunking this.

So why can't we just leave Melania Trump alone?  Will she ever be able to just give a speech and have it stand on its own merits?  Probably not.  Viewers will always bring with them the context with which they view the speaker.  And most people have already formed their opinions of the Trumps.  And the fact that many feel President Trump is a bully will interfere with their ability to hear Melania's message on the topic of online bullying.  Many will conclude that Melania does not have the credibility to speak on this topic and will dismiss her remarks out of hand.

Giving a speech isn't a magic act.  It can't erase context, impressions, actions or history.  Remember that the next time you are crafting a speech that you hope will allow you to change your image.  One speech is probably not enough.

Melania Trump, like any one of us, is a complex person.  I don't think she is all good or all evil.  Don't be surprised if she is the topic of future blog posts.

The Thrill of a Live Presentation

I had the opportunity to hear Ta-Nehisi Coates at the University of Detroit Mercy this year.  The buzz around the event had been circulating on social media for months.  Many of us bought our tickets in advance, not wanting to miss out on this evening.

As the hall filled, many of us looked around in amazement.  We couldn't believe he was packing the place.  Young and old.  Students and professors.  Suburbanites and Detroiters.  I looked around and saw representation from several different Metro Detroit universities.

You can read more about the evening here but the backstory on how he came to speak is even more interesting because it illustrates what can happen when people actually talk to each other.  Coates phoned UDM History Professor Roy Finkenbine and you can read all about it here.  Yes, it seems that people still do use telephones to talk to each other.  Try it sometime.  Forget the email and try dialing the phone number.  The human connection just may lead to something like this: a sporting arena filled with folks waiting to hear from an author in person.  He did not disappoint.

When Kids Are in Your Audience

In another lifetime, I took my young kids on a lot of field trips.  One Saturday night, a huge bunch of moms and kids went down to the WDIV television studio in Detroit.  Meteorologist Andrew Humphrey had offered to give us tour of the studio.

It took some time for all the suburban moms and their kids to make it to the studio.  When we all had finally arrived, Andrew came over to our waiting area to officially welcome us.  I was eager for the tour to start.  The first thing he did, though, was say, "Who has to go to bathroom?"  Many of the kids said they did.  He pointed out the restrooms and told us to do our business and that he would begin once we were ready.

I'll never know if this was his typical opening for groups of kids or if he had to unexpectedly attend to something in his office or what.  But what a brilliant idea:  get the group settled in every conceivable way before beginning to make sure you will have their full attention.

In an average meeting room, that may mean having adequate ventilation, lighting and a comfortable temperature.  It might mean making sure everyone has had time to refill their coffee one more time.  Or it may mean specifying that cell phones are off or that restrooms, private nursing areas or even prayer locations have been designated and made accessible.

Andrew Humphrey was great with the kids.  He kept the tour moving, involved even the youngest kids with tasks, spoke loudly and with a lot of enthusiasm, and genuinely seemed interested in hosting us.  When it was time to watch the live broadcast, parents could choose between watching from the studio or from the green room - perfect for those whose children weren't quite ready to be completely quiet.

A good host anticipates the needs of her guests.  Try to anticipate your audience's needs before you launch into your presentation.

Hark! Who Goes There?

If you're a regular Brady Bunch viewer, you remember the episode when Marcia got the part of Juliet in the school play, Romeo and Juliet.  The real stars of that episode were Jan and Peter.  They were excited to have bit parts as guards.  Their big line was "Hark!  Who goes there?"

There was one scene when Jan and Peter were struggling with how to deliver their line.  They didn't know which word to emphasize and so they rehearsed with a variety of ways, over zealously emphasizing a different word each time.  I know what you're thinking: "Oh those cornball Brady kids!"

But there's nothing corny about taking the time to experiment with the right way to deliver a line.  Especially if it's a pivotal or important part of your message.  Jan and Peter played around with which word to emphasize by means of saying it LOUDLY.  Or, as I like to say LOUD AND PROUD.  It's a simple way to emphasize a part of your message.  You don't want to overdo it, but if there's a word or phrase you don't want your audience to miss, it's a simple way to add emphasis.

And the only way to know for sure how it will sound is to rehearse it.  Out loud.  Try it a few different ways.  As Jan and Peter did.  You may feel silly but you'll appreciate the rehearsal once you realize that all variations are not created equal.  It will sound better one particular way.  You'll only know if you give a few options a try.

So how did Jan and Peter do on opening night?  Not so well.  One of them belted out "Who goes there?" before the other one could say "Hark!"  And this time, you're right by thinking, "Oh those cornball Brady kids!"

How about those Emmy speeches?

Okay, I'll admit.  It was thrilling to see Lily and Jane glamming it up on live TV so soon after seeing them in person.  But I digress.

Watching live award shows is fun for me.  It's always interesting to see how people use their minute on stage to accept an award.  Some award recipients are overcome with emotion to the point that they can barely speak coherently.  Others appear well prepared and even have note cards at the ready.  It makes for interesting television. 

This analysis focuses on the time allotment for the various award winners and even has links to all the speeches.  The article breaks down the acceptance speeches by their length, noting that some winners were allowed more time than others.  You can take a look at the speeches and pick your favorites. 

It should come as no surprise that some award winners are allowed more time than others.  Advertising dollars are on the line and there are schedules to keep.  Someone has to decide how much time someone will have and while that will depend on a variety of factors, the speaker's abilities and their message will have an impact on the decision.  Not to mention their outfit, notoriety, career status, and even age.

The right mix of preparedness, shocked delight, spontaneity, seriousness and entertainment is needed to hit an acceptance speech out of the park.  Add in nerves, high heels, bright lights, live television, a little alcohol, and you'll never know what you'll see.

The best advice for acceptance speeches?  Prepare your main point or sentiment in advance, even if you think your chances of winning are slim.  But don't over prepare: allow for some spontaneity.  And above all, be yourself. 

a TED talk worth watching

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that I don't think that watching TED talks is necessarily a good way to improve your public speaking abilities.  However, Megan Washington did a phenomenal TED talk that I frequently show my undergraduate students on the first day of Basics of Oral Communication, aka Public Speaking.

Unlike most TED talks, Megan's delivery style often appears a bit stilted.  Awkward even.  I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't watched it already.  Take the time to watch it when you can, especially if you find yourselves nervous at the idea of speaking in public. It's even appropriately titled:  Why I Live in Mortal Fear of Public Speaking

Most of us do not have to overcome Megan's obstacles and limitations.  But our own perceived public speaking foibles probably loom pretty large in our own minds.

The lesson we can learn from watching Megan's TED talk is that audiences are sympathetic.  They are usually not harsh critics.  Rather, we usually feel compassion when a speaker loses his place or has trouble with the slides or stumbles over a word.  Learn from Megan.  Perceived limitations, or even real ones, are not an excuse for shying away from taking the podium.

Model Listener

Whenever my students present group speeches, I remind them to exhibit good listening behavior while they are at the front of the room but someone else in their group is talking.  Rarely do I see it.  I normally see the fellow panelists doing any of the following:  Going through their own note cards.    Whispering to a fellow panelist.  Rolling their eyes or smiling at a friend in the audience.  Staring off into space.  Slouching inattentively.

But when Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and ROC United’s Saru Jayarman took the stage at a recent event in Detroit on the Wayne State University campus, I was struck by Fonda’s excellent listening posture and demeanor.  She must have heard her fellow presenters give their spiels before, but you would never know it by looking at her.  Like the two-time Academy Award Winning Actress that she is, she never wavered in playing the role of giving her full attention to the speaker at the podium.

Take a lesson from Jane Fonda:  listen attentively to your fellow presenters, especially when you’re sharing the stage with them.  Today's distracted audiences need to see good listening behavior in action.  Let's hope they take a cue from Fonda.

A professorial Vicente Fox at Wayne State

Although I haven't had a chance yet to watch the video clips or talk at length to those who were in attendance, it seems like a very professorial Vicente Fox took the podium last night at Wayne State University.  Fox must have left his video persona at home in Mexico.

You can read about the evening and his remarks here.  Of course the online comments after the article are entertaining.  I don't think any tough questions were asked at the event, but if I find out I'm wrong, I'll report back.  Respectful dialogues need to be encouraged in these live settings and I would like to see event facilitators make sure that they happen.  Is it risky to allow the time for this?  Yes.  But therein lies the real benefit of live public speaking events.

Will Vicente Fox be R-rated tonight at Wayne State University?

As mentioned in an earlier post, Wayne State University is hosting Former Mexican President Vicente Fox tonight.  This isn't the first time Fox has lectured at Wayne State.  He's been invited back to kick off this fall's lecture series marking the 10 year anniversary of Focus on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS).

Unlike ten years ago, clips of Fox are all over the news.  And John Oliver.  And YouTube channels.  In his latest video, Fox repeatedly uses the F word and often throws up his middle finger.  This notoriety will certainly increase attendance at the event.  But which persona will show up at the podium?  Will I regret bringing along my 13 year old son?  Probably not since he's already seen the videos in question.  I'm just glad that Fox's off-color persona is getting people to pay attention to the issues of the day and come on out to a public event to discuss them.  I hope the crowd will be courteous and that alternative viewpoints will be welcomed and discussed.  There is no substitute for that.

A wasted opportunity or just right?

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin recently spoke at Wayne State University to advocate for Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United).  More details of the event and what the organization stands for can be found here.

I only found out about it because a day before the event, my mother saw it mentioned on Facebook.  She mentioned it to me because she knows I work at Wayne State and teach Public Speaking.  I did a quick internet search and one of the Detroit newspapers had a brief article with the details of their appearance scheduled for the next day.  The article did not indicate who was hosting the event, only that it was for ROC United.  No tickets or advanced reservations were necessary.  I sent an email to my students that evening and invited them to attend if their schedules allowed, even offering them credit for an assignment if they attended and wrote a short reaction paper.    

I scoured the Wayne State websites and couldn't find anything about it.   I learned later that the Wayne State Young Democrats promoted it at a student organization festival the day before the event.

I say all this because, since attending the event, I have heard countless people tell me how disappointed they were to not know about the event.  They were sorry they missed it and would have liked to opportunity to attend.  I'm sure some people even thought that Wayne State missed an opportunity to capitalize on the presence of these two public figures on their campus.

At this time, I do not know for sure why this was.  But I can piece some of it together and can understand how this happened.  It probably was NOT a case of botched public relations efforts or faulty communication on the part of Wayne State.

Tomlin was in town to attend Detroit Homecoming festivities.  Crain's Detroit Business Mary Kramer had been courting Tomlin to return to Detroit for several months, even meeting her in California to talk up the initiative.  It seems that Fonda and Tomlin were surprised to learn only recently that they would both be in Michigan at the same time since Fonda would be here as part of ROC United events.  Scheduling serendipity allowed them both to appear together, which clearly led to more buzz had either one of them made the appearance alone.

Pulling out all the stops on promoting the event once it was known that both women would appear would have resulted in a much larger crowd.  But that would have necessitated a larger venue, security, parking, and probably other accommodations as well.

The larger of the General Lectures Building auditoriums was booked for Wayne State classes.  The smaller one that they did use was occupied by a Wayne State class until just minutes prior to the start of the event.  As the long line of gathered attendees filed in eagerly at 12:50, the professor was still meeting with students after class and the class PowerPoint slides were still on the screen.  THIS was a University at work teaching students. 

I think the event served its purpose.  Every chair was occupied and the back was crowded with those standing.  There was a nice mix of Wayne State students and community members who appeared to be middle-aged and older.  I took the time to ask those seated around me why they were there and how they heard about the event.  It was clear that the star power of Tomlin and Fonda brought them out but they were also sympathetic to the causes advocated by ROC United.

Tomlin, Fonda and ROC United's co-founder Saru Jayaraman were speaking to the choir, as the saying goes  There didn't appear to be anyone in the audience who were in opposition to their views.  Wider promotion of the event may have resulted in that.  And so they did what was appropriate for that type of audience:  they collected their contact information and asked them to indicate which next steps they would take to support the cause of One Fair Wage.  Those in the audience have a high likelihood of following through.  They took time out of their schedules to be in attendance and they had their views reinforced by the energizing and inspiring Tomlin, Fonda and Jayaraman.  This event was NOT to persuade those who opposed a concept like One Fair Wage.  There are other, more effective ways to reach those individuals.

Serendipity.  It brought a crowd together to hear from three remarkable women who are outstanding presenters.  Hearing them live and in person was exponentially more effective than reading about it in the paper or seeing a post about it on social media.  I'll have a couple more blog posts about this event in the days to come.

Sitting on the couch - not just for therapy!

We frequently envision that when we will presenting in front of a large group we will have a podium.  For many, it provides a place to put notes or a bottle of water.  It can also act a welcomed barrier between them and the audience.  While the speaker may find it to be like a security blanket, it really is just that:  a barrier between them and the audience.  In my Public Speaking classes and workshops, I frequently have the participants give their presentations without using a podium.  A small table or even a podium to the side of the speaker can hold notes, water, tissues, or whatever else is needed.

More and more we are seeing the use of the couch or big comfy chairs on a stage for speakers to use when speaking to a large room.  This allows a moderator or host to ask questions of the presenter, resulting in a more interesting presentation for the audience.

The couch shown here doesn't seem particularly conducive for comfortable, up-right sitting.  If you're asked to take a seat on a couch on stage, don't be surprised to find that it's not the size or shape that's right for you.  You may need to sit on the edge of the couch or chair to allow yourself to hold a more upright position.  Or else have pillows stacked behind you.

Keep in mind that energy levels may drop when seated.   Many presenters prefer standing while speaking because it allows them to focus on their posture and body language while speaking in a commanding and loud fashion.

Placement of the couch or chairs on the stage is also a factor.  This arrangement seems a bit far back from the audience.  Perhaps the furniture should be closer to the front of the stage.

Be prepared for any possible arrangement whether it's a podium, a stool, nothing at all, or a couch.  Whenever possible, ask in advance what the arrangement will be or ask for what works best for you.

photo credit:  Batoul Farran, PhD 

But how will I become a more confident in public speaking?

If this blog post is where you expect to find the magic bullet, well then, you'll be disappointed to find that there is no magic bullet.

Becoming a more comfortable and confident public speaker is not something you can do by reading an article or by watching TED talks.  It takes practice.  And that means seeking out those opportunities.

Where can you find these opportunities?  How about the next conference you plan on attending?  Are they looking for speakers? 

How about joining a local Toastmasters group?

How about leading an information session or in-service for newer colleagues in your organization?

Seeking out these less threatening opportunities to hone your public speaking skills will build your confidence and allow you to practice a variety of public speaking techniques.  This means that the next time you HAVE to give a presentation (to your bosses, big clients, etc), you will have more experience from which to draw.

Don't just look for opportunities to give presentations.  Tell people that you are willing and able to present to their organizations, work groups, clubs, or societies.  Being open and willing to present to others and then actually doing it?  Now THAT's a magic bullet to improving your public speaking abilities.

Make sure your next conference doesn't just include networking - like the conference attendees pictured here in balmy Seville, Spain -  but also a chance for you to take the stage.

Public Speaking IS alive and well....

Yeah, that's me and Michael Eric Dyson.  I attended an event a year or so ago and he was the keynote speaker.  I have always admired the oratorical abilities of this Georgetown professor.  What a thrill to be in the audience and hear his voice booming over the room as I tried to grasp the many points he made in rapid succession.  It's always a treat to catch him on Real Time with Bill Maher, but to see him in person?  There's no substitute.

Well, the good news is that he's scheduled to speak at Wayne State University at 6 pm on November 16, 2017.  But that's not all.  There's a couple of other, nationally-known speakers on tap between now and then.

How would like to hear Vincente Fox talk about his very public disputes with President Donald Trump?  That's happening on September 18th.  Ever wanted to hear a Fox News contributor and an MSNBC contributor square off live and in person on the Press and the Presidency?  That's coming up on October 24th.

Make the time to hear these speakers LIVE.  See for yourself why these speakers are in demand for their views and for their public speaking prowess.  More information and RSVP details can be found here

Now THAT'S an introduction!

We've all been there:  a business event or a fundraising gala.  Seems like everyone needs to be introduced before they can take the podium.  What makes for an effective introduction?

A good rule of thumb is to offer up something to the audience that they cannot find in the program brochure.  When the speaker's bio is already in the program brochure, you don't want to spend your time rehashing that information.  And when this is taken to the extreme, it can be excruciatingly boring.  Maybe you've been in the audience when someone introduces a speaker by reading off their bio word-for-word from the program.  Don't be that guy.

Instead, if you have a personal connection to the speaker, share an anecdote that is unique to your relationship with the speaker.  If you are introducing someone with whom you do not have a personal connection or history, never fear.  You could always take the time to meet with the speaker before your introduction and, if you're lucky, you might glean a useful insight or tidbit to share with the audience.

But if you don't want to leave that to chance:  consider doing some research in advance.  I've even phoned an honoree's executive assistant in order to make contact with the honoree's spouse or close friends.  A quick phone conversation with someone's close friends or associates will yield interesting and inspiring material that will make your introduction stand apart.  The speaker himself will be touched by your effort and the audience will enjoy hearing a personal and little-known story about the speaker.

Just don't go overboard.  I was in the audience this past year when an internationally known finance guru was introduced by someone he had never met before.  The young woman doing the introduction certainly did her homework on the speaker:  her introduction was dynamic and detailed and told us how the speaker had influenced and inspired her own career.  Problem was it was too detailed.  And she went on at length about her own accomplishments to the extent that it was uncomfortable to hear her go on and on about herself when the focus should have been on the speaker himself.

An effective introduction should be brief and selfless.  Your role is to set up the speaker for taking the podium and the limelight.  Put some effort into the introduction but leave the real show for the speaker.

Good 'Ol Public Speaking

I'm always on the look out for examples of Good 'Ol Public Speaking.  Here's an example of how a political candidate shows up to speak to people in real time.   Not a robocall. Not a text message.  Not a Live Video on Facebook.  Not a postcard in the mail.  Not a TV interview.

My then-14-year-old daughter wanted to host a Meet and Greet for a Gubernatorial Candidate in our home.  Would anyone show up on a Sunday afternoon?

Over 50 people showed up.  And they wanted to hear from the candidate and ask questions about her positions.   That they took to time to travel to our home, converse with complete strangers and then listen to the candidate speaks volume of their interest in the candidate and the political process.  These 50 individuals will prove to be far more valuable to the candidate later in the campaign than the thousands who may follow her feed on social media.  There is no substitute for hearing someone speak in person.  The stakes will be high to deliver in that presentation, but the impact will be far reaching.

What examples can you find of public speaking in today's world?  I would like to feature  more on this blog.

Need to prepare a presentation? Have lunch with a friend.

You're on a deadline.  You have to deliver a presentation.  Maybe you have to explain something that's new to a group of colleagues.  Maybe you're trying to drum up new business.  Or maybe you're trying to recruit students to your university.  Do you start by choosing a PowerPoint template?  Do you begin by opening up a Word document and crafting your opening line?

I'm going to suggest something a little different.  Imagine yourself explaining your main message to a friend.  At lunch.  What words would you use?

We speak differently than we write.  Now is not the time to write out your remarks, like a script. Now is the time to channel that voice you use when explaining something to a friend.  Be yourself.  Be conversational.  Use vivid examples.  And if you actually DO have lunch with a friend or colleague and begin hearing yourself, you will find the words that feel comfortable to you when you speak.  And you will see for yourself which examples fall flat or cause your friend to wrinkle her brow in confusion.

It's not necessary to adopt a different persona.  Be yourself.  Ask yourself "How would I describe this to a friend at lunch?"  And then make that happen.  We still crave face to face contact.  Have lunch with a friend or colleague and actually look them in the eye and talk.  It's great practice for that speech that you have to prepare.

The TED Talk Effect...helpful or harmful?

Everybody seems to be watching TED talks.  And while those audiences are always filled with real live breathing human beings, most of us tend to watch TED talks on our phones or other screens.  (Watching a TED talk on your phone is NOT the same.  More on that in future posts.)

If you are trying to hone your public speaking skills, just how effective is it to watch TED talks?

Many times it can be discouraging to see speaker after speaker delivering a flawless, entertaining and informative presentation.  These presenters seem so poised, confident and natural.  The average TED talk viewer may not realize that literally HOURS go into preparing these presentations.  Consultants and coaches may spend days helping a presenter prepare for a single TED talk.  And while the presentation itself seems off-the-cuff because of the ease with which she or he is presenting, these are primarily memorized presentations from a carefully crafted manuscript.

Most busy professionals do not have the time nor team of experts to help them prepare a presentation of this caliber.  Nor should they.  Manuscript speaking is not the most effective way to get your message across when speaking live in front of an audience.

Don't be fooled by these TED talks.  It's harder than it looks.  Watch them?  Yes.  Be inspired?  Yes. Learn new information that you can apply to your life?  Yes.  But don't  let them create unrealistic expectations for your next presentation.

There is hope.  You CAN be a dynamic and engaging presenter.  But not by writing your speech out in advance.  Stay tuned.

Is the age of Public Speaking gone forever?

Remember when folks used to stand in the town square to share their message with the community?  No, neither do I.  I've read about it in history class.  But this is a picture of the Woodward Dream Cruise in 2017.  As car aficionados stroll by, this guy's message gets lost in the crowd.   Is anyone paying attention?

So just how DO you get your message across in 2017?  That's what this blog explores.  And yes, Public Speaking is alive and well!