Most people would probably offer their families for sale rather than engage in a spot of public speaking, and I am sympathetic, as I used to feel the same. That was until I took a number of teacher training classes.
Teaching, more than the numerous presentation skills workshops I have attended, has helped me to focus on delivering an effective presentation. That said, I am far from the top of my game, so to help me get better, I turn to the internet for help. Daily searching out books and websites to help me improve my preparation time, content and delivery.
Right now I am currently reading a sample from The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience
by Camille Gallo, and watching The late Mr Jobs do his thing on YouTube.
Alongside that, I found an on-line article by Joe Pulizzi titled '15 tips for effective presentation and public speaking.' The article is easy to read and makes a lot of sense, so I'd thought I would share some of it with you, particularly, the tips I have found very useful.
10 top presentation and public speaking tips:
1. Put your Twitter name on every slide. Even at the least social media savvy events, there are always multiple people tweeting. Putting your Twitter handle at the beginning of the slide deck usually doesn’t do the trick (what if someone comes into the room late?).
I would qualify that if space and design allow also include your email, telephone and / or website, in the footer of each slide, but don't let it get to busy.
2. Never more than 20 words on a slide. If people have to read your slide, you’ll lose them. Use headlines and text to cue your stories, and pictures to amplify your point. My goal is to someday take the advice of Seth Godin and have all my slides with no words…just pictures.
3. If you use words, make them at least 30 point size or larger. If you do have text on a slide, make sure it’s actually readable. 30 point is the smallest I would go.
4. Don’t stand behind the podium. A podium places an unnecessary barrier between you and your audience. Talk with the audience, not at them. It’s okay to walk around. You’re a human…you have legs…use them. Find a few spots on the stage where you can walk back and forth. Hold your spots for five seconds and move to the next spot. Every time you start on a new topic, move.
This was the mantra of my teacher training, it's also a good way to engage with your audience
5. Get a speaking wardrobe. In order to be remembered, you need to use everything at your disposal. A wardrobe is key. Find something that people will remember.
A few years ago, I attended a large women in business seminar, at the end of one of the speaking sessions, I went up to one of the speakers to find out more about her, and before I could speak she smiled at me shook my hand and said my eyes were on you the whole session, because you were the only one here not in a dull coloured outfit. So when giving training and presentations I always have something of colour on me - yes I try and stand out.
6. Smile a lot. It’s contagious. Always start the presentation with a big smile and set cues for yourself to smile at least every five minutes. The more people smile, the more positive they will be in general (and with your reviews). It also helps to keep people awake.
And make eye contact with someone in the audience when you do, that way you'll usually get a smile back.
7. Give away something for participation. I almost always give a signed copy of my book away to reward participation. It helps with questions later and always gets you talking with someone after the presentation (to deliver the book). That encourages more questions and opportunities to network. This tactic has delivered two new customers over the years.
I don't have a book yet, so I giveaway fact sheets, 30 / 60 minute consultation, discounts to te next event. I also encourage attendees to get in touch and I push people to my website by also putting further fact sheets and other relevant information there. I use bit.ly links to track downloads and monitor my blog dashboard stats.
8. Use lists. Most of my speaking and presentation titles include numbers in the titles…”8 Content Marketing Tips to Initiate Now”…”6 Keys that Separate Good to Great Content Marketing”. Either way, numbers keep people focused on where you are at in the presentation.
Some people live by the 'power of three' think Eat. Leaves. Shoots and Eat. Pray. Love.
9. Switch the flow and tell a story every eight minutes. Your audience can only pay attention for so long. Every few minutes, stop the flow of your presentation by pausing and telling a somewhat related story to your point. They will remember the stories the most, which will keep them engaged and help drive your overall mission for the speech. - use anedotes and quotes
Storytelling telling works, as long as it is appropriate and punchy enough for your audience.
10. This is mine. Breathe and pace your speech and moderate your tone. When I first started presentating I would deliver at a formula one drivers pace, and my breathe was often ragged. I looked incomfotable and so did my audience confinced I would soon drop dead. Also I have a loud voice. Nowadays, I use breathe and pause for effect, and work constantly on moderating my tone.
To read the full article, click here to go to Joe Pulizzi's website.
What do you think about these presentation and public speaking tips? Please share any of your own, including books and websites.
