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By Dianne Legro
Speech and Presentation Coach & President of Speaking Success International
(Need a great speech written for you? Contact Dianne)
A conversation, a sales meeting, a board meeting, an interview, a
courtroom case... all are special situations which require you to
communicate clearly, drive the action and create the result you want.
You can learn skills to engineer the outcome, make the most of your
opportunities, gain respect, and advance your career.
Here are eleven tips to practice that will help you feel powerful and
authentic, and will help you be perceived as a person of authority
and trust:
1. Create a shared point of view. It is very important when
addressing an individual or a group of people that you establish an
immediate connection between you and them by leading with your
shared point of view. Why are you all in the same room together?
What unites you? Speak to this by using “I-YOU-WE” words and
phrases as much as you can.
2. Don’t speak until you have taken one full deep breath. During that
time, look out at your audience and find a face to connect with for
four seconds. Then broaden your gaze to include everyone, take a
second breath and begin.
3. Create a powerful opening. The first 30 seconds are the most
important to the success of your talk. Use a quote, such as: “When
you are going through hell, keep going” (Winston Churchill); “They
were the best of times, they were the worst of times. They were the
times that tried men’s souls” (Charles Dickens). Use the words of a
song. Ask a question. State a startling fact. Your job at the top of the
speech or conversation is to get their attention.
4. Before you give your speech, get an amusing anecdote from your
audience. “Folks, I looked at the bowling scores from your event last
night. Where’s Bob Carruthers, is he here? Bob, do you really work
here or did they bring you in as a ringer? I’m scared of you!” When
you incorporate this into your speech it is another “I –YOU- WE”
moment and creates trust that you care enough about them to know
what is going on that day.
5. Speak to the level of the audience. Your script should be like a
conversation you would have with a member of your audience one
on one. Use terminology they are used to, fond of, or wishing to
know more about. Learn the parlance of the field you are
addressing. Keep away from words they are not likely to know. Use
accessible language.
6. Use eye contact! This helps you and them, especially when you
wish to deliver information with an emotional impact. So often
speakers look down at their papers or the floor to say the most
important things! This is a natural impulse, it is one way we check
our own emotions and feelings. Do the opposite when you are
presenting. Even when it is bad news. Use eye contact and a neutral
gaze, allowing you and your audience to connect.
7. Use the 5 Hollywood script techniques: Drama, Humor, Wisdom,
Poignancy, and Surprise Ending. Find moments in your speech for
these elements and it will make you unforgettable.
8. Use your own experiences and life stories as examples and
metaphors. Search your life for times of conflict and identify the
lessons and opportunities that came out of that conflict. This is a
powerful tool known as transferable metaphor. Your audience has
come to see you, not what you have borrowed from somebody else.
9. Know your opening and closing by heart. These are the most
important times you connect with your audience. It’s important to
recap your dominant thoughts, tell a final joke or important
motivational ending, but know it cold!
10. Give time for questions. Always end with, “Before I close, what
questions do you have?”
11. Plan your ending strategy. You can go over time if the situation
allows, or conversely, you can end your talk a bit sooner and finish
with questions and answers.
This article is available for publication by permission. Contact Dianne
more information.
Speech and Presentation Coach & President of Speaking Success International
(Need a great speech written for you? Contact Dianne)
A conversation, a sales meeting, a board meeting, an interview, a
courtroom case... all are special situations which require you to
communicate clearly, drive the action and create the result you want.
You can learn skills to engineer the outcome, make the most of your
opportunities, gain respect, and advance your career.
Here are eleven tips to practice that will help you feel powerful and
authentic, and will help you be perceived as a person of authority
and trust:
1. Create a shared point of view. It is very important when
addressing an individual or a group of people that you establish an
immediate connection between you and them by leading with your
shared point of view. Why are you all in the same room together?
What unites you? Speak to this by using “I-YOU-WE” words and
phrases as much as you can.
2. Don’t speak until you have taken one full deep breath. During that
time, look out at your audience and find a face to connect with for
four seconds. Then broaden your gaze to include everyone, take a
second breath and begin.
3. Create a powerful opening. The first 30 seconds are the most
important to the success of your talk. Use a quote, such as: “When
you are going through hell, keep going” (Winston Churchill); “They
were the best of times, they were the worst of times. They were the
times that tried men’s souls” (Charles Dickens). Use the words of a
song. Ask a question. State a startling fact. Your job at the top of the
speech or conversation is to get their attention.
4. Before you give your speech, get an amusing anecdote from your
audience. “Folks, I looked at the bowling scores from your event last
night. Where’s Bob Carruthers, is he here? Bob, do you really work
here or did they bring you in as a ringer? I’m scared of you!” When
you incorporate this into your speech it is another “I –YOU- WE”
moment and creates trust that you care enough about them to know
what is going on that day.
5. Speak to the level of the audience. Your script should be like a
conversation you would have with a member of your audience one
on one. Use terminology they are used to, fond of, or wishing to
know more about. Learn the parlance of the field you are
addressing. Keep away from words they are not likely to know. Use
accessible language.
6. Use eye contact! This helps you and them, especially when you
wish to deliver information with an emotional impact. So often
speakers look down at their papers or the floor to say the most
important things! This is a natural impulse, it is one way we check
our own emotions and feelings. Do the opposite when you are
presenting. Even when it is bad news. Use eye contact and a neutral
gaze, allowing you and your audience to connect.
7. Use the 5 Hollywood script techniques: Drama, Humor, Wisdom,
Poignancy, and Surprise Ending. Find moments in your speech for
these elements and it will make you unforgettable.
8. Use your own experiences and life stories as examples and
metaphors. Search your life for times of conflict and identify the
lessons and opportunities that came out of that conflict. This is a
powerful tool known as transferable metaphor. Your audience has
come to see you, not what you have borrowed from somebody else.
9. Know your opening and closing by heart. These are the most
important times you connect with your audience. It’s important to
recap your dominant thoughts, tell a final joke or important
motivational ending, but know it cold!
10. Give time for questions. Always end with, “Before I close, what
questions do you have?”
11. Plan your ending strategy. You can go over time if the situation
allows, or conversely, you can end your talk a bit sooner and finish
with questions and answers.
This article is available for publication by permission. Contact Dianne
more information.
