Comments on: The only public speaking fear is the ‘public’ part http://csbj.com/2009/06/26/the-only-public-speaking-fear-is-the-%e2%80%98public%e2%80%99-part/ Sat, 18 May 2013 02:50:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Laura Benjamin http://csbj.com/2009/06/26/the-only-public-speaking-fear-is-the-%e2%80%98public%e2%80%99-part/comment-page-1/#comment-3441 Laura Benjamin Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:16:27 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=5245#comment-3441 Great post. Here are a few more tips that might be helpful for folks:

- Structure your content using a “spoke and wheel” diagram. Your main point or “what you want them to DO” should be the center hub. The surrounding spokes should be the key points that support your main hub. Secondary spokes extending off the “parent” spokes would be your supportive stories, data, case studies, vignettes, quotes, etc.

- Follow the 80/20 rule. About 80% of your content should be developed and practiced. But don’t get so tied to your outline that you’re unable to “play” with the audience. There’s nothing worse than a speaker who is so tied to their content that they can’t maximize the golden interaction opportunities that crop up from audience members.

- Be “in fun” unless your topic is dead serious. By that I mean relax and be willing to play a little with folks. They hear so many dull, boring, scripted speakers that it’s quite refreshing to get someone on stage who can relax and go with the flow.

- Ask questions of your audience. Then give them enough time to process the question and get up the nerve to raise their hand and speak out. Too many speakers rush through a question and don’t give folks enough time to mull it over before they speak out in front of peers.

- Build in interaction, whether it’s breaking folks down into small groups to address a question, or work through a quick exercise, etc. Make a provocative statement, then ask your group, “Who says ‘yes’? Who says ‘no’?” Then break them into small groups to discuss the pro’s and con’s.

- Use people in the “peanut gallery” or those who critique you as spur of the moment experts. Rather than try to ignore them, enlist their support. If they’re unusually obnoxious, give the group a break and have a private conversation rather than allow them to hijack your presentation.

There’s nothing more adventurous and character-building than public speaking. You really learn a lot about who YOU are in the process!

]]> By: Public Speaking Expert David Portney http://csbj.com/2009/06/26/the-only-public-speaking-fear-is-the-%e2%80%98public%e2%80%99-part/comment-page-1/#comment-3132 Public Speaking Expert David Portney Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:37:14 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=5245#comment-3132 I’d like to add to the list “letting go of perfection” – over the years I’ve noticed that my students think they have to “know absolutely everything” and have the answer to every possible question or they’re afraid to get up and speak.

This is akin to wanting all the traffic signals to be green before you get on the road.

The reality is that people do expect you to know you’re stuff, but they don’t expect you to be perfect, and in fact, trying to be perfect actually works against you because people want to hear from real human beings, not “perfect super-heroes”.

Best,
David Portney

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