Hi Guys. I receive regular emails from would-be speakers seeking advice, mentoring and guidance. Today, I thought I would serve up something a little different and talk (briefly) about the skill (business, art) of being a professional (or not-so-professional) speaker. The following information will be relevant to anyone who speaks (or has a desire to speak) to groups on a regular basis (that is: teachers, coaches, bosses, instructors, ministers, professional speakers, etc.)
Like most endeavours, there is no universal ‘best’ way to approach public speaking. There is no ‘optimal’ technique because different things work for different speakers in different situations, working with different audiences. What will motivate and inspire one audience (a bunch of professional athletes perhaps) will, more than likely, scare the crap out of another group (some young school kids, for example). Or maybe it will simply confuse them. Having said that, there are a few no-brainer speaking principles which can be applied to virtually any situation with a high probability of creating good results.
Principle 1. Talk with them, not at them.
As a speaker, I make it my priority to talk with (as opposed to, talk at) my audiences. Standing in front of a group and delivering a monologue ain’t my thing. Neither should it be your thing if you want to connect with a group. It’s no way to engage an audience, it’s no way to create a positive impression, it’s no way for people to learn or be inspired and it’s certainly no way for you to have fun as a speaker. It’s my experience that people hate being ‘lectured to’ but will usually enjoy a meaningful, mildly amusing, interesting, thought-provoking, interactive presentation.
Principle 2. Have some fun.
I intentionally make my sessions fun-based, unpredictable and light. Typically, they will lean towards the laid-back and informal side. Even when I’m sharing some not-so-comfortable home truths or challenging my audience, I tend to break the serious stuff up with some periodic mirth and frivolity. While we don’t need to be stand-up comics, a little laughter and levity is a sure sign of connection. If they’re laughing, they’re enjoying themselves. If they’re enjoying themselves, you’re going okay!
Principle 3. Know who you’re talking to.
Today (Friday) I am doing a presentation for a law firm here in Melbourne. Over the last, week I have spoken three times with my contact (from the company) so that I have clarity about my audience (size of group, male-female ratio, typical age, expectations, various roles in the company, needs, background) and also, in order to understand the expectations of the people who are employing me. That is, what the desired outcomes are for the session. I always research the group I’m presenting to. If they have a website, I will use that to give me more insight into the organisation’s culture, history, products, services and people.
Principle 4. Tell stories.
People who easily forget technical jargon or general information (most of us) will often remember stories (sometimes for years). Most audiences respond positively to stories (or even fictional parables) which illustrate a lesson or key message. Being the emotional creatures that we are, we tend to be motivated and moved by real-life lessons far better than we relate to dry theoretical concepts, technical jargon or academic principles. Being as I talk mostly about ‘change’, it’s easy for me to illustrate a truth, idea or principle with the use of a story. I typically tell a story and then we (as a group) extrapolate the key lessons. For the type of work I do, stories (with a message) prove to be far more effective (at leading to real understanding and precipitating long-term change) than flow charts, scientific studies and breakthrough research.
Principle 5. Speak the right language.
As I’ve mentioned many times on this site, just because we (might) speak English doesn’t mean we’re all speaking the same language. One of the key questions for a speaker to ask herself is:
“How do I need to communicate with this audience, in this situation, to deliver this presentation, about this topic, in order to produce the best possible outcome?”
Last year, I spoke to a room full of inmates (in a prison) and a room full of surgeons (at a medical conference) in the same week. Think about that for a minute.
If I’m talking to a group from a law firm (like I am today), my communication and presentation style might be quite different to the times when I’m chatting with a group of school kids about the same (or similar) issues. There have been a few times when I’ve chatted to large groups of blokes on a construction site and let’s just say that the communication style for those gigs was… situation and audience-specific. If I got up (in that situation) and spoke like an academic tosser, they’d shoot me with a nail gun.
Understandably.
Principle 6. Know your stuff inside-out.
There are certain things I won’t present on. Why? Because I’m not an expert in that area and, at this point in time, I don’t have the knowledge, skill or confidence to provide ultimate value for the organisation. I have turned down several opportunities because I didn’t feel I was the best person for a particular job. If a company wants me to inspire their group towards emotional, psychological, physiological, sociological and cultural change, I’m the guy. If they want me to run a half-day workshop exploring where the world economy is headed, I’m not the bloke.
Principle 7. Read the audience and be flexible.
You don’t need to be a genius to know if you’re creating connection or confusion. Use your eyes; all you need to know is written on their faces. Sometimes a scan of your audience will tell you that it’s time for a quick break. Or that you need to say something another way. Or that it’s time for a laugh. Or a story. Or an activity session. Speakers who walk into a room and follow their ‘set’ presentation (no matter what) will never become great presenters, teachers or motivators. Having a plan is good; being inflexible is a disaster waiting to happen.
Principle 8. Speak whenever and wherever you can.
Experiential learning is where we really grow. If you’re a budding professional speaker, my advice to you is find (or even create) a way to get experience in front of groups (speaking in your area of expertise, of course). In terms of developing as a speaker, you will benefit more from one live gig than you will from reading ten of my articles. Theory (like this article) is great but it’s in the ‘doing’ where we learn and benefit the most. In the early days, I did hundreds of talks for little or no money. I didn’t care because I was more interested in developing my skills, knowledge, understanding and confidence (over the long term) than I was with making a few bucks (in the short term).
Some questions:
1. Who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard and why?
2. Has there been a ‘moment’ in a presentation that proved to be transformational (over the long term) for you?
3. As an audience member, what speaking style ‘works’ for you?
4. What other advice, thoughts or suggestions would you offer to any speakers-in-the-making?
Enjoy your weekend… 
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Hi Craig, that’s an incredibly useful post and very relevant to me as I am about to do my first speaking engagement.
1. Who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard and why?
It was some rock star called Howard Jones because he gave lots of anedocts without boring us and talking down to us.
2. Has there been a ‘moment’ in a presentation that proved to be transformational (over the long term) for you?
No.
3. As an audience member, what speaking style ‘works’ for you?
When people don’t preach as soon as they start telling you what you should do I switch off.
4. What other advice, thoughts or suggestions would you offer to any speakers-in-the-making?
Try to avoid at all costs.
These are fantastic! I use a lot of these techniques, plus I sometimes incorporate visualization.
1. Antony Robbins
2. It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
Craig, I have seen you speak and learn from you each time I listen to you. Thank you for your list.
[...] What (Who) Makes a Good Speaker? [...]
This is a really good post on how to overcome fear when speaking.
What a wonderful article! I have been involved in Toastmasters in the past and found this to be a great organization!
This is good. Very important.
I have done a lot of speaking in connection with book promotion.
Always get there early and have a chat. Get some names. As if it’s ok to mention them. It makes everryone feel more at home as though you know them. Make sure they are good sports.
One of the books I promoted was what it was like to be a widow in middle age. It was not a book about grief. Actually,it was a collection of stories that were funny.
I arrived at one bookstore and found there were about 20 brand new widows. Some were crying.
Talk about a switch in my presentation. I was glad I got there early.
Some stand-out speakers that I’ve witnessed are:
Russell Harris – ACT trainer & therapist
Rocco Crino – psychologist – specializes in anxiety disorders
Yours Truly (of course) – life coach, personal trainer, etc
A lecturer @ uni – she doubles as a comedian – I used to attend her lectures for the entertainment & incidentally learnt something along the way
They stood out because, in retrospect, it seems that they actually followed the 8 principles elucidated by you.
I’m sure there are other stand-out speakers. As years of living accumulate, however, the memory fades & similar events blend into one fuzzy category of experience – if you know what I mean. Besides I’ve got insomnia – fuzzy thinking rules.
The speakers that have stood out for the wrong reasons (i.e. I felt repelled) didn’t follow the above principles. Arrogance, condescension, cynicism, and prejudice are my main speaker turn-offs.
Oh, I forgot to add that, yes, I have experienced transformational moments when listening to a speaker. For example, Rocco’s description of emotional reasoning (i.e. how most effectively to explain the concept to clients). I know there have been others… but fuzziness impairs the memory cells at 3am.
Can I share a quote by Paul Gibney (2003, p. 143):
“At the end of hte day, the therapist” [or speaker] “who is attentive to the client’s experience, thoughtful in her or his comments and genuinely kind will most probably be sufficiently different to most people so as to create an important difference and an importantly different relationship for the client.”
Hi Craig,
Wonderful post! Why do we have such a fear of public speaking?
Hello Craig,
I do quite a bit of public speaking, and I think #2 is so important!
I dont know any public speakers that have motivated me.,, but im yet to experience you! So probably one of the best I witnessed run a workshop was a lady who’s main area was in Networking.. I cant remember her name however she was gentle yet very firm.
What I really enjoyed about her was that although she was not young she was innovative, honest in her feedback but she really did care – well at least she gave that impression to me. She new what she was talking about (it was a really bitchy group of women) but she was able to give me the room to grow and keep those girls in toe… it was interesting.. she actually invited me to go into a public speaking compeitiion…
Anyway.. I was talking abt this same topic this morning with a friend and he simply said ‘speak less’ especially as you are a women. Now I realise that sounds sexist but he is right.. if a man goes on and on they are perceived as an expert but a woman is interpretted as picky and bossy..so Im going to try and practice… this in the next few months and the MOST agrevating thing about some people who public speak they TRY to be someone else, they put in WOOHOOS when they are NOT a WHOOWHO person and THIS is so obvious as they say it at all the wrong times…persoanlly that is not moviating.
The most motivating speaches I have ever hear 1) NelsonMandella. 2) a SPIN instructor who was just cool, didnt say much, but believed 3) a random guy who really changed his life…
I found myself in a job a few years back which required regular ‘presentations’ to groups from 5 – 80+ people. Some were very senior in the company and others were very closed to the ideas I was presenting.
After my first fairly disastrous 5 minute presentation, I joined toastmasters. 12 months later I was able to confidently give 20 1 hour presentations in a month to over 1600 people.
I found that it was important up front to get people to agree that the change I was proposing was needed even if not wanted. A few questions that I knew the answer to usually got people to at least open up to the idea that what I was implementing was not 100% bad!
I think that month was my watershed moment in regards to public speaking. I worked to my strengths (connecting to the audience) and worked with my weaknesses (a microphone to assist my lack of projection).
I kind of miss it now, which is totally bizarre given how much I hated doing it before that month!
surprisingly despite all her bad press lately I found I could listen to Christine Nixon for hours. Have seen her talk to a small group and to the whole community and she has an amazing knack to make people feel comfortable and give the impression that she actually gives a damn. Her main key attribute is actually being able to listen which of course makes her an awesome speaker – if that makes sense. Facinating life story too. Most people I know who have seen her in action agree. I think she is bearing the brunt of tall poppy syndrome and a scapegoat the the moment.
Oh….and of course you were awesome too Craig…though I must admit I was constantly distracted by your enormous guns and groovy glasses.
Best Speaker I’ve heard is Bob Proctor Author of You Were Born Rich. He speaks with enthusiasm, warmth, personal experience, asks personal questions and has good interaction with the people at his seminars. He is very smart he quotes from a variety of sources i.e Maxwell Maltz (Psycho Cybernetics a great read by the way…) .
Advice for would be speakers. Work off an outline. There is nothing worse than seeing someone stuck to his notes (Politicians have a habbit of doing that very annoying… Speak slowly. Going too fast will make people lose interest. Have good eye contact that means look at one person for a few seconds then move on to another. Use illustrations, Jesus was the master teacher and any would be speaker would do himself (herself) a world of good by looking at the way he taught back in Galilee in 30 to 33 C.E. Eg the widow who contributed a small coin was ‘worth more’ than all the other peoples monies. Just because it was smaller in value it was worth ‘more’
because that was all she had for that time. Theres my ncontribution Craig. : ) Look forward to seeing you Sunday week. Have a fantastic day!
Regards, Gideon Kalatzis.
Best speaker I have watched recently is Jamie Oliver giving his TED award winning speech on obesity. Very passionate
My most favourite thing to do in the world is public speaking. I won the Year 5 public speaking competition at school, and every year thereafter. Nothing gets me going quite like having an audience does!
Next week I’m going to back to my old school to do a speaking gig on health and fitness for all of my old teachers, plus some new ones. What a kick that’s going to be!
I have constantly been inspired by my Dad who is the best speaker I have ever seen. He generally makes some notes on a napkin right before he faces his audience, and he pulls it off….every single time. Witty, funny, emotional and always very, very clever, in terms of knowledge, structure and likability. I’ve been watching him talk in front of people (in a business AND social sense) for 30 years. I want to be just like him
Like you say, just keep speaking, at any opportunity. Speak at social functions, as well as professional ones. To be able to connect to your audience with humour and emotion is so powerful, and best learned in front of friends, family and drunk people who don’t really care what you’re saying anyway!
The butterflies never go away, but that’s half the fun isn’t it?!
-Carly
Hi Craig
I went to a work conference a few years back and there was this speaker (ex. music conductor) he was just brilliant. He used his audience like his band and had everyone capivated. Sorry I have forgotten his name (that’s how captivating he was, haha). He started his presentation with a big band that he conducted then he asked the audience to do his job….man there was so many laughs in the room it wasn’t funny (another pun). It was funny how the perception of the conductor was so different to the reality of what he was doing. The audience members were gettng up on stage and just shaking their heads, waving their arms around….however the band was so out of tune as a result. It was an experience which will stay with me for ever.
I am yet to see you but I’m sure you’ll set a new benchmark for other.
Gullu
The only thing that ever inspired me to speak was that the school said they wouldnt expel me on the condition that I particpated in the debating team (as third speaker) and presented the school in the interstate public speaking comp… As I got time off school and this is all I had to do besides sports carnivals… to get my year 10 certificate and keep my mother – I did it …We WON the debating comp for the first time against Hills Grammer and came second in the interstate public speaking competition…
I always loved listening to Jim Rohn talk. I never was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go see him in person, but I’ve listened to a number of his audio presentations. I normally have trouble listening to entire audio programs without getting bored, but Jim was different. He engaged the audience from the outset and never let go. He often led the audience to respond with leading questions. He used repetition to bring home certain points and added in perfectly timed wit. He hit every one of your points on the head.
Hi Craig,
I did my first public talk the other day. The content was great but my presentation was terrible. What I learnt : 1) Be FULLY prepared – info in point form in a logical order, written down on a piece of paper. 2) Practice the talk many times!! In front of collegues (for critical review) and family or friends – for other feedback. 3) Power points. Make sure they are relevant and practice when to move on to the next slide.
I agree with Craig that to have the experience is far more valuable that reading lots of stuff on how to do it. I hope this might be of use. Amanda
Hi Craig,
Not trying to suck up or anything, but I heard you speak at my gym last year you’re probably one of the best public speakers I’ve heard…Informative, funny and you engaged the audience (including my wife who was a bit sceptical of your ideas on weight loss etc).
My pet hate with public speakers is the ones that have a power point presentation and then read directly off the slides…I might as well read the slides.
I had my first opportunity to speak publically in a professional capacity last week…I was crap…but better for the experience.
John Smith from the ‘God Squad’ is a powerful orator and I am not even particularly religious!!
I love public speaking and many of the points you have bought up here are definitely advanced.
At this point, I can comfortably stand in front of a small audience and talk about topics I am VERY familiar with. Which usually turns out to be a geek (me) talking to geeks about the latest tech topics, but I digress…
Besides toastmasters (I am a member of Tea House Toastmasters), what other opportunities can you point us to for getting speaking experience? How would the process of searching for avenues be, do I draw up a list of topics and pitch people who I think might be interested?
Cheers,
Krishna
@carly, good on you, sounds like you are really enjoying your speaking opportunities! And yeah, the butterflies never go away
– the funny thing is, thats actually part of what I enjoy about speaking.
@michellee, I suppose the “God crowd” gets quite a bit of practice
.
The questions:
1. Who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard and why?
. Some of the best speeches/lectures I have seen were from Andrew Utter, who runs an acting school out in San Francisco (mother of invention) – what really makes him effective are his passion for the craft of acting and the sheer energy he brings to his talks.
- Many of the speakers out in TED are great. I suppose each of their speeches are pretty well rehearsed. Also, some Indian masters (the God crowd again
2. Has there been a ‘moment’ in a presentation that proved to be transformational (over the long term) for you?
- Every speech about 30-45 seconds in, when I get into a “flow” stage. Its just the best feeling in the world.
3. As an audience member, what speaking style ‘works’ for you?
- Passionate and engaged.
4. What other advice, thoughts or suggestions would you offer to any speakers-in-the-making?
. And enjoy it, probably not worth doing it if it isn’t fun for you…
- Get lots of practice, I suppose
Cheers,
Krishna
Public Speaking is an art, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. It is acquired after years of experience. If you wish to be an articulate speaker, you should have a good command over the language, in which you wish to deliver your speeches. You should have a thorough knowledge of the subject on which you’re speaking. Try to develop eyeball to eyeball contact with your audience.