chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

how to get rid of strech marks — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:55:39 -0000

i heard about it & everybody tell me that it works well.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

greatmanagement — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:40:10 -0000

Mari,

I've often used that technique (pretending to be more confident) and it works for me.

Andrew

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

marifromky — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:10:17 -0000

One thing that's helped me a lot and I know that's helped other people is pretending to be more confident than I really am. Public speaking and meeting new people terrifies the crap out of me -- and I admit to everybody, I have panic disorder; I'm naturally 'jumpy'. Even so, I've found this trick goes a long way! :)

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Jeremy Hilton — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:49:02 -0000

Thanks for the post Chris!

For some folk, I'm sure public speaking comes easy, but for the rest of us (including me), it's a pretty painful learning process.

My biggest hurdle is nervousness, which I am working to overcome. How?

Be the expert - Most of your audience is there to learn from you. In their eyes, you are the expert. Remembering this is a big confidence builder for me.

As chris mentioned, Talk with passion - You've probably debated/discussed the subject numerous times over drinks with your colleagues. Public speaking is similar. Don't let the change of venue rattle you.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Alan Levine — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:15:41 -0000

Hear Hear! As a frequent victim of Blunt Force Dull Presentation Trauma, I am heads down away in my laptop when the slides are read or the speaker starts in long monotonic preamble mode.

My own rule for tech related presentations, is SWTFD, or Start With The F***ing Demo. Too often, such sessions have a parade of background, rationale, etc and the meat of it all, the demo, gets crammed in the last minutes of the slot.

For me, if I am not having fun, being a real person, it is not worth being there, and assume it is the same for the audience.

Finally, for the takeaways- I always give them references/resources on the web, but more than just a slide deck; sometimes a wiki with resources mentioned, or if it is a slide deck, include an audio or notes track. I really tire of following links someone posts about a presentation I missed, and find a slide deck full of hip presentation zen style slides that *have no context* -- The Presentation File != The Presentation Experience http://cogdogblog.com/2008/...

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Brandon Chesnutt — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:31:33 -0000

Awesome advice. I had to point out: I think that takeaways are so crucial to a presentation. When I see a speaker, I sometimes find myself directly asking them "what can I do when I leave here?"

At that point, I'm so hungry to learn more and have reached that apex where I am more willing (and excited) to take the right steps and move from just someone in the audience to the role of a practitioner.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Fritz McDonald — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:14:21 -0000

Chris: thanks once again for not only a great post but sharing your Stamats experience with the world. You and all the people commenting are providing a virtual book of great ways to present.

I'd like to add--if anybody else hasn't already--that Brad, and Kyle James and I talked a lot about book that really inspired and shaped our presentations--Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds...and if people have already mentioned it, well then it's worth repeating. This book completely changed the way I give presentations and falls very much in line with the approaches you suggest--we must stop giving monotone, bullet-point, graphoholic, brain-deadening presentations.

Your ability to think on your feet, improvise, and work with the audience reminds me of the way Robert Altman made movies. Often, he disregarded the script entirely and encouraged his actors and actresses to improvise. Improvisation, going out there without a plan but with a sincere desire to connect with your audience, and by connecting, transport them, should be our number one goal.

This is a terrific blog--thanks for letting us hear you think.
F

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Desiree Colonna — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:18:04 -0000

One of the most powerful things we can do as speakers is storytelling. People love to listen to stories they can connect with and will remember them much longer than dry points on a slide.

Another thing is keep them laughing--add some humor throughout the speech. You'll surely walk away as someone they want to get to know more.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

greatmanagement — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:21:20 -0000

Great advice, especially about the number of takeaways. I'm only after 1 (maybe 2 max) so that really rings the bell for me.

I've been fortunate enough to work with the World Champion of Public Speaking it is amazing the amount of preparation he puts into his presentations (80% on prep, 20% on delivery).

Andrew

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Stacy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:28:08 -0000

I'm seconding @Bob Cargill on Toastmasters.
I'm very passionate about Toastmasters International and even blog about it sometimes. I serve as the Vice President of Public Relations for my club and some people have called me a "Toastmasters evangelist." It's cheap, it's fun, and it's just as much leadership skills as it is speaking skills, if not more so. I highly encourage people to check out www.toastmasters.org and find a club near them. It's cheap, it's fun, and the only thing you've got to lose is your nerves and sweaty palms.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Christopher Ming Ryan — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:36:30 -0000

As a former Stand Up Comic (I used to work along side Ray Romano in NYC), another big thing to remember is not to apologize. If a point hits creates silence that you thought was going to make them clap, hoop 'n holler, or laugh just keep going. It's not a big deal to them... They just want to hear what else you have to say.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Carlos Hernandez — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:14:37 -0000

I have had the benefit of learning how to deliver reflections (we were not allowed to call them homilies) as a lay person (that's church speak for non-clergy) at religious services.

Essentially, the subject matter and audience required us to go beyond the focus of a public speaking course. We endeavored to reach beyond the listeners' ears and enter their heart.

I have been to successfully translate the approach into my professional speaking opportunities.

Makes it quite engaging!

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Derek Forrest — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:03:53 -0000

It amazes me the wealth of knowledge that is on comments section of many blogs like this one. I think some people tend to bypass the comments section of blogs but a lot of the times they add tremendous value to the original post. Great points made from passion, fun, and story-telling.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Bob Cargill — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:09:29 -0000

Back in the day, Chris, one of my dreams was to hone my presentation skills to the point where I could lead seminars and speak at conferences about what I do for a living – direct marketing, copywriting, etc. At the time (nearly 20 years ago…pre-blogging, pre-social media…scary thought, I know), the extent of my public speaking opportunities was only a couple of wedding toasts, so I knew if I was ever going to make it to the "big leagues," I needed to take more swings of the bat. So I joined Toastmasters, a truly remarkable organization that empowers its members to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. There are Toastmasters clubs throughout the world -- about 200 in Massachusetts alone -- and in each one all kinds of people are developing their communication and leadership skills. Looking back, I can say that more than five years of experience as a Toastmaster went a long way toward changing my life, instilling in me the confidence and skills necessary for any of the public speaking I do nowadays.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

VideoEditing — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:11:00 -0000

I like the most the "What's in it for me?" approach and the takeaways. I strive to work that in whenever I'm communicating something. If you can make those two points clear, you will have effective communication.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

David Lee — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:43:39 -0000

GREAT tips! I love what you say, BE IN the room. So true! Will surely be back for more.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

ilana — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:45:08 -0000

Like an actor, a good orator brings himself, in full, to the platform on which he speaks or performs. His entire being is there, present and by embracing that authenticity, both the actor and speaker move their audiences into emotional realms beyond simply providing stories or pieces of information.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Jonas — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:15:37 -0000

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Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

chrisbrogan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:55:36 -0000

@Steve - not true. I just do it at a different level. Gary Vanyerchuk just spoke directly after me at this event today and he OWNED me. He was way better. And now I've got my goals for 2009 in my speaking, based on what I learned. Kickass.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Sami Ghazi — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:28:28 -0000

Thanks Chris. These WIIFM aspect of it would seem to be applicable in any kind of one-on-one conversation you have with a colleague.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Steve Golab — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:34:04 -0000

Chris - thanks for your advice as always. You seem so naturally talented as a communicator that I find it hard to imagine you have the same issues (with public speaking) that the rest of us do.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Jim Lenahan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:14:08 -0000

A good piece of advice whether you're giving a big speech, presenting in a small business meeting, making a sales pitch or just talking to someone at the bar: Tell great stories.

Facts and figures are good for making you sound smart, so don't discount that. (I always make sure to memorize a few key numbers in advance for just that purpose.) But great stories -- beginning, middle and end with people at their center -- really stick in others' minds. I care less about what you know and more about how what you know applies to real people in the real world.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Phil — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:20:40 -0000

I often talk through stories. I like when others do it as well. Helps to make things seem more real and helps to form that connection with the audience, the emotional bond. They knwo more about me and my family when I'm done from all the stories they hear.

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Jim Canterucci — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:07:04 -0000

Chris, I think the economies of meetings and our desire to hear from practitioners causes meeting planners to unleash inexperienced speakers on an audience.

Although I'm a professional speaker (that doesn't mean I'm better, it's just that I make my living doing it), I don't think a conference with all pros is the best idea or realistic. However, having a meeting where all speakers actually work at the craft, like a professional does, would make a big difference. Just having been in an audience doesn't qualify you, like having eaten a great meal doesn't mean you're a chef. (Caveat - Like all professions there are bad professional speakers too. I realize that. That's another post though.)

If conference organizers would spring for a day of presentation skills coaching for all the speakers I think the world would be a better place.

For some though, there really is no hope. For the death by PowerPoint providers, I think it's like the guy who looks in the mirror and really thinks the comb-over looks good. It's a weird genetic kind of thing. Jim

Re: Own the Crowd With Better Speaking

Tumblemoose — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:06:23 -0000

I've been fortunate enough to present at local and national conferences and your advice is spot on.

Truly, the most effective tool is passion. Remember, you're not selling a product, you're selling your LOVE for the product.

Pay attention to the audience for cues that you are drifting. When that happens, get into your presenter's tool bag and get to work. Change pitch, tone, movement - anything to snap them out of it. For the love of God, don't present to your Powerpoint presentation. It is a tool to help deliver message - nothing more.

Watch other presenters and their audience as they speak. Take notes regarding the visual cues you get from the audience. Don't just pay attention to the good speakers, watch the bad ones too. There is much to learn from both camps.

My two cents...

Cheers

George