THE FINE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

JIM STRAWN

THANK YOU TO WV SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES

•It is an honor and privileged to be with this society today.

AGENDA• Introduction•Defined• Fear•Overcoming•Organizational Styles•Voice•Nonverbal's•That’s a Wrap

WHAT IS PUBLIC SPEAKING?• It's a presentation that's given live before an audience. •Public speeches can cover a wide variety of different topics. •The goal of the speech may be to educate, entertain, or influence the listeners.

PUBLIC SPEAKING - DEFINED

•The act or process of making speeches in public.•The art of effective oral communication with an audience.•Having a conversation about something you are authentically passionate about.

BENEFITS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING-PERSONAL• People don’t just give presentations on the job and in classes. • At times we are called upon to give speeches in our personal lives. • It may be for a special event, such as a toast at a wedding. •We may be asked to give a eulogy at a funeral for a friend or loved one.

BENEFITS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING-PROFESSIONAL• It is believed 70% of jobs today involve some form of public speaking.• Improves confidence. •Better research skills.• Stronger deductive skills.•Ability to advocate for causes.

BENEFITS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING-PUBLIC•Allows you to participate in democracy at its most basic level. •Helps create and sustain a society, which includes informed, active participants. •Learning about public speaking helps you to listen more carefully to and critically evaluate other’s speeches.

THEN WHY THE FEAR?

“The mind is a wonderful thing. It starts working the minute you are born and never stops until you get up to speak in public”

Roscoe Drummond

WHAT IS THE FEAR?

•A fear of public speaking is considered the number one fear among societies population. • It is also considered to be a social anxiety disorder where individuals suffer from performance anxiety. •Glossophobia • Source: National Institute of Mental Health

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

It affects 3 out of 4 people or 75% of individuals that suffer from speech anxiety.

It also accounts for the largest majority of those suffering from some phobia out there.

• 1. Public Speaking or Stage Freight• 2. Death and End of Life • 3. Spiders and other Arachnids Creatures • 4. Darkness and Twilight • 5. Heights, Altitudes, and Elevations• 6. People and Social Situations• 7. Flying in Airplanes • 8. Open Spaces and Squares • 9. Natural Thunder and Lightning• 10. Confined Spaces and Small Rooms

The top 10 listing of phobias is located below.

WHY THE FEAR?•Being judged harshly• Insecurities exposed•Perfectionism•Rejection anxiety• Failure•Humiliation

• Source: Fearless Presentations

FEAR

“Given the fear of public speaking, most people at a funeral would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy.”

Jerry Seinfeld

TIPS TO OVERCOME

•Outline your remarks.

TIPS TO OVERCOME

• P.R.E.P. framework or template– P.R.E.P. (Point. Reason. Example.

Point)– Start off by clearly stating your

point. – Share the primary reason (or

reasons, if you have more time). – Share an example where your

main point or reason is supported.

– Finally, conclude by summarizing your central point again. The template works well in many situations and is easily adapted.

TIPS TO OVERCOME

• F.A.T. framework or template

– F. A.T. Method– F = Feeling– A= Anecdote– T = Tie Back

TIPS TO OVERCOME

•5 W’s•Who•What•When•Where•Why•This template works nicely, largely because the “why?” comes last, because this is often the most critical information.

TIPS TO OVERCOME-ORGANIZING YOUR STYLE

•6 Major Organizational Styles– Chronological– Topical– Spatial– Comparative– Problem Solving– Causal

CHRONOLOGICAL STYLE•When you speak about events that are linked together by time.• In a chronological style, main points are delivered according to when they happened and could be traced on a calendar or clock.

TOPICAL• It makes sense to use the topical style when elements are connected to one another because of their relationship to the whole.•Example: Newspaper

– Advertising– Editorial– Production– Business

SPATIAL

• Spatial style arranges main points according to their physical and geographic relationships.

COMPARATIVE

•When you need to discuss the similarities and differences between two or more things, a comparative organizational pattern can be employed.

PROBLEM SOLVING

• Sometimes it is necessary to share a problem and a solution with an audience. In cases like these, the problem-solution speech is an appropriate way to arrange the main points of a speech.

CAUSAL

•A causal speech informs audience members about causes and effects that have already happened.

TIPS TO OVERCOME FEAR•Practice.

TIPS TO OVERCOME FEAR•Breathe.

TIPS TO OVERCOME FEAR•Manage your Anxiety.

– The best antidote for stress is to be well prepared and confident.

– Channel in positive direction.

– Use to your advantage.

YOUR VOICE

•Articulation, Pronunciation, Dialect, Tone, Pitch, and Projection each depends on long-term practice for success. •These aspects are like signatures and should be developed and used by each speaker according to his own persona.

ARTICULATION

•How well and correctly we form our vowels and consonants using our lips, jaw, tongue, and palate to form the sounds that are identified as speech. •Gives sense of intelligence.• Example: saying “going to” instead of “gonna” or “did not” instead of “dint” are examples of good versus poor articulation.

PRONUNCIATION

•Proper articulation applied to a given word is that word’s pronunciation. The pronunciation includes how the vowels and consonants are produced as well as which syllable is emphasized.

VOICE QUALITY

•The quality of the voice, its timbre (distinctive sound) and texture, affects audibility and can affect the articulation. •Our voices are unique to each of us. It is a result of our physical vocal instrument, including diaphragm, vocal cords, lungs and body mass.

PITCH & INFLECTION

• Pitch is the “highness” or “lowness” of the voice. Each of us has a range of tone. •When the pitch is altered to convey a meaning (like raising the pitch at the end of a sentence that is a question), it is the inflection. • Inflections are variations, turns and slides in pitch to achieve the meaning.•Different inflections. Different meanings. Totally different.

RATE OF SPEAKING

• In order to retain clarity of the speech with articulation and inflection, the speaker must be aware that there is a range of appropriate tempo for speaking. If the tempo is too slow, the speech might resemble a monotonous peal.

PAUSES VERSUS VOCALIZED PAUSES•Generally, spoken sentences and paragraphs need to be simpler and shorter than what can be comprehended by reading. •Pauses can help increase comprehension.•However, pauses that are filled with “uh’s, “um’s,” etc., are called vocalized pauses, or fillers, and should be avoided.

PAUSES VERSUS VOCALIZED PAUSES•The use of vocalized pauses may be the result of a habit that deserves an effort to be overcome. Avoid using phrases such as “Uh,” “OK?”, “y’know”, “like…, I mean,” “right?”• Shows lack of education.

VOCAL PROJECTION

•The volume produced by the vocal instrument is projection. Supporting the voice volume with good breathing and energy can be practiced, and helping a speaker develop the correct volume is a main task of a vocal trainer, teacher or coach.

VOICE PROJECTION

•While there is no need to shout, a speaker should project to be easily heard from the furthest part of the audience. • Even if the speech is amplified with a microphone/sound system, one must speak with projection and energy.

THE HUMAN VOICE

•Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning. – Maya Angelou

RESONATING WITH AUDIENCE

•Using Words.•Voice Tone.•Body Language.

BODY LANGUAGE•Movement and Gestures

– Overall movement and specific gestures are integral to a speech.

– Body stance, gestures and facial expressions can be generally categorized as body language.

– Movement should be relaxed and natural, and not excessive. How you move takes practice.

TRY THESE GESTURES!

• “It’s OK.”• “I give up.”• “He’s crazy.”• “We will be victorious.”

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS•We smile, we frown, we roll our eyes, and we wink. •We open eyes wide with astonishment. We raise our eyebrows.•Occasionally one at a time, in suspicion; both, in astonishment. • Sometimes we pucker our lips, either to offer a kiss or express disapproval, disappointment, or grave concern.

EYE CONTACT•Eye contact is a very important element of speaking. •Eye contact shows the speaker cares audience.•Whether addressing an audience of 1000 or speaking to two.•Good eye contact takes practice. The best practice is to be able to scan the audience making each member believe the speaker is speaking to him or her.

EYE CONTACT FAILURES• Head Bobber

– This is a person who bobs his or her head looking down on the notes and up to the audience in an almost rhythmic pattern.

• Balcony Gazer– A person who looks over the

heads of his or her audience to avoid looking at any individual.

• The Obsessor– A person who looks at one or

two audience members or who only looks in one direction.

REHEARSING YOUR REMARKS• Rehearse a few days before you are to deliver your

remarks.• Use the note sheets or cards you will be using or

delivery.• Practice with the presentation aids you will be

using.• Time your remarks and cut or expand it if needed.• Rehearse with a colleague or an audience if

possible.• If you can, rehearse in the room with the podium

you will use.• Plan what you will do with your hands.• Plan and practice your opening and closing

carefully, so you can deliver them exactly.

DELIVERING YOUR REMARKS•Approach the podium as you rehearsed.• Stand with confident posture.•Deliver your brilliant opening.•Realize you are a hit with the audience.•Breathe.• Spontaneously interject a humorous observation related to your topic.•Make all your points without hesitation, “ums,” “likes,” or “uhs.”

DELIVERING YOUR REMARKS•Communicate and Connect with your audience!

– Come with the spirit of giving. How will it help the person receiving the message?

– Want nothing in return but to share.

– You are simply sharing an idea or knowledge that could help and feed their need.

FINAL CONCLUDING TIPS•Be yourself; everyone is taken.•Prepare the flow & content. Have an Intro, Body, and Conclusion.•Be authentic.•Be passionate.•Be grateful. Have an attitude of gratitude.•Spend time on prep. Know the room. Etc. •Have back up plan if technology goes down.•Practice. Practice. Practice. •Breathe!•Be confident. They don’t know what you don’t know.

RESOURCES• ‘The 7 Secrets of the Greatest Speakers in History’ Richard Greene. A Ted Talk• Toastmasters International www.toastmasters.org/• John Maxwell • TED Talks ted.com/talk• Ignite (5-minute speeches) igniteshow.com•Google Public Speaking

QUESTIONS / REFLECTIONS

Jim Strawn119 Sheridan CircleCharleston, WV 25314JimStrawnAndCompany.com304-541-4756Linkedin: Jim StrawnTwitter: @JimStrawn21Instagram: JamesWStrawn21Facebook: James W Strawn