Tips to prepare a talk

How will you prepare your talk?

Question # 1 How will you help the audience?

Show people, who speak with, that you care about them.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/02/going_from_suck_to_non-suck_as.html http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20121022044446-22330283-from-crickets-chirping-to-a-standing-ovation-three-rules-of-effective-public-speaking

How new and interesting is your talk for people you speak with?

https://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_speaker_guide.pdf

The audience is the heart of a presentation.

https://hbr.org/2015/04/the-best-presentations-are-tailored-to-the-audience

Focus on helping the audience.

When you are kind and generous and help the audience, you will calm down and experience less fear. The amygdala activity will decrease.

https://hbr.org/2019/09/to-overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking-stop-thinking-about-yourself

If you wanted to mention a person by name and connect him or her to the story you are telling, who would that person be?

https://hbr.org/2014/08/5-tips-for-off-the-cuff-speaking/

Make your talk about the audience. Why? Because they are interested in problems they have.

http://www.destination-innovation.com/articles/the-eight-worst-mistakes-made-by-keynote-speakers/

Try leading the person, you communicate with, toward the idea you have idea with a series of statements he/she agrees with and then talk about the idea as if it's her or his idea.

http://99u.com/articles/7207/Why-Great-Ideas-Get-Rejected

1. What do people already know?

2. What do people need to hear?

http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/matt-abrahams-good-question-can-be-key-successful-presentation https://hbr.org/2015/04/the-best-presentations-are-tailored-to-the-audience

Question # 2 How simple is your talk?

If you had only 1

sentence, what would you say?

http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

State the most important recommendations

at the start.

Then move on to supporting data.

https://hbr.org/2012/10/how-to-present-to-senior-execu

Keep it simple. The human brain likes easy things.

http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21700610-why-donald-trumps-rhetoricwith-apologies-orwellworks-so-well-double-plus-effective

Cut out everything that is not essential.

http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

Question # 3

How personal is your talk?

Include some stories – preferably about real people or even yourself.

The personal touch can really help to give the talk authenticity and interest.

http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0 Tip # 5.

Stories create emotional connections.

http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay/ http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/01/is-the-lecture-dead/272578/

Have you thought about why you want tell this story?

What is unique / relevant / important about the story?

Inspired by: https://hbr.org/2015/05/your-presentation-needs-a-punch-line

Talk about things you believe in.

https://hbr.org/2013/02/going-from-suck-to-non-suck_as.html

How can you bring your natural, informal style into your talk?

http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

Question # 4 What questions will you ask people?

How many of you have....? Please raise your hand.

Inspired by http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/matt-abrahams-good-question-can-be-key-successful-presentation

What about asking a person to 1. read a quote written on a slide?

2. comment on a quote?

https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting

What do you think? Please take a moment to reflect.

Inspired by https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Explaining-your-reasoning/423244/438035-4.html

When you ask a question, pause and count to 3 or 4.

http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html

Question # 5 How slowly will you speak?

The average adult reads 300 words per minute, but people can only listen well to 150 words per minute.

Therefore, slow down.

https://hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay

Take a breath before you begin speaking to avoid rushing and mumbling.

http://www.businessinsider.com/common-speaking-mistakes-2013-12

Communicate with a clear, strong voice.

http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw

Question # 6 How often will you pause?

The most powerful weapon in a speaker’s armoury is the pause.

Use a pause after a question, for example.

http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

Use a pause to help people absorb what you say and to get people’s attention.

http://www.businessinsider.com/common-speaking-mistakes-2013-12 http://hbr.org/tip?date=050712

Silence can be one of the most powerful forms of communication.

https://hbr.org/2014/01/how-couples-can-cope-with-professional-stress/

A pause gives people time to think.

http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

Question # 7 How often will you repeat?

We shall fight on the beaches.

We shall fight on the landing grounds.

We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.

Winston Churchill.

http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21700610-why-donald-trumps-rhetoricwith-apologies-orwellworks-so-well-double-plus-effective

I have a dream.

http://www.quoteslike.com/freedom-of-speech-martin-luther-king-quotes/

3 ways to repeat 1. “To repeat,………….….“ 2. “In other words:……......…"

3. “To put it more simply:..…........”

http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html

When someone asks you a question, repeat the question.

There are 2 reasons for this: 1. Some people in the audience may not have heard the question.

2. It gives you more time to think of your answer.

http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

Question # 8 When in your talk will you change the speed and volume of your voice?

Sometimes the most powerful points can be delivered in a very quiet voice.

http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

Question # 9 How will you use your body language?

When you speak, be

open in your body language.

http://finans.dk/artikel/ECE4597216/l%E6r_at_tale_som_en_verdensleder/

55% of your impact comes from what your body is doing.

http://www.francescolejones.com/how-to-wow/excerpt/

Question # 10 How will you use ”I” language?

Examples:  I disagree.  I don’t see it that way.  I don’t understand.

https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Speaking-so-you-understood/423244/438033-4.html

Question # 11 How much will you practice before you speak?

Know your material extremely well.

Sources: http://epn.dk/job/article4597216.ece http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

When rehearsing, focus on talking like you’re speaking to 1 person in a spontaneous 1-way conversation.

https://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_speaker_guide.pdf

Rehearse a lot. But avoid over-rehearsing.

That can be counterproductive.

https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting

Practice your talk 3 times 1. When you finished preparing it.

2. The day before the event.

3. A few hours before your talk.

https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting

When practicing, expect that your actual talk will take at least 25% longer.

http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

Design the space, you speak in, so you 1. become even more trustworthy.

2. create an emotional bond between you and people you speak with.

http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw

Further inspiration http://crinfo.beyondintractability.org/essay/escalation-limiting_language/ https://hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay/ https://hbr.org/2013/12/conflict-strategies-for-nice-people/ http://knowledge.insead.edu/contents/Communication-skills-steveknight-090918.cfm?vid=305 http://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/the-language-of-leadership/ http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00079?pg=all