Archive for December 2017
We were honored to have three great guest bloggers the past year who wrote on a variety of public speaking topics. Before we put the pedal to the metal and race into 2018, let’s take a quick look in our rearview mirror at some of the wisdom that was shared with us this year.
- Nayomi Chibana showed how to create visual slides your audience will remember. This is a must-read for anyone that uses PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi or other presentation software. Read the Post
- Being really smart about what you do and being really good at talking about it doesn’t always go hand-in-hand. Beverly Mahone offers tips for those who are subject matter experts, but not necessarily expert public speakers. Read the Post
- Audio/Visual technicians are the folks behind the scenes that make everything work on stage. Newton Koshi has seen a lot of business presentations and speeches and he provides public speaking tips from the unique perspective of an A/V expert. Read the Post
Thanks again to these experts for sharing these great public speaking tips for our blog. 2017 was a great year and we’re excited about what lies ahead. Heck, we’re just getting started.
Fasten your seatbelts everyone — here comes 2018!
Our Phoenix Business Journal “Speak Up and Stand Out” public speaking workshop is sold out but we just added a new one at Harmon Public Library in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 11:30 am. to 1:30 p.m. The $40 fee to attend includes a light lunch and a workbook.
This is a great way to start the New Year. Put public speaking fear in your rearview mirror in 2018!
By Paul Barton
I watched my friend Artesian Kirksey deliver an electrifying college commencement speech a couple of years ago. I had presented the commencement address at the same college the year before and had delivered it in a traditional manner, from behind a lectern. Commencement speeches are always delivered from behind a lectern, right?
Not necessarily.
When Artesian delivered his speech, the first thing he did was grab the microphone from the lectern and step out toward his audience. As soon as he did so, you could feel the excitement of the audience intensify. Even before he began to speak, you could feel the energy in the room increase. It was clear that this was not going to be a typical commencement speech — and it was not. He delivered a powerful and memorable speech.
Artesian’s bold move reinforced something I have believed for a long time: A lectern is a piece of furniture that gets between speakers and their audiences. And Artesian’s decision to ditch the lectern to deliver something as traditional as a commencement address shows that we can rethink all situations that seem to demand the use of a lectern.
You might not be called upon to deliver a commencement speech anytime soon, but you might find yourself giving a business presentation, offering a wedding toast, or presenting in any number of other public speaking situations where a lectern is present. Think about whether you really need that piece of furniture coming between you and your audience. Think about the audience engagement you can create without it. Think about how much more personal and authentic you will be without it.
Making connections with your audience and engaging them in your message are the keys to great speeches and powerful business presentations. Your decision to step out from behind the lectern might make the difference between a good speech and one that wows.
Speak up, step forward and stand out.