Public Speaking Topics

Public Speaking, Sales Presentations or Group Meetings - Be in the Moment
If you are speaking to a large audience, a small room full of people, or conducting a personal presentation, nothing is as effective and engaging as living in the moment. This is a lesson taken from the stage to the boardroom by Pat Dolan, Fine Arts Chair of St. John's. As the Fine Arts Chair of St. John's, it is Pat Dolan's responsibility to prepare young men and women for the stage. As a teacher and mentor, his lessons are invaluable for life beyond the stage. He requires rehearsals with dedication and commitment. In the process of teaching communication skills he imparts confidence. In the process of challenging students to design the stage he unveils hidden creative talents. In the process of teaching his pupils how to act, he teaches them how to be. After individuals and understudies are selected to play roles, each person begins the arduous task of learning the script by rote. The lines are rehearsed with constant repetition until the very words become memorized as a reflexive response to auditory stimulus, speaking without thinking. By the time that the actors achieve this level of emotionless repetition, Mr. Dolan begins to work his real magic. Three Lessons As a first step, the cast was instructed to lay down on the floor motionless. With eyes closed, each member of the cast was instructed to tell the other members of the cast about one new sound that they could hear in the silence. At first this seemed absurd. However, once everyone was quiet, someone noticed the faint sound of cars outside. After a few moments, as the other most obvious sounds were identified, members focused with intent concentration on the most sublime sounds. Someone identified the sound of the wind on the windows, and another person quickly noted the sound of footsteps and laughter in the distance. As we became intensely aware of our surroundings, we started to notice the sound of each other breathing and the faint shuffle of someone moving. With all other stimulus removed, we noticed the pulse of our own heartbeats. It is amazing to realize how much we overlook and choose to tune out when we are focused on specific thoughts. How many clues and input do we miss from the world around us when we are concentrating on what we are about to say? As the second step, the cast was instructed to sit on the stage in darkness. Completely motionless and with eyes closed, the entire play would be spoken aloud in the empty hall. Each of the players listened intently to the rise and fall of the other voices as they echoed in the otherwise empty chamber. The fluctuations, tones and subtle nuances of the voices became heightened once all other senses were stilled. How much did we learn about the inflection of our own voices and the ability to convey emotion in the sound of the spoken words? As the third step, Mr. Dolan instructed us to act out the entire play in our own words. The simple rule was to complete the entire drama from beginning to end without using any of the scripted language. This sounds simple right? It is not. Imagine knowing what needs to be said and knowing that you can not use the very words that have been memorized. It was necessary to express the feeling, intent and purpose of the words without using the predetermined words to create actions and response. The feeling and intent had to be our own, the purpose was prescribed even though the words were forbidden. How much of what we say or hear in meeting or presentations is scripted or prepared in advance? How well can we convey our feeling and intent by adjusting our language to the listener, rather than our own prepared script? On Stage During one production on the stage, we had an opportunity to apply this training in action. The play was based on the legendary Sherlock Holmes, and in one critical scene the great Doctor Watson was to be threatened at gunpoint by the leading lady. Unfortunately, upon walking on stage, in front of friends, family and strangers, the leading lady encountered a severe case of stage fright. As Dr. Watson delivered his lines with perfection, the leading lady froze, motionless and staring at the sea of eyes. Undaunted, Dr. Watson repeated his lines, and then tried to break the spell. He waved one hand in front of her eyes, but she remained as a statue. This moment would surely put the training by Pat Dolan to the test. The great Doctor Watson began the most amazing one man show off Broadway. He adapted his soliloquy to incorporate both ends of the conversation. He uttered questions aloud and crafted a story that was as mesmerizing as it was spontaneous. As the story expanded, he wrapped the plot around a game of charades, pretending that the leading lady was a famous statue from ancient Greece. From time to time, Dr. Watson would guess at the name of goddess, giving the leading lady a chance to rejoin the activity. He juggled props on the stage and gracefully twirled his bowler hat from the top of his head to the tip of his fingers. He enthralled the audience with his stories, guesswork and animated activities. As the good Doctor Watson was in mid-stride across the stage, the leading lady suddenly came to life and blurted out her scripted line. Needless to say, it had absolutely no connection whatsoever to the soliloquy that Dr. Watson had created. The audience responded with a stunned silence. Pausing for a mere breath, Dr. Watson shouted with excitement, "Ah ha, Galatea! The statue comes to life! And I, fair lady, shall be your Pygmalion. You win the charade fairly and squarely, and now on to matters at hand." The audience erupted in laughter and applause, and then the play continued as if never interrupted. The transition between the statuesque stage fright and back into the scripted activity was so entertaining that it was transparent. Even the director, Mr. Dolan, did not recognize that the play had taken an unexpected detour. The audience, cast and crew were so engaged in the dialogue that everyone thought it was part of the play. In the Boardroom Fast forward several years to boardrooms, stage and customer presentations. How many times have these thespians drawn on the lessons learned from Pat Dolan? No matter how well scripted or rehearsed, there is nothing more engaging than performing and living in the moment. Adapt your style of communication to the audience and to the moment. Incorporate meaningful dialogue based on the surroundings, the people and interactive communication. The old adage is to 'open with a joke'. The underlying purpose to this approach is to make a connection with the audience. Regardless of the size of the audience, the purpose is to recognize and engage your audience with some commonality and shared sense of being. Your audience may be as small as one person, in which case it is much easier to get to know the person and adjust your script to be a conversation. If your audience contains tens of people or hundreds, then it is a more challenging task to quickly identify a shared sense of purpose, mutual interest and method of communication, but it can be done. Do not fear eye contact, interaction or individual connection when you are presenting. This is the goal, not to be avoided. It is as important to express the feeling and the intention as the purpose. It is as important to be interested as it is to be interesting. It is in recognizing response that you confirm connection, being aware of your surroundings and of your audience. Another old adage is to imagine your audience in underwear. This is intended to mitigate fear by removing the intimidation and reducing the humanity of the audience. On the contrary, it is the humanity that you should be trying to reach with conscientious consideration. Do not fear your audience, but speak to them respectfully as if each person is a recently rediscovered acquaintance and long lost friend. Imagine yourself shaking hands with each individual as you speak to them and look them in the eyes. Welcome the audience into your presentation and make them an active participant, even if they remain in their seats. Be authentic with your audience, adapt your script to accommodate their style of communication, and live in the moment. ______________________________________________________ Words of Wisdom "It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." - Mark Twain "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts..." - William Shakespeare "I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'." - Kurt Vonnegut "Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood." - William Penn ______________________________________________________

John Mehrmann is a freelance author, industry expert and President of Executive Blueprints Inc, an organization dedicated to developing human capital and personal growth.

Public Speaking for Kids
Do your kids like to speak in front of others? Probably not. But confidence in public speaking is important, even at a young age. Children deliver oral reports in classrooms, are interviewed for private schools, give bar/bat mitzvah speeches, and perform in drama classes, just to name a few examples.

If your children are nervous about public speaking what can you do? Aside from giving them lots of encouragement and providing informal opportunities to speak at home, there are three basic elements of good verbal communication that, if practiced, can help them be less nervous and more confident:

Body language

Voice Tone

What to say

Let’s start with body language: We’ve all heard how important first impressions are. They’re actually crucial in public speaking. Your kids can have really interesting things to say, but if they shuffle their way up to the front, slouch, and look at the floor instead of into the eyes of their listeners, they may as well be reciting from the phone book. If they move with purpose and look confident, even if they’re not feeling it, they’ll go a long way towards making a positive impression on their listeners before they even speak a word.

Here’s an exercise: Have your kids practice good and bad body language â€" even to the point of exaggeration. Make it a game where they demonstrate body language that’s the complete opposite of what they’re saying, and then correct it. For instance, have them declare “I know exactly what I’m talking aboutâ€� while shuffling their feet and looking at the floor. Then have them say the same thing standing up straight and looking you in the eyes. Have them do it in front of a mirror or put it on video so they can see the difference.

Voice tone: Many kids â€" especially girls â€" get into the bad habit of making statements sound like questions. You’ve heard it: “I got called on in class today? And the teacher said I gave a good report?â€� This vocal habit is a disaster, not only now but later in life, and if a child doesn’t stop this habit when young it may become very difficult to quit later on. Even if your child has lots of self-confidence, copying their friends and speaking with a vocal up-tick implies a desire for affirmation from others every time they speak, rather than confidence in what they know.

Another problem is lack of volume when talking in a pressure situation, often due to nervousness or shyness. Here’s where deep breathing before speaking helps. A deep breath supports the voice and gives it more carrying power.

Exercises: To get rid of the vocal question mark, have your kids practice saying a sentence both ways â€" ending up and ending down. Record it so they can hear the difference. During the day, if you hear it creeping in, perhaps ask what the question is until they eventually stop.

For breathing, have them stand in front of a mirror and take a deep breath. Their shoulders should not rise; in fact, only the area below the belly button should be expanding and contracting. They shouldn’t start to speak until they’re already exhaling. That way the voice will ride on their breath instead of starting with a catch in their throat.

What to say: So your kids have gotten the hang of looking and sounding confident. There’s no hint of question marks when they make statements. Their hearers are ready to assume the best. Now it’s time to actually say something. A basic rule of thumb, whether giving a book report or a bar mitzvah speech, is to start with the big picture and then get to specifics. At the end, go back to the big picture. For instance, if the assignment is “What I did on vacation,� they wouldn’t start with “we went snorkeling and saw colorful fish.� They’d start with “We went to Hawaii.� Then they’d get to the specifics of the trip, and finish off again with the big picture: “So we had a great time in Hawaii.�

Exercise: Have your kids practice going from the big picture to the specifics and back again. Make it a game. You say something specific: “traffic stops at a red light,� and they come up with the big picture: “Drivers have to obey traffic laws.� Or, you come up with the big picture: “Our family eats breakfast together,� and they have to come up with the specifics: “Some days we eat cereal and some days we eat eggs.�

Learning to speak comfortably and confidently in public is a great benefit for your kids, no matter how young they are. If you encourage them to have confident body language, strong voices, and interesting things to say it will help them enormously in school and beyond.

Lisa Dale Jones is an experienced public speaking and communications coach with extensive national and international experience. She has conducted speech training and media workshops for professional speakers in London, Vienna, Heidelberg, Johannesburg, Washington DC, and Boston. For many years she was an award-winning producer and on-air talent for Monitor Radio, the broadcast edition of The Christian Science Monitor. For over four years she was Assistant Manager, in charge of speaker training, and chief editor for the Board of Lectureship, an international spirituality speakers bureau based in Boston. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Copyright 2007. Speaking with Soul. All Rights Reserved.

So you want to be a Public Speaker?
So you want to be a Public Speaker? Have you ever attended a seminar and said, "Wow, I wish I could speak like that"? Well, I've got some great news for you. You can be a public speaker. There is no such thing as a born public speaker. Public speaking is a learned skill, basically anyone can do it. You just need to follow some simple rules and practice. If you know how to talk, you can become a public speaker. Becoming really good at public speaking requires some risk. Now understand there is risk involved. You risk being rejected when you ask someone out on a date, and you risk getting into an accident every time you drive your car. If you were afraid of getting into an accident, you'd never get behind the wheel, right? It has been proven that one of our greatest fears, believe it or not, is public speaking. The key to getting up in front of an audience is believing that you have something to share with them that may make a difference in their lives - by entertaining them, warning them, encouraging them, or giving them direction or information. In order to be good at anything, you have to practice. It’s easy to become discouraged if you expect to be as good as Zig Ziglar, Tom Antion Bill Brooks and Jim Cathcart right out of the shoot. But if you knew their backgrounds you will find that it took a long time before they were able to do what they do so well. The thing to remember is the only person you need to compare yourself with is yourself. You must constantly work for your personal best, so when you are preparing your speech and practicing, all you need to ask yourself is, “is your second speech better than your first?â€� Did you learn something new as you prepared for your speech? Did you learn something from the feed-back comments of others after you gave your speech? That's all you need to do. You can use what you've learned to make the next speech your best and then use the same process for each speech you give thereafter. Just take one step at a time. Find your Niche The more you like your topic, the more your audience will want to hear about it. There are three ways to determine your power fields, interests, majors and pet peeves. Start with process one and follow these recommendations. But before you do that, you need to understand, to become a successful public speaker you must be passionate about your public speaking career. You MUST, eat drink and sleep public speaking. You must be focused, determined and control any and all distractions to become successful in this field. It is an absolute must that you love what you’re doing. Yes, it’s important you must enjoy helping people and be around people â€" communication is a two way process. “The reason I do this basically is that I enjoy being in front of people. I get fired up, excited and enjoy the interaction. Yes, ego is involved also. It’s a rush!â€� Now, back to where we were. Below are some questions to ask yourself to find your niche. “Your audience will know if you really care about what you’re speaking on â€" believe me! So, find your niche.â€� PROCESS 1 What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies? What do you like to do at holidays? What is your favorite travel destination? What do you like to talk about with friends? On what issue do you hold a strong opinion? What issue do you like to know more about? What values are you standing for? What special expertise do you have? What do you fix well? What special skills do you have? What special professional or personal experiences have you had in your life? What speech topic or debate in the news recently focused your attention? PROCESS 2 Associate. Lets say you like to talk about Donald Trump. Now write down all things that come up in your mind. All the things related to Donald Trump. E.g. real estate, business successes, scandals, TV productions, his friends, and so on. In other words, you are building a topic tree around Mr. Trump. This method takes some time, but you can apply it on almost every candidate issue. PROCESS 3 Is it of great interest to you? Does it really excite you? Is it something you're already interested in? Did you always want to know more about it, but didn't have the time to find out? Do you love to talk about it? Do you already know more about the speech topic? Are you passionate about your subject? Most importantly, regardless of the subject, YOU MUST BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING AND THE TOPIC BE PRESENTED! Once you have found your niche(s), perfect it/them. If you’ve noticed, you can have more than one. It is strongly suggested you have multiple subject matter. Personally, I have eight seminars from one hour to a two week on site venue. Don’t limit your marketability with only having one or two. Versatility is the name of the game. But which ever you choose become the expert in that/those subject(s). Stay up to date with changes, technology or whatever impacts change to your subject. Constant research is the key here. Remember, people are paying for your knowledge! Tools of the Trade: To start on this subject, I will layout the common tools required to maintain your trade: 1. Laptop Computer 2. Digital movie camera (professional is suggested here) 3. Mobile Projection (presentations)(see InFocus) 4. Thumb Drive (2GIG min) 5. Headset Microphone Wireless System 6. Digital micro recorder 7. The most important tool of all your voice. • Voice is essential to your profession. To take care of your voice properly is essential to your longevity • Do’s to project and save your voice: 1. Get an annual check-up from a throat specialist â€" Prevention is always better than a cure. 2. Consider professional voice training. A voice teacher, professional choir director or singer can make a world of difference in techniques and your sound. 3. Drink six to eight glasses of water daily â€" this helps to moisten throat tissue and cuts down on dryness which leads to irritation. 4. Drink only water, lemonade or warm liquids when using your voice for long periods of time. Ice cold liquids have a tendency to shock or paralyze the throat and causes strain. 5. Use warm salt water solution or warm lemonade to gargle with after long hours of selling especially if your throat feels tired. 6, Use a quality sound system. Don’t buy because of price â€" buy because of sound. 7. Let the sound system do the work for you â€" that’s why you have it. Control crowd with sound system. Turn it up if they’re too noisy â€" silence will quite them also. Keep them attentive but not by yelling. 8. Relax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension â€" relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply. 9. Keep throat moist at all times. Small pieces of candy held in corner of mouth help produce saliva. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness. NEVER, NEVER chew GUM! Yes it does produce saliva but looks disgusting. “Every time I see one chewing gum during a presentation I see a barnyard animal chewing cud!â€� - “Okay, my pet Peeve!â€� 10. Project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Talk to furthest person from you to help projection. 11. Practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathingâ€� whenever you have to speak. Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear. • DON'TS: Here are a few that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems. 1. Don’t strain â€" learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct. 2. Don’t scream or shout excessively â€" Auctioneers don’t speak without a good sound system. 3. Don’t use a cotton handkerchief over mike â€" dust and cotton particles from the handkerchief cause dryness and strain. 4. Don’t rely on throat lozenges, sprays, pills, steam to ease throat. This is a dead give-away to problems. Don’t spray antihistamines to clear nose. They dry out throat tissue excessively and often cause drainage into throat. Grosse, but true. 5. Don’t speak out of pitch â€" too high or too low a pitch causes voice strain, how do you find your pitch? Talk or hum to determine pitch. 6. Don’t cough, sneeze or clear throat excessively â€" causes incredible stress on vocal chords and irritation from rubbing together that may lead to nodules. 7. Don’t speak louder or change your pitch when you have head congestion. You may feel you can’t be understood unless you adjust your voice but remember, your audience’s ears are not congested and they can hear you fine. Slower, more careful articulation will help your clarity. 8. Don’t smoke! If others around you are smoking, drink water. This greatly reduces the likelihood of throat irritation. 9. Don’t ignore warning signs â€" hoarseness, laryngitis, sore throat (especially after speaking), swelling, lumps or continued irritation. Don’t wait â€" get it checked by a doctor and hydrate. Remember; don’t skimp on quality with your tools. Your tools are important and cost should not be a factor. You get what you pay for! Delivery As a speaker, you never want to “dieâ€� in front of the room, but if you take the wrong position, it may very well affect how your received. Lots of research on covert influence shows that it really does matter where one stands when we present our subject matter. To satisfy yourself that the position of your body in relationship to others is important, try this. Ask several to help you out. Place two chairs face to face, just about 3-4 feet from each other. Now, assuming you are sitting in one, slide the other over about two feet to the right, so when the other person is sitting across from you, you’ll be to their right, and vice versa. Now have each person sit across from you as you present a short subject. Have them appraise you on a scale from 1-10 how comfortable they are with you. After they have done so, move your chair so that they are now across from you, and on your left and repeat the process. Do this with as many people as you can, because the results are overwhelming. You’ll be shocked to find that almost everyone rates you as being much more comfortable when you are on their right side. Not only that, but research also indicates that you will be seen as more attractive as well. See how this might be beneficial? So, how do you use this information in a live presentation? While there are more complex strategies, the basic use of this is not only powerful, but simple. When you first take the stage, you’ll want to stand near the center, just off to the right of the audience, or your left. As the presentation progresses, you will want to use both sides of the stage; the side to the right of the audience for anything you want them to associate positive feelings to, and the left side to the things you want them to link to negativity. Ain’t science wonderful? Nerves Your mouth is dry, heart pounding, and knees knocking. You go into panic, facing a dreaded public speaking engagement. “Now understand, I have been speaking since 1973 and have given hundreds of seminars and each and every time I’m nervous.â€� Here are a few tips that may help combat those symptoms and reduce nervousness. 1. Deep breathing will help your brain work to capacity, and forcing the slower pace will quell the panic. 2. Exude confidence; Stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out. Smile. Even though you don’t feel happy or confident, do it anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is confident. It works! 3. Keep you mouth and throat hydrated. Plan to keep a drink on hand while you are speaking, though this sounds impossible. Place (room temperature) water strategically placed so you can re-hydrate during your presentation. Know when in your presentation it would be less noticed. If all else fails tell your audience that you need to hydrate. You can make it humorous. 4. Adrenalin sends the blood rushing to the fight/flight centers of your brain at the base of the skull. Place your hand on your forehead and press gently on the bony points. This will bring the blood to the parts of the brain that need it to present your speech best. 5. Know you are prepared. Obviously this depends on actually being prepared, so take every opportunity in the days leading up to the speech to prepare your material. Be familiar with the structure of the presentation, and the ideas to use. Memorize the most important parts, and the parts you might forget. 6. Know your audience, its critical! Their average age, gender, race, income levels, education, generally their demographics. Remember, the more you know your audience the more it will put you at ease. 7. Remember, you are the expert! Yes, there are people who might know more about your subject. I think this way, “if there is a person that knows more about the subject being presented in the audience, then why they are not up here presenting and I seated in the audience?â€� 7 Keys of making a Speech 1. Grammar â€" Use correct grammar. Write out your speech in advance and read it aloud a few times. This will help you catch most of the mistakes privately. Ask a friend to listen to the speech and give you feedback or note any grammatical errors. 2. Filler Words â€" Unnecessary words that do not help convey your point can be distracting. Avoid the use of “uh, ah, um, you know, like, and I mean.â€� In order to avoid run-on sentences, insert a one-second â€" pause - between sentences instead of using “andâ€� or “soâ€� to connect two or more sentences. Before you take the stage practice saying any difficult words you plan to use. 3. Body Language â€" By this, I am referring to unintentional cues you give such as looking at your notes, not making eye contact, slumped shoulders, hands in pockets jingling money, or slouching on the lectern. Practicing in front of a mirror will help you discover your own quirky movements. 4. Gestures â€" These are intentional movements you use to make a point or illustrate the importance of a word. Make your gestures large enough to be seen by the person sitting in the back of the room. Step away from the lectern when using the lower part of your body; otherwise your movement will not be seen. 5. Vocal Delivery â€" Avoid monotone and jazz up your presentation by varying your tone (emphasis or emotion), pitch (high or low voice), and rate (fast or slow). All these help keep an audience interested in what you are saying. 6. Topicâ€" Your focus should be on your audience. An interesting topic is important, but should be relevant to your listener’s needs. Prepare ahead of time. Write key points on small 3x5 note cards to remind you of what is next. Reading off cue cards is discouraged. Only use them if necessary. Know your subject! 7. Visual Aids â€" Not all presentations require or need visual aids. However, visual aids and handouts make a your presentation more interesting. Impromptu Speaking If you have ever given a presentation at work or at a special event you know how nerve-wracking it can be. A little nervousness is normal. It shows that you care and are excited about the opportunity you’ve been given to speak. Having nervousness overcome your ability to function in front of an job interview panel can be harmful. Practice impromptu speaking as a way of learning to respond effectively on a moment’s notice. Here are a few suggestions about how to rehearse for successful impromptu speaking. For this exercise you will require: • A timer, stopwatch or clock with a second hand sweep. • A friend - If you don’t have anyone to practice with, you’ll have to watch the timer yourself. • A topic â€" here are three: 1. What is procrastination and how it impacts ones personal life. 2. You have a friend that has asked you for some advice on why his business is not taking off. You know it is his focus and time management that needs real help. 3. Please give your advice on how to deal with rush-hour traffic. Take each topic listed above one at a time. Have your friend read one topic aloud then set the timer for two minutes. Your friend will give you a silent signal when you’ve reached one minute and again when you have reached two minutes. Try to keep speaking until you get the one minute signal. Then, wrap up when you get the two minute signal. Compose your thoughts as quickly as possible and begin addressing the topic. Give a simple opening statement. You may repeat the topic question as your opening. Then, give your opinion about the topic by answering the questions to the best of your ability. Give a summary of what you presented. Guest Speaker Being a guest speaker in front of the right audience can be an excellent way to attract new business. Many clubs, organizations, conventions, and trade shows seek guest speakers who can provide useful information to their audience. The opportunity to speak in front of an attentive group can certainly boost your business, whether you are a service or product provider. Design your speech or presentation so that the audience leaves with useful information that will help them. Avoid giving a sales pitch; this will be a turn-off for both the audience and the speaker-coordinator. Here are a number of reasons why being a guest speaker can attract more business: You are perceived as an expert in your field. You have an opportunity to get free publicity to promote the event. You have the opportunity to hand out information to each attendee (with your contact name on it). You can ask for names and addresses of attendees to build your contact database. You can chat one-on-one with the attendees after the meeting. Make sure you have a business card! Check out your local Chamber of Commerce, local trade shows, or your local Convention Center. In some cities there are Professional Meeting Planners who often seek speakers. Your participation as a speaker at one event may lead to other contacts in the industry.

Mr. Dale Simmons, known as the “WHY� man, is a interactive motivational and "self-help" speaker who introduced the Pebble in the Pool © theory. With more than 28 years in the corporate market and conducting hundreds of training and career motivational presentations, Dale has developed the Pebble in the Pool © theory. In addition, seminars on Goal Setting, Team Building, Time Management and Lean Manufacturing Principles are now being offered to the private sector. Pebble in the Pool © is by far the most motivational seminar for the diverse audiences of today.

Me And My Big Mouth! A Special Report On The Value Of Media Training
By Chris Roycroft-Davis
Founding Partner, MediaMasters (London) Ltd

www.mmasters.co.uk


How many people say: “I don’t need media training. I’m far too clever to say anything that will get me into trouble�?

Don’t you believe it. Just look as these classic examples of the syndrome which TV presenter Denis Norden might call “engaging mouth before brain is in gear.�

And they all come from people who are at or near the top of their tree. So beware. And be warned: People in business can’t survive without media training.

Gerald Ratner, chief executive officer of Ratner Jewellers, astonished a televised business conference by saying this about some of his company’s best-selling products:

“They are cheap because they are total crap. This pair of ear-rings is cheaper than a prawn sandwich.�

The result? A speech which would otherwise have gone un-noticed became one of the main items on the TV news that night and dominated the papers the next day.

Within less than a year £500 million was wiped off Ratner’s share price and Gerald the Jinx was out on his ear.

Does Mr Ratner now wish he had been on a media training course? You bet.

You wouldn’t expect a banking boss to say anything indiscreet, would you? Especially not when he’s addressing a committee of MPs at the House of Commons, live on TV.

But just look at the extraordinary testimonial for Barclaycard that was given by Matthew Barrett, the chief executive of Barclays Bank:

“I do not borrow on credit cards. It is too expensive. I have four young children. I give them advice not to pile up debts on their credit cards.�

You can just imagine his marketing department wincing as they heard those words. If only he’d had media training.

Selling lottery tickets is a pretty simple proposition. You let people know what fantastic prizes are on offer and you convince them with a multi-million pound campaign that “It could be you� who wins.

So why on earth did Camelot chief executive Diane Thompson answer a question about falling ticket sales with a reply as crass as this:

“People have realised it probably won’t be you. You would be lucky to win a tenner.�

Oops! Not so much Camelot as Cringe-a-lot. Media training could have stopped Diane from making that mistake.

Maybe the country’s top policeman can make a better job of getting his message across.

“If we look at the murders in Soham, almost nobody can understand why that dreadful story became one of the biggest stories in Britain.�

And nobody can understand why Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, didn’t lose his job for such gross insensitivity.

Still, it can’t get any worse, can it? Oh yes it can…

Consider this example of how to make a lasting impression on your customers. It comes from the brand director of Top Man, who was asked to describe his company’s typical customer.

“Hooligans or whatever. Very few of our customers have to wear a suit for work. They’ll be for their first interview or first court case.�

Ouch! You can almost hear Top Man clients marching down the High Street to Primark or BHS, can’t you? The cost of media training is small compared with the cost of losing customers.

When your employees and their union are up in arms because their jobs are being out-sourced to India, then it’s time to pour oil on troubled waters and calm things down.

The chief executive of HSBC, Keith Whitson, had a great chance to do that when he was asked about the benefits of using Asian call centres rather than British ones.

“They’re quicker at answering the phone, highly numerate and keen to come to work every day.�

Now that’s guaranteed to have the brothers up in arms. And it’s an admission that his bank’s customers have not been receiving the very best service up to now.

Mr Whitson no longer has a desk at HSBC. Media training could have saved him from the sack.

It’s in the world of healthcare that the greatest care must be taken over public statements, in case care turns into scare.

The chairman of Walsall hospitals NHS Trust, Barrie Blower, met the daughter of a woman who had died at Manor Hospital and told her:

“Agency nurses kill more people than they bloody save â€" it’s an awful bloody set-up but we’ve got to have them.â€�

Full marks for twice managing to get the word bloody into your key message, Barrie. Media training would have stopped you from losing your cool. Barrie’s now the ex-chairman of the trust, by the way.

So how can you make sure YOU don’t open your mouth and put your foot in it?

Media trainers will tell you to follow one word: PREPARE. For if you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail.

Work out the three most important things you want to say, and spend some time writing them out and polishing them to perfection.

Then make sure they are totally committed to memory. Don’t be afraid to go round saying them out loud. Practice makes perfect, after all.

Think of all the questions you might be asked by a journalist and plan a successful and safe answer to each of them.

I tell people I am media training that once you have mastered what you want to say, turn your attention to what you DON’T want to say.

What are the three questions from hell that you’re praying the journalist won’t ask you?

“How much longer will XYZ Ltd put profits before safety and keep selling the teddy bears that are filled with iron filings?�

“Everyone knows XYZ has run out of money. How long before the company goes bust?�

“What do you know about the affair the chairman is having with his secretary?�

If you get bowled a damning question like that, the worst thing you can do is say nothing, or lamely mutter: “No comment.� Do that and you’ll be guilty in the eyes of the public, who are well versed in the proposition that there’s no smoke without fire.

The first law of media training is that you have to have answer ready. If the basis of the question is untrue, make darned sure you say so and back it up with a killer fact.

“It’s totally untrue that any XYZ products are unsafe. In fact, only last year we won an industry award for our super-safe range of bath toys.�

If there’s a grain of truth in the question, but it’s been overplayed, then adopt a different approach.

“It’s well known that every sector of our industry operates in a tough trading environment and XYZ can’t be insulated from that. But I can tell you that we have been cutting our costs, increasing our efficiency and working with our employees to guarantee the continued success of the company.�

Maybe you’ve always suspected that the boss is giving Miss Jones a bit more than dictation, but you have might not have proof. So use the “I’d tell you if I knew, but I’m afraid I don’t� approach.

“That rumour is news to me so I can’t possibly comment. But I will say that Mr Bangmore has just celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary by renewing his wedding vows.�

Remember this: Even if you do have cast-iron proof that Mr Bangmore and Miss Jones are having an affair, you have a duty of confidentiality to your employer not to divulge what you know.

My final media training advice is this: Don’t lie to a journalist. But recognise and understand the clear difference between lying and not telling the whole truth.



May 16, 2007


Copyright MediaMasters (London) Ltd 2007

Chris Roycroft-Davis has been one of Britain's leading journalists for three decades. He is the former Executive Editor of The Sun, the UK's biggest-selling daily newspaper, and currently writes for the Daily Express and The Times of London. He is a founding partner of MediaMasters (London) Ltd, which specialises in effective communications through advertising, websites, corporate literature, branding, marketing and corporate identity. He is skilled in media training and helps business people get the best out of media interviews.

Top 12 World News Stories In 2006 â€" Recap Of What Happened Around The World
From town criers to pigeon messengers; from tablets and scrolls to newspapers; from radio and TV coverage to news online the way news spreads throughout the world has changed with times. News updates people on whats happening and where it’s happening, news shapes opinions and influences the lives of people. It is news that mobilizes help in times of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The year 2006 had varied hues some bright others grey. There was death, war, scandals, sports, and a few delights. What the top 10 stories of 2006 were would vary and depend on individual perspectives. It is after all a matter of choice. 1. The month of Jan saw Russia cutting off gas to the Ukraine; Iran stated that it would continue nuclear research; Iraq saw strife and death; Sharon suffered a stroke; US received threats from Osama and stepped up its fight against terrorism and targeted an al-Qaeda leader; results of Iraqi elections were declared. New treatment for cancer increased life expectancy; the Dow hit a milestone; and a spacecraft headed to Pluto. 2. February saw the Atomic energy Board report Iran to the UN; world wide protests occurred over cartoons of Muhammad that appeared in European newspapers; Harvard President resigned; mudslide buried a town in the Philippines; the Olympic Games began in Italy. 3. The month of March was when India and the US agreed on a nuclear pact; Iraq witnessed escalating violence; Milosevic died in prison; Saddam Hussein testified for the first time; the UN approved a New Human Rights Council; the US launched an offensive on Iraq; France was crippled by a nation wide labor strike; the security council issued a statement on Iran; and the Palestinian cabinet was sworn in. Scientists discovered water on Saturn’s moon; General Motors and its union agreed on a buy-out and early retirement package to 113,000 unionized employees, and major league baseball decided to investigate seriously use of steroids. 4. April saw Chirac the French President sign a controversial labor legislation; Saddam Hussein is charged with Genocide; a general strike in Nepal against King Gyanendra; Prodi wins Italian Elections; Iran announces progress in nuclear program; a suicide bomber attacks a Tel Aviv Restaurant; Germany allows access to holocaust archives; the Chinese President visits the US; Serial bombing kills people in Egypt; European Investigation reveals Secret CIA Flights over Europe; and Peace agreement ends violence in Dafur. Scientists discovered a375 million year old fish fossil with early limb development signs establishing a link between aquatic and land forms; the FDA rejected medical use of Marijuana. 5. May was when Bolivia Nationalized the Natural gas Industry; Moussaoui a September 11 terrorist was sentenced to life; Israeli Parliament approved Governing Coalition; leaders in Sudan signed peace pact; Iranian President gives Bush a grievance letter ;US endorsed Palestinian AID; Un recommended closer of Guantanamo Prison; Bush and Blair admitted Mistakes on Iraq; US agreed to join Europe in talks with Iran. New England was flooded by record rain fall; Soda Companies agreed to remove sweetened sodas from schools; Enron executives were convicted; and Indonesian earth quake killed thousands and rendered thousands homeless. 6. June saw the UN urge greater action on AIDS; Canada arrested seventeen citizens on Terrorism charges; Iran was offered incentives to give up Nuclear program; an al-Qaeda leader was killed in Iraq; Hamas ended cease fire with Israel; Bush visited Iraq; Hussein defense lawyer was killed; Pentagon released a study on Interrogations. The FDA approved a vaccine for cervical cancer; Bill Gates decided to step aside; Art sales skyrocketed with a painting selling for USD 135 million; Warren Buffett donated 85% of his fortune to philanthropic organizations; and the mid-Atlantic regions endured the worst flooding in decades. 7. July saw death with many killed in Iraqi markets; North Korea test fired six missiles; violence intensified in Gaza; Nobel Peace Laureate became the Prime Minister of East Timor; India tested a long-range missile; Russia and China agree with the West on a Security Council Resolution against Iran; Hussein Trial ended; Congo held historic elections; NATO took command of Afghanistan. The former Enron chief died; Italy won its fourth world cup; hundreds died in a tsunami caused by an undersea earthquake in Indinesia. 8. August was a month of contrasts, Israel intensified ground offensive in Lebanon; the Ukrainian Parliament Approved a new Prime Minister; US general submitted a grim report on Iraq; Britain thwarted a huge terrorist plot; Iran ignored deadline to cease nuclear activities; record number of Iraqi civilians died. FDA approved the morning after pill; many died in Kentucky plane crash; Judge limits cigarette marketing ploys; Pluto is demoted and classified as a dwarf planet, and California adopted stringent emission laws. 9. September saw a steep rise in Iraqi casualties; Senior al-Qaeda leader Hamid al- Saeedi was captured in Iraq; Blair announced plans of stepping down ; Israel lifted air blockade of Lebanon; US Embassy in Syria was attacked; riots rocked Hungary; Assessment revealed that the Iraq war resulted in escalated Islamic radicalism; and Japan got a new Prime Minister. Shuttle makes lift off and 12 day mission; Pope’s speech in Germany incited Muslim anger; and the CDC recommends broad HIV testing. 10. The month of October saw run off elections in Brazil; intensification of Palestinian violence; North Korea tested a nuclear device; the UN appointed a new Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon; Security council imposes sanctions on North Korea; Militas battle to gain control of Amarra; Iran believed to be enriching uranium; Pakistan military targets Islamic school near Afghan border; and Bush in a news conference discussed Iraq war openly. Google purchased YouTube a popular video website; Hawaii experiences severe earthquake; Dow closed higher than 12,000; NASA approved repair of Hubble. 11. November saw the Taiwanese President Accused of corruption; Saddam convicted as guilty and sentenced to death; Israel ended Gaza incursion; South Africa legalizes same sex marriage; Lebanese minister was assassinated; Nepal plans elections; and civilian deaths escalate in Iraq, reach record high. Storms ravage the Southeast states of the US and hundreds died in Philippines Typhoon. 12. December saw Hugo Chavez win in a landslide in Venezuela; crises in Iraq expected to escalate, violence peaks ; suicide bomb kills many in Baghdad; UN leader sworn in; Palestinian leader calls for early elections; fighting breaks out in Somalia; Israelis decided to build new west bank settlement; Saddam Hussein is executed ; and Gerald Ford died at age 93. NASA announced setting up of a base on the moon and the National Institute of Health revealed that circumcision could reduce risk of getting AIDS through heterosexual sex.

Barry Allen is a freelance writer for http://www.1888pressrelease.com , the premier website to Submit Free Press Release for any announcements including launching of new product or services, new website, announcing new hires, sponsoring a special event or seminar and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Article Submission Directory http://www.1888articles.com

Kerala and "Cola-Ban"
It all started when the government received a letter from the Centre for science and environment" stating that cola samples tested by it contained traces of pesticides. The communist-led Kerala government sprung in to action. They immediately banned production and sales of pepsi and coke in the entire state.

There is a saying in Malayalam which means" The patient desired for milk and the doctor prescribed just that". Medias really celebrated the ban as a very progressive action and actually wanted more claiming that the cola companies should not go scot free, having committed the great crime of making people drink poisonous drinks for years. They vociferously demanded for the punishment of the owners of these two companies!

Cola-drinks were originally made from cola fruits and at present their ingredients are purely synthetic â€"The formula of the ingredients being kept as their trade secret, general public has no access to it. The companies claim that they make their products as per stringent international standards. When their access to technology and financial resources is considered the claim can be admitted. The condition of the government laboratories to test the same is rather well known, deplorable-to be precise- and its chieftains abstained from a free meeting with technocrats of the cola companies. It seemed they were not confident enough to prove their claim.

Drinking of cola was a fashion statement among youths and with enough pocket-money they did it in style! What are the after effect of consuming colas? No one knows. One thing is sure excess consumption of any thing is bad and cola is no exception! And our youth were drinking colas in excess quantity. This controversy really removed cola from their list of fashion statements! There is one pepsi factory at Kanjikode at Palakkad district in Kerala, which is blamed for drawing excess ground water from that area and too many activists are finding mileage out of that issue.

On September 22nd the Hon. High court of Kerala put the controversy to rest by overturning the cola ban stating that the Government order was "harsh, unreasonable and arbitrary and banning or allowing does not come under the state's purview. Both pepsi and the coke being American companies any one who talks sane may be described as a stooge of the imperialism! The court has shown tremendous amount of courage to say the least. The cola companies who have invested more than a billion dollars in this country were unfortunately seen as symbols of imperialism. When Xenophobia and anti- Americanism takes the center-stage, and crowds take decisions only court can be brave enough to be sane.


Author Bio - SIG - Resource Box

Kerala India Travel Tourism
- Website on Kerala Tourism providing information on Ayurveda, Festivals, Raja
Ravi Varma Paintings, Districts, Monuments, Houseboats, Waterfalls, Beaches, Recipes,
Places of Tourist interest Photo Gallery and Articles on Kerala.

<a href="http://www.naturemagics.com">Kerala India Travel Tourism</a> - Website on Kerala Tourism providing information on Ayurveda, Festivals, Raja Ravi Varma Paintings, Districts, Monuments, Houseboats, Waterfalls, Beaches, Recipes, Places of Tourist interest Photo Gallery and Articles on Kerala.

A Short Comparison Of Public Speaking Schools Of Thought: Toastmasters & Carnegie
As everybody will certainly agree that having the confidence to speak publicly is a valuable skill, there is much debate as to which technique of public speaking is the most effective.

Currently, the most recognized public speaking associations are Toastmasters International and the Dale Carnegie Course.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the principles of communication, public speaking and leadership skills. It achieves this by promoting a ?learning-by-doing? program in which members move up by making presentations in the presence of certified examiners.

The Dale Carnegie course is a program for self-improvement in which the emphasis is to be able to get the message across to the audience utilizing the speaker?s naturalness. There are fewer rules and lots of practice sessions. The course consists of twelve evening sessions; all participants are required to present a short speech.

Toastmasters Pros

Toastmasters certainly makes everything clear-cut when it comes to passing the exams. Each member is provided with a Communication and Leadership Manual containing ten speech projects the member has to fulfill. Members will then be evaluated and his speech criticized according to a set of rules.

When the member completes these projects, he is recognized to have achieved a level of competence. Advanced projects are also available after the ?basics? are done to move the member up some more.

Members are encouraged to frequently attend meetings and enjoy a sense of camaraderie with fellow members.

Toastmasters Cons

The Toastmasters system seems to not be suited for people who wish to speak well but would like to retain their informality as speakers. For example: Fillers, the areas in a speech when a speaker pauses and makes an involuntary sound like ?uhm? and ?ah?, is a very human habit and is considered an area for improvement in Toastmasters.

The ranking system, though effective to show where the members stand, can also deter people from joining due to the perceived ?elitist? nature of the ranking system.

Carnegie Pros

The course encourages the participant to use what works for him to an extent. The rules are few but fundamental. Fillers are acceptable as long as they do not distract the audience from the speech.

There are facilitators but there is no certified examiner. All participants in the session are asked to give their opinion about the speech in their terms. Some would consider Carnegie a course to understand the target audience whether it is laymen or intellectuals.

Carnegie has a positive perception with many businesses.

Carnegie Cons

The Carnegie system has been criticized by some that the time spent in particularly large classes is wasted waiting for others to finish their speeches. Some feel that this time would be better spent having two or three speeches in one night instead.

This goes to show that there are many systems to choose from but only one goal in public speaking. That is to get the message across in a manner that does not hinder the speaker.

James Masterson is Stand out, Be Recognized and Be Remembered keynote speaker. Click Here To read his latest advice <a href="http://free-online-course.com/masterson" title="http://free-online-course.com/masterson" target="_blank">http://free-online-course.com/masterson</a>

Kerala and "Cola-ban"
It all started when the government received a letter from the Centre for science and environmentâ€� stating that cola samples tested by it contained traces of pesticides. The communist-led Kerala government sprung in to action. They immediately banned production and sales of pepsi and coke in the entire state. There is a saying in Malayalam which meansâ€� The patient desired for milk and the doctor prescribed just thatâ€�. Medias really celebrated the ban as a very progressive action and actually wanted more claiming that the cola companies should not go scot free, having committed the great crime of making people drink poisonous drinks for years. They vociferously demanded for the punishment of the owners of these two companies! Cola-drinks were originally made from cola fruits and at present their ingredients are purely synthetic â€"The formula of the ingredients being kept as their trade secret, general public has no access to it. The companies claim that they make their products as per stringent international standards. When their access to technology and financial resources is considered the claim can be admitted. The condition of the government laboratories to test the same is rather well known, deplorable-to be precise- and its chieftains abstained from a free meeting with technocrats of the cola companies. It seemed they were not confident enough to prove their claim. Drinking of cola was a fashion statement among youths and with enough pocket-money they did it in style! What are the after effect of consuming colas? No one knows. One thing is sure excess consumption of any thing is bad and cola is no exception! And our youth were drinking colas in excess quantity. This controversy really removed cola from their list of fashion statements! There is one pepsi factory at Kanjikode at Palakkad district in Kerala, which is blamed for drawing excess ground water from that area and too many activists are finding mileage out of that issue. On September 22nd the Hon. High court of Kerala put the controversy to rest by overturning the cola ban stating that the Government order was “harsh, unreasonable and arbitrary and banning or allowing does not come under the state’s purview. Both pepsi and the coke being American companies any one who talks sane may be described as a stooge of the imperialism! The court has shown tremendous amount of courage to say the least. The cola companies who have invested more than a billion dollars in this country were unfortunately seen as symbols of imperialism. When Xenophobia and anti- Americanism takes the center-stage, and crowds take decisions only court can be brave enough to be sane.

<a href="http://www.naturemagics.com">Kerala India Travel Tourism</a> - Website on Kerala Tourism providing information on Ayurveda, Festivals, Raja Ravi Varma Paintings, Districts, Monuments, Houseboats, Waterfalls, Beaches, Recipes, Places of Tourist interest Photo Gallery and Articles on Kerala.

The Secrets of “Watchability� for Speakers

"Watchability." Both my spell checker and an online dictionary tell me that "watchability" is not a real word. However, I will continue to use it because, in my opinion, the ability to be watchable may be the single most important trait a speaker can have.

This summer, I attended the annual convention of the National Speakers Association. I thought that the kickoff speaker was amazing. However, if you break down his style in purely technical terms, he was awful. He kept moving around the stage, he stepped out of the light and into the audience, he checked his watch while speaking, etc. Despite all that, he had watchability. Something about his delivery and style kept me grossly engaged. Others must have thought so as well - you don't get to open a national speakers convention if people think you're no good.

So what is watchability? It is, to be a bit redundant, the characteristic of being watchable. People enjoy watching and listening to you speak. The amazing thing is that if you are watchable, then even if you mess up or if your content or delivery isn't up to snuff, the audience will enjoy it.

The ultimate goal, of course, is to have great content and delivery while being amazingly watchable. The challenge is that while content and delivery are easily viewable traits, watchability is abstract. It's easy to watch a speaker and critique how they move, or how they use their facials. You can listen and critique stutters, inflection, pace, and vocal variety. The value of their content is easy to immediately judge.

Watchability, however, is like charisma. You can't define a set criteria, but you know it when you see it.

I have however, observed a few things that all eminently watchable speakers do:

• They are themselves. These speakers speak from the heart, and speak in a style that is true to themselves. They don't use other people's words, and they don't use unnatural body movements that a coach taught them. They give you the impression that if the two of you were hanging out for dinner, they would say the same thing in the same way.
• They are comfortable. Watchable speakers look right at home on stage. This comes from two things: 1) they are experienced and know the material inside and out, and 2) they are not afraid of failure. While they want to communicate their message and please they audience, they are not wrapped up in all that. They are content to just get on stage and do their best. If the audience likes it great; if not, it's not the end of the world.
• They are having fun. You have probably seen a speaker (even a "professional") who looks like they don't want to be on stage. Watchable speakers have fun. Even if their topic is serious, they clearly act as if they want to be on that stage. They view it as an honor and a privilege. Whether it stems from fear, arrogance, burn-out, or some mysterious other factor, when a speaker would rather be somewhere else, an audience can feel it.

Practice implementing these three ideas: be yourself, get comfortable, and have fun. You can instantly and drastically increase the value of your speech without changing a single word if you do this. You will, in word, become "watchable."

For more information and specific exercises on how to use Improv Comedy to be a better speaker (and get a fr.ee 7-Day E-Course), visit http://www.improvforspeakers.com Avish Parashar is the world’s funniest (and potentially only) “Improvising Motivational Keynote Speaker� To learn more about how to bring the hilariously powerful lessons of improv comedy to your organization, visit http://www.avishparashar.com

Speaking "Secrets" Revealed: Evaluate All Speakers, Simon Cowell Style
One of the fastest (and fun!) way you can grow as a speaker is to be an active audience. Evaluate ALL speakers that come your way, Simon Cowell style! This is how you can have a clearer understanding of what separates a mediocre speaker from a good speaker, and a great speaker from a phenomenal speaker. Remember this: No matter how good or bad the speaker is, there is always something valuable to learn. This is so important that I am going to repeat it.

No matter how good or bad the speaker is, there is always something valuable to learn.

Remember all the positive things that the speaker does and try it for size. See if it works for you.

Remember all the negative things that the speaker does and avoid it at all costs. Sometimes, you may want to ask yourself how you can modify and make it effective.

All of us - at some degree - evaluate speakers. We hear them all the time: “This guy is awesome!� or “Look at how he charmed the audience…� or “Gosh, he should not have crack this joke.� etc. However these evaluations are not thorough enough to offer much teaching value. They are merely observations. In order for us to learn to be better speakers, we have to probe deeper. Question your reactions to the speakers. What the speaker do/not do to make us think he is awesome? How did the speaker charmed you? Why do you think the joke is inappropriate? By asking these questions, you will then have a deeper understanding of the speaker’s motives and also objectively evaluate (as the audience) if it is effective.

I have an extremely simple way to evaluate any speaker - Use the 5W and H. Pay full attention to the speaker and his delivery. And then ask yourself the following questions:

[WHAT]
What did the speaker do that you like/dislike? What are the speakers’ strengths and weaknesses? What are the speaker’s strategies? What causes the speaker to be successful (or not)?

[HOW]
How did these strengths/weaknesses manifest itself in the delivery? How effective are the speakers’ strategies? How can the speaker improve? How can the speaker better himself?

[WHY]
Why did this aspect of the speech puts you off/appeals to you? Why do you think the speaker select this approach/style/topic?

[WHO]
Who is his target audience? Who will benefit from the speaker’s speech/style?

[WHEN]
When was the last time you have heard a similar speech?

[WHERE]
Where in the speech did the speaker create the most impact? Where in the speech were you lost/mesmerized?

Notice all the 5W and 1H can help you generate a whole list of questions? However there is no way you can have answers for all these questions by listening to the speech once (unless you have a photographic memory). What you can do though is to record the speech so that we can re-listen to it and uncover more learning points. Having said that I would recommend that you start with three questions:

1. What did the speaker did well or badly?
2. How can I apply the good points into my speech?
3. How can I avoid making the same mistakes that speaker made?

Simpler?

As you proceed on, you will find yourself automatically looking our for strengths and weaknesses in the speaker. When you become more comfortable, you can delve deeper and begin disecting the speech. You will find youself welcoming ALL speakers even the extremely boring ones coz there will always be something to learn! You will find your growth as a speaker accelerating. You avoid mistakes committed by others. You get to experiment stuff that works. You have more chance to make new mistakes which means more room for growth! Too good to be true right? Believe it!

And more importantly, start doing it. Speakers are everywhere. They can be your daily reporter, lecturer, classmate, supervisor, door salesman, telemarketer etc. The world is your classroom!

Oh one more thing, remember to jot down your evaluations somewhere. You may want to start a journal or even a blog. Whatever it is, write them down so that you can reference them in future when you prepare your next speech. Come to think of it, we should have some kind of Speakers’ Idol!


This is one part of a series of eight articles entitled "Unleash The Speaker In You- Eight Ways To Become A Better Speaker". Get the other tips here

Eric Feng is one of the youngest international certified coach and a celebrated Toastmasters both in Singapore and Philadelphia. He won the International Humor Contest at Division Level in 2005. He has been training over 2500 students (ranging from primary to tertiary levels) and adults from corporate organizations extensively. If you are keen to gain insightful and easy-to-apply tips on public speaking, check out his <a href="http://blog.ericfeng.com">blog</a>