Speaker's Digest November 2004
In this issue:
- Make a Thanksgiving Impact
- Speaking so Others will Listen: Being an Audience-Focused Presenter
- Watch for Rate the President 2005
Make a Thanksgiving Impact
It's almost Thanksgiving, known also as Pigskin Thursday, Turkey Day, the fourth Thursday in November, the harvest festival, and the unofficial start of the holiday season. It's a holiday full of presentations as well.
We remember Thanksgiving for eating to excess, fighting over the drumsticks, taking a catnap during thefootball game, arguing over who sits at the kids' table, and for being with people you love, people you like, and people you could live without. But at dinner tables across America , it's also a day for telling stories, reminiscing about past holidays, and sharing. In other words, Thanksgiving Day will be full of speeches˜some short, some long, some meaningful, some memorable.
Unfortunately, many people miss the opportunity to connect when these impromptu speaking situations present themselves, instead blurting out quick answers to around-the-table questions like "What are you thankful for?" We know of one Thanksgiving dinner host who was so intent on improving the quality of responses to his annual pre-meal question that he sent out this year's question in advance, and asked guests to come prepared with their answers. (No word on whether they'll be videotaping and giving out grades.)
Just as you can spice up your stuffing with a dash of hot sauce, you can spice up your holiday experience with well-told stories and heartfelt speeches. This tried and true format works as well for a business presentation as for a pre-dinner toast. Check it out:
Start with a POW statement.
"Grandpa Joe was one crazy guy. I always think of him on Thanksgiving."
Give evidence to support your statement.
"Uncle Ralph used to say about him..."
"How can anyone forget the time he..."
"I can still picture him wearing that..."
Share a personal perspective.
"But he always went out of his way to make Thanksgiving special for me by..."
Summarize your main point and wrap up.
"Joe was crazy, but I always knew that he loved me. I'm grateful that we have such rich memories of family members that we can still share. Those memories make Thanksgiving one of my favorite holidays."
There will be thousands of highly forgettable speeches around our stuffed birds this week. Make yours a memorable one.
Speaking so Others will Listen: Being an Audience-Focused Presenter
Think of a typical multi-day conference where most attendees will sit through more than a dozen speeches. If you're one of those speakers, how can you make sure that your presentation breaks through the clutter?
The key to success lies in connecting with your listening audience. Yes, they will sit through two days of presentations. Certainly, the details of different speakers will become fuzzy and intertwined by the end of the conference. Your job will be to make it easy for listeners to remember you, your content, and your main points. Start the planning process by asking yourself: as a listener, what styles help keep YOU engaged and interested?
In our seminars, we encourage clients to "set their own bar", or to decide for themselves what their ideal personal style will look like. In other words, what will you want your audience to say about you when you are finished? Some speakers want to be perceived as dynamic, energetic and enthusiastic, while others want to be seen as focused, sincere and convincing. In general, presenters who know the style they want to convey are more successful at connecting with their audiences.
As you ponder the issue of personal style, consider this assurance: your audience wants you to do well. They want you to be memorable and to enlighten them with your ideas. Putting yourself in your listeners' shoes is one of the best planning techniques we know. Understanding their perspective affects your content, your preparation, and even your speaking fundamentals. Once you have it, build your presentation as follows:
Be Clear and Concise. Your audience should never leave confused about the core points of your speech. Make your points succinctly, and in a manner consistent with the style you want to project. If you want to be sincere, for example, share a personal anecdote. For emphasis, repeat your main points. Demonstrate the benefits of your ideas, and support them with quotes, statistics, visual aids, metaphors and other types of evidence.
Incorporate POW Statements. The quotes, statistics and metaphors we mentioned can all be used as POW statements to get your audience's attention at the beginning of your speech. But don't stop there˜remember that it's vital to keep them tuned in longer than the first five minutes. Sprinkle POW statements liberally throughout your presentation.
Bring your Energy. Energy is critical for a speaker. Use the whole space available to you to connect with your audience. Make it easy for your audience to watch you. Move around to different points on the stage. Use big gestures and facial expression. Vary your volume and your speaking pace. Make your message relevant to each listener by making eye contact for an entire thought.
Take a Risk. If every other speaker at the conference stays camped behind the podium, think about breaking the mold and walking among the audience. We call this "pulling an Elizabeth Dole" in honor of the Senator's memorable speech at the '96 Republican convention.
One final suggestion: VOLUME. Make sure your audience can hear you well. It's no fun to strain to listen to a speaker whose voice isn't projecting across the room. If you want, check your volume level out by asking: "Is my voice coming through loud enough to the people in the back row?" It's a way to both break the ice and let listeners know that you're paying attention to them. Try it.
Watch for Rate the President 2005
Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. President John F. Kennedy, in his 1961 Inaugural Address
Presidential inauguration addresses have traditionally been among the most quoted, most memorable speeches given in U.S. history. This January 20th, we will have the opportunity to hear President Bush speak to the country as he celebrates the beginning of his second term in office.
As in past years, we will once again invite you to participate in our annual Rate the President survey. This year, however, we will examine President Bush's inaugural address instead of the annual State of the Union speech to Congress. Our survey process will once again ask you to consider the EMS fundamentals of public speaking as you watch the speech, and respond with your own evaluation of the President's effectiveness based on those fundamentals. We'll share the results on the EMS web site.
Remember that Rate the President isn't our attempt to criticize or find fault, but rather to help our audience better understand the art of public speaking by looking at real life examples. In our quest to become better presenters, we can learn much from public officials who have been trained and retrained in this area. To see last year's results, visit www.ratethepresident.com. Watch your email for more details.
We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy the long weekend!
Madeleine Koch
Services Coordinator
Chicago Clearing House Association