Public Speaking
Advice worth spreading about how to approach public speaking. For those of us petrified to do so :-)
1. How to Start a Speech by Conor Neill
-
start with a question that matters to the audience (number 3)
-
factoid that shocks. (number 2) Examples:
"There are more people alive today that have ever died"
"Every two minutes the energy reaching the Earth from the Sun is equivalant of the whole annual usage of humanity"
-
how you start a story to a child? "Once upon a time...". Do the equivalant for adults. Make a story about people. Make it personal.
2. Improve Your Speaking by Conor Neill
- practice, practice and practice
- do 3 minutes a day video on laptop
3. The 3 Aspects of a Great Conference Talk by Rob Walling
My mental model of a talk has 3 aspects that should work in tandem:
Content
The key with content is to know your audience and their expectations.
Delivery
Delivery is about stage presence. Energy. Confidence.
You know it when you see it – some people have great stage presence, other people (like me in 2008) seem nervous and meek. Over-caffeinated and stressed.
This one takes a lot of repetition to overcome (for those who don’t have it naturally), whether on your own or with a speaking coach.
Entertainment
Difficult to make it right.