founder of naked leader
How to…Be a Professional Speaker
Top 10 (+1) Tips for being a World-Class Speaker / Presenter – in order of importance
1 Tell them what you are going to tell them. Tell them. Then tell them what you told them.
2 Know your message well, know your audience better and know how to leave PowerPoint at home, best of all.
3 Connect with your audience – involve them early on – get off the stage – speak as if you are speaking to just one person as you move your eye contact round the room, making one complete point or sentence with each person in turn.
4 Be humble and self-deprecating – especially with humour.
5 Be clear (use language understandable by a 10 year old, or a golden retriever), concise (less is more) and compelling (answer their question “so what…”).
6 Tell stories – make sure they all have an obvious and relevant point to the audience.
7 Use three-part lists – (1) because it flows (2) because it is the maximum anyone’s brain can take and (3) because it feels complete. (David is obsessed with 3 part lists).
8 Use contrasts – JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Baroness Thatcher was at her most formidable when she famously told the 1980 Tory party conference: “You turn if you want to, the lady’s not for turning.”
9 Every seven seconds (maximum) change something, and vary your voice throughout.
10 Show your passion and emotion by being passionate and emotional.
+ 1 Ask yourself how it is going – if you feel it is going well, then it is going well.
If you have seen David Speak you will know that he is an expert speaker and captivates the audience quickly and takes them on a journey. last time I went with him to the London business forum, the delegates were leaving on quite a high and I hared lots of “that was fantastic”.