================================================= Simply Speaking...Selling Yourself & Your Ideas E-Zine Volume 2, No 2, February, 1999 Copyright, 1999 ================================================= Published by Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States Of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 Web page: E-mail: ------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: 1. Article "Remembering & Relating Speech Material" 2. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation services 3. Lenny's keynote speeches 4. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets 5. How to request more information about Lenny's services 6. How to Subscribe / Unsubscribe ---------------------------------------------------------------- * FREE Monthly Speaking Tips - February, 1999 * ---------------------------------------------------------------- "Remembering & Relating Speech Material" There are four common ways to remember the substance of your speech: * Memorizing * Reading from complete text * Using notes * Using a acronym Let's take a look at each one of these. ============== Memorizing ============== "Memorizing" is absolutely the worst way to keep track of speech material. The speaker becomes pre-occupied with the words he or she is saying and not the ideas behind those words. It is also likely that one who memorizes a speech will think more about remembering than about relating to the audience. Normal voice inflection disappears in the process. And, worse, those terrible blank moments are inevitable. It's not a matter of "Am I going to forget?" but " When am I going to forget?" ======================== Reading From Complete Text ======================== The second way of relating speech material is to "read" the speech or presentation. Most audiences hate this type of speech and often say to themselves, "If that's all they were going to do, I could have read it myself." Add to this the fact that most people read poorly. Why do you think most speakers fare so badly when reading? Well there are a variety of reasons: - The speaker loses normal oice inflection when reading. Speakers who read often lose touch with the ideas behind the words. Listen for pauses. Natural speaking is filled with pauses; stilted reading is not. - The written text is not spoken language. Too often speakers write their speeches in "businessese" which is very hard to read, much less listen to. - The speech is static. A potted plant will probably move more. There is little energy behind the lectern. - There is very little or no eye contact. Any eye contact is with the text and not the audience. - The speaker is afraid NOT to read. Some speakers read because they are afraid to try anything else. They know reading will fail, but at least it will fail with a small "f" rather than a capitol one. Granted there are moments when one must communicate precise policy or company statements. There are also times when the speech must be timed right down to the second, and so a script is used. When you must read, try to sound natural. Rehearse often, check for pauses, and ask yourself whether the words you are using are typical of everyday conversation rather than "businessese"? Here are some additional tips if you must read. 1. Plan for gestures. For example, you could point in the general direction of the city you're mentioning or indicate how small something is or shrug your shoulders at the right time or raise an eyebrow when appropriate. You may chose to put cues for these gestures right above the text you are reading. As you review your text listen for and decide what type of gesture is appropriate and write some type of symbol or clue for yourself on the notes. 2. Make sure your written text is double spaced and uses upper and lower case lettering. AVOID USING UPPER AND LOWER CASE LETTERING. IT MAKES READING MORE DIFFICULT. See what I mean. Use large type size so it is easy to read. 3. Make paragraphs short so you won't lose your place every time you look up. Break up your text so it is easier to read without losing your place. This will also allow you to "look up" and establish some eye contact with your audience. 4. Be sure to end each page with a complete sentence. If you have a sentence which runs onto the next page, you will lose your continuity with your words. Be careful not to break up sentences at the bottom of a page. 5. Do not staple your pages together. Instead, use a paper clip to start and then remove the clip before your start your speech. As you complete each page, carefully slide the page to one side. Do not pick the stack of pages and place the completed page under the stack of pages. This may bring attention to the fact you are reading. 6. Avoid touching or handling the sheets of paper with your notes as much as possible. Some people develop a regular "touching pattern" when using notes and you can almost begin to predict where there hands will be next. Give your hands something to do by indicating some specific gesture. 7. You must practice several times using your written notes for you to come across as relaxed and not appear you are reading. Reading a written speech clearly takes a lot of practice to "pull it off" successfully. ============== Using Notes ============== The most common and preferred technique for remembering material is to use notes. Using notes is better than reading since the speaker can use their normal voice inflection and make eye contact more easily. Sometimes, if notes are on the lectern, speakers won't move very far from the lectern. On the other hand, if speakers hold their notes in their hands, they probably won't gesture very much either. Should you decide to use note cards, include quotes, statistics and lists on them. Don't write too much information on each note card or you will find yourself reading each word. If you find yourself reading the note cards too much, you probably have too much information written on them. Revise them to contain only a few short phrases or keywords. Some speakers even draw picture or "mind maps" on the card to only "jog" their memory about the next idea or thought. ================ Using an acronym ================ One very effective way to help your remember your speech and the sequence of your ideas is to use an acronym to outline your speech. For example I have a very popular motivational keynote I deliver quite often entitled, "The Motivation to I.N.S.P.I.R.E.". I chose to use the letters of the word "inspire" to frame my speech. As I deliver the keynote I begin with the letter "I" which stands for specific idea or keyword and then progress to the next letter, "N" which stands for another idea and so on... This not only helps YOU as the speaker to remember the sequence, it also helps your AUDIENCE remember you speech after you have gone since the word, or at least the letters of the word have been assigned significant meaning. This can be a very fun way and very effective way to outline some of your speeches. It may some effort to come up with just the right word for your speech but the effort will be worth it in the long run. Other methods can include using actual props that you refer to during your speech. Look at the prop, it may even me the centerpiece on your table and see if you can relate your story or ideas of your speech to some aspect of this prop. Maybe the color, maybe the design or maybe what it could stand for. Try it...and have fun with it. Which ever method you decide to use to remember your material is fine so long as you properly practice your speech several times before you actually deliver it. If you practice enough you will be amazed how little you actually need your notes at all. I have seen people deliver complete speeches with a stack of note cards in their hand which NEVER get used. The safety net was that they could have been if the speaker need to. Just knowing they had a plan "B" in their hand was enough to allow them to relax and give their entire speech without them. Had they not held the notes..who knows..they may have forgotten everything. Until next month... ======================================================================== 2. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation Services Link to on-line seminars: =============================================================== 3. Lenny's keynote speeches Link to on-line keynotes: =============================================================== 4. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets Link to on-line catalog: =============================================================== 5. Where to get more information Lenny's services. Feel free to request information about Lenny's seminars, workshops & keynotes. If you would like a formal proposal, please E-mail your request to: Sales@LJLSeminars.com or mail to the address below: Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 =============================================================== ******* You can earn 10% commissions ******************** =============================================================== You can also earn 10% commissions on any leads you send my way. Provide me the name, address & telephone number of those you know who might be able to use my services, make the initial call with them and tell them I will be contacting them and send me an E-mail that you have done so. When I contact them and if we result in doing business with them I will mail you a check for 10% of the total contract just for referring us. ============================================================== 6. 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