Speaker’s Roundtable is a group of professional speakers to which I belong, and we put out a weekly email of useful suggestions for speaking and leading.

The following tips are from Patricia Fripp in a recent ezine. Patricia is one of the most powerful speakers in the country, and coaches and teaches as well – as a corporate executive, manager and leader, you’ll find these very useful:

• The PowerPoint(R) comes last! Design your message first...add visuals only if needed.
• Tell the stories you entertain your family and dinner guests with.
• Talk about what you are most passionate about and find the metaphor for the subject of your speech.
• Ahead of time, interview some of the audience members—your customers, associates of your firm, or other leaders in your industry—and quote them in your talk.
• Don't try to say too much. Say less, illustrate it well, and stop.
• Shake hands and talk to some of the audience in advance. The more personable they see you are, the more attention they will give you.
• Get comfortablein the room where you will be speaking. Practice before anyone arrives. Make friends with the stage, platform, or front of the room.
• Start early!Get your concept, content, and scripting together and practice. If you walk or get on the treadmill that is a great time to "talk to yourself." Get comfortable with the words. Your goal is to know it so well you can forget it. As Michael Caine says, "Rehearsal is the work, performance is the relaxation."
• Edit your notes to an outline with bullet points. Do NOT read your speech or remarks. You want to be personable, not perfect. (Actually, use the Decker Grid™- my editorial comment!)
• Watch the word "stuff."It is not specific and diminishes the power of what you are saying. When my clients say this as we develop their remarks I always ask, "Specifically what do you mean?"
• Delete most of the "todays" out of your remarks. Start listening to how overused that word is in most business presentations. It is used to mean "this time in history" and "right now." Everybody knows you are in the room now. Stop "todaying" your audience. One executive I watched used the T word 28 times in his 4 minute welcome. Even if his audiences were not counting them as I was, they would perceive him as less articulate than he was expected to be.
• You may or may not be a CEO—yet—but being perceived as a charismatic speaker will help your ambitions and reputation!

Visit:

https://www.fripp.com/

https://www.speakersroundtable.com/

(c) Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE -- Speakers Roundtable Member