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To help you Shake That Brain!® and discover solutions for maximum
profit.
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. TWELVE TOPS TIPS TO GIVE A DAMN GOOD SPEECH!
(A Practical Lesson in "Grab That Idea!")
2. NOTHING ELSE
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Last month, I exhorted readers - should a potentially great idea POP
into your
head, or fall from your mouth - to "Grab that idea!" and write
it down BEFORE
it gets away. Same goes for an overheard - something that drops from
someone
ELSE'S mouth: Quick, write it down - before it fades into a frustrating:
"What
was that idea, again?"
TRUE STORY:
A good friend and fellow speaker, Ed Rigsbee, recently mentioned having
once
written an article about how to give a good speech. "That's a damn
good idea!"
I thought. Which soon reminded me of James N. Frey's book, How To Write
a Damn
Good Novel. Hence the subject - and title - of this month's newsletter.
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"If you are a maker, you will know that somewhere the thing you
would do has
already been done, and you will set about quietly to do it."
-- Kenneth Patchen
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That said, here are TEN TOPS TIPS TO GIVE A DAMN GOOD SPEECH!
1. KNOW WHY YOU'RE GIVING THAT SPEECH
Years ago, I wrote speeches for managers at Fortune 500 companies.
At our
first meeting I'd always lead off by asking: "Why are you giving
this speech?"
The answer, nearly 100% of the time? "Because I have to."
Sorry, wrong answer. You can never give a speech because you "have
to." You
give a speech to educate, inspire, entertain or provoke. If you don't
have a
clear, compelling reason to GIVE that speech, your audience won't have
a
reason to LISTEN to that speech.
2. STOP PROCRASTINATING
The longer you wait to write that speech, the greater your anxiety.
So don't
jam yourself up by waiting until the last minute, when all you can do
is panic
or pray for Instant Inspiration. Instead, be ready to "Grab those
speech
ideas!" - collecting them in the weeks, even MONTHS before the
big day.
Meanwhile...
3. LEARN TO BE OPEN TO EVERYTHING AROUND YOU
Whatever happens in your personal or professional life, be on the lookout
for
a potential story you can use to illustrate a point - from the time
you almost
drowned ... to how you finally landed that mega-bucks contract. Also,
read
everything you can, scanning books, magazines and newspapers for "stuff
you
can use."
A few years ago, I attended a 7 AM speech given by the head of a large
international advertising agency. What I heard was a speech so timely
it
incorporated a reference to an article in THAT MORNING'S New York Times.
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"If you are in a spirit of creating, every meeting, everything
you just happen
to see, to listen to or to read is something ... for your own work."
-- Pierre Boulez, from THIS MORNING'S Los Angeles Times.
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4. ORGANIZE YOUR SPEECH
Be sure to have a beginning, middle and an end. (Hopefully, in that
order.)
Most importantly...
5. HOOK 'EM QUICK!
Soon as you can, "hook" your audience. Start with a brief
story, quip, or
teaching example, something that "hooks 'em" right from the
start. Then you
can lead them wherever you want.
A word of caution: If you're not good at telling a joke, respect your
limits... and your audience.
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"If you haven't struck oil in your first three minutes, STOP BORING!"
-- George Jessel
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6. INVOLVE YOUR AUDIENCE
Ask a question. Pose a problem. Instead of an unremitting monologue,
from time
to time involve your audience with an active give-and-take. (Just be
sure not
to lose control. Remember: You're the person running the show.)
7. PRACTICE
Practice your speech in front of someone you trust. SEE where their
eyes glaze
over ... and where they light up. And be alert for sections where you
feel
awkward or uncomfortable, working to make your talk feel natural throughout.
In other words ...
8. BE YOURSELF
Actors are always advised to "be yourself" - regardless of
the role they're
called on to play. In giving your speech, let the same rule apply. Remember:
They came to see YOU ... not a mannequin who looks like you.
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"Be yourself, stay natural, and dammit, smile once in a while!"
-- Lee Iacocca
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What's the easiest way to "be yourself"...?
9. DON'T MEMORIZE
Instead of memorizing your speech, create a series of "sign-posts"
- points or
stories you plan to discuss. That way, your talk will appear more natural
-
which it will be - as you spontaneously broaden or expand on each point.
10. USE PowerPoint or AV/SUPPORT (OR DON'T)
Creating slides that "outline" your talk is a great way keep
you on track ...
and keep you spontaneous. But don't let anyone - even yourself - insist,
"You
must use slides!" Me? I use index cards - much like a game show
host. They're
low tech, always reliable and easy to update.
11. BE VULNERABLE
Allow your audience to hear how you're not so perfect after all. Imagine
you're giving a speech about how to be a great______ or why they should
______. Let them know how you've screwed up in the past. But you learned
from
those mistakes and that's why you're here today ... to share your knowledge
and help them to avoid making the same kind of errors. Not only does
it reveal
your humanity, it makes you CREDIBLE - someone who's telling the TRUTH,
warts
'n all. ("Wow, he's telling us the TRUTH!")
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The Longest Road in the World is the Road to Redemption
Thirty years ago, GM Quality was the best in the world. Twenty years
ago, it
wasn't. ... [Today, we're] an overnight success story, a decade in the
making."
-- GM print ad, launched 6/03
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Finally, when crafting your message ...
12. BE BRIEF
As the old saying goes: "Stand up, speak up, shut up, and sit
down!"
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This newsletter has been brought to you by Joel Saltzman.
Joel is a speaker, facilitator, consultant, and creator of the "Shake
That Brain!®" system for Business Solutions: for building better
teams, increasing sales, and improving the health and vitality of your
business and personal life. To learn how Joel can help your organization,
click on: http://shakethatbrain.com/wow
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JOEL SALTZMAN
Shake That Brain!® http://shakethatbrain.com/wow
Shake It! Books http://shakeitbooks.com/
4306 Camino de las Estrellas
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Tel: (805) 375-7193
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joel@shakethatbrain.com
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