I decided years ago that I wanted to learn the craft, much to the
dismay of those close to me. After suffering the financial failure of a
small business, I started to feel like a chump. Then a close friend gave
me a motivational tape that changed my life’s direction. The tape forced
me to ask: What would I dare to dream if I knew I wouldn’t fail? My
answer: I’d be a comedian. But it was a fantasy. I wasn’t funny. The first
time my brother ever laughed at me was when I told him I wanted to be a
comedian.I’m is now living proof that if you stick with
it, you can learn anything — especially how to be an effective speaker. After
years of intense study, I developed 10 tips for becoming a better speaker.
These tips can be used by anyone who needs to hone his or her skills related
to presentations and speaking — even if they’re a really, really bad speaker.
In fact, the content of my winning speech focuses on overcoming objections
and roadblocks. Here are some guidelines that anyone can use
to improve their speaking abilities:
1. Be an unquestioning sponge. Turn to the experts and soak up their sage
advice. One of the first comedians I consulted told me to read books
on stand-up comedy. Although surprised by the recommendation, I followed
that advice.
2. Watch and learn. Observe the worst along with the best. If you’ve ever
been intimidated by an incredible speaker, go watch other speakers who are
more at your level. That’s where the incredible speakers got their start.
You’ve got to be willing to seek out places to watch speakers and devote the
time. I attended a multitude of Toastmasters’ presentations and open
mike nights at comedy clubs.
3. Learn to write and speak in plain English. Outlines and notes may work
for some, but the experts say they write their speeches out — word by word.
So, sharpen your pencil or get your fingers tapping on the keyboard and
churn out the words. Beware of long, tedious jargon-filled communications
because they’re frustrating and wasteful. Business communications must be
precise, complete and totally comprehensible. Don’t forget your delivery
either — be articulate!
4. Get in front of audiences. For me, the three most important things
in becoming a good stand-up comic were stage time, stage time, and stage
time. My mentors pushed this in a big way. In my opinion, 95 percent of
your growth as a speaker comes from being in front of an audience.
5. Practice. Allow me to repeat what a former World Champion speaker
told me: “Let no one out prepare you.” I watched 90 World Championship
contest speeches on video, presented my speech to 22 Toastmaster clubs,
received 143 written evaluations, and videotaped almost seven hours of my
practice speeches to prepare for my seven-minute winning speech. Watching
yourself on video can be painful, but it’s one of the best ways to evaluate
yourself.
6. On a scale of 1 to 10, be an 11. If you constantly ask yourself
what you can do to make your presentation outstanding, you’ll eventually
come up with some answers. I played on the fact that my gestures were
already strong and felt that if I could bump up that part, I would surely go over
the top. I also decided to use the stage differently from other speakers.
Since my speech was about failing on my way to achieving an objective, I
used the stage as a linear metaphor. I started on the left side of the
stage, progressively moving to the right side, toward his goal. I observed
that other
speakers tend to stand still (boring) or bounce around
(erratic distractions).
7. Be sensitive. Give some thought and time to your audience’s needs,
their particular mindsets, available time, education level, and how they
might absorb information. If you take the time to customize your speech this
way, it will be much more effective.
8. Read a lot. You’ll be shocked to discover how many ideas you can get
from other people. Read books, newspapers, magazines, trade publications, and
newsletters. They will open up a bounty of information for speech content
and make you a more worldly person as well.
9. Diversify your approach. Remember, there are many different forms of
speaking and all are helpful in some way. Presentations to sales forces,
instructing a training class, pitching to clients, persuading senior
management, defending a cause to a school PTO group, helping a church
committee, etc. — all are opportunities to practice. Be sure to always come
prepared (even if you consider these stints insignificant) and WOW them — in
many cases, they won’t be expecting it.
10. Incorporate Darren’s Spotlight Theory. You can reduce your anxiety
about getting up in front of an audience by turning the spotlight on the
audience. Refocus your attention away from fears of stumbling or stuttering
in your delivery to the value of the message to be delivered. Make sure that
you provide the audience with a message that is interesting and helpful to
the particular group. What can they learn? What can they gain? Make the
whole presentation an act of giving — with the spotlight on the audience —
and your anxiety will be significantly reduced.
If you want to be more of a speaker, speak more. In my winning speech, I
detailed my rise (and multiple falls) to the top — how strangers mocked me;
how friends and family worried for me. If you’re willing to fail, you can
learn anything.
