######################################################## Simply Speaking...Selling Yourself & Your Ideas E-Zine Volume 5, No 5, May, 2002 Published by Lenny Laskowski Copyright LJL Seminars(tm), 2002 All RIghts Reserved ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LJL Seminars (tm) 106 School House Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States Of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 Fax: (305) 489-6481 Web page: ############################################################## ******************** JUST RELEASED !!! ********************** Lenny's new book, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" is now available as an Audiobook. You can be one of the first to order. Take the link below: I have also provided an audio sample as well to listen to. ************************************************************** In this issue: 1. Remembering What You Have to Say - Part I 2. Simply Speaking Discussion Board 3. How to subscribe / unsubscribe ######################################################## 1. Remembering What You Have to Say - Part I from, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" (Chapter 4 - pages 69 - 75) Copyright, 2001 Philip Lief Group Inc & Lenny Laskowski -------------------------------------------------------- Remembering speech and presentation material can be very intimidating, even for the most seasoned professional, But don't worry, there are methods you can use to help you remember material -- all of them will help build your confidence in public speaking. Techniques for Remembering Speech Material The four most common methods of remembering speech and presentation material are the following: 1. Memorizing 2. Reading from complete text 3. Using notes 4. Using visual aids In this issue of Simply Speaking I will discuss the first two methods in detail along with the pros and cons. You will notice that some of the tips apply to all methods; that's okay, it only emphasizes their importance. Memorizing Perhaps the most difficult method of the four methods, memorizing is the technique many novice speakers start off with, because they are under the impression that this is how all speeches are prepared and delivered. I actually do not recommend memorizing your speech. Although the outcome can be very effective, memorizing a speech word for word and then delivering it requires a lot of preparation and practice. First you must write or type out the speech. Since most people do not write the way they speak, this creates and immediate problem. For example, the use of gestures and proper voice inflection in conjunction with a memorized speech tends to be very flat and unengaging. Even if you are successful in using gestures and a lively tone of voice, it's entirely possible hat you will forget portions of your speech. Listening to thousands of speeches over my career, I have watched even the most polished speakers forget their words halfway through. With memorizing, mental blocks are inevitable, and it is not a question of "Will you forget?" but "when you will forget?" Can you memorize a speech? Yes. Should you memorize a speech? I don't recommend it. Speakers who rely strictly on memorization are setting themselves up for failure. Another risk factor with memorized speeches is that the spontaneity is gone -- you sound stilted. What tends to happen is that the delivery is too rapid (usually owing to nerves). Your concentration is on getting the words out, not the ideas, and you tend to come across as too formal, like a written essay. Worst of all, if your mind goes blank and you make a mistake, the flow of your speech is interrupted. You get flustered, your confidence is shot, and in most cases it's just not appropriate to start over. Reading from Complete Text Most people dislike listening to someone read a speech or presentation, even if the speaker makes a concerted effort to maintain eye contact with the audience. Your audience is just likely to end up saying,"If all he is going to do was read his speech, I could have read it myself." I'm sure each of you has experienced the monotone drone of a read speech while attending a conference. Following are the reasons I believe people read speeches poorly: * The speaker loses normal voice inflection because they lose touch with the ideas behind the words. Listen for pauses. Natural speech is filled with pauses; unnatural speech is not. * The test being read is usually not written in the manner and style of spoken language. Too often speakers write their speeches in "business language" that is often very difficult to read, much less listen to. * The speaker achieves little or no eye contact. Any eye contact is with the manuscript and not with the audience. To maintain eye contact with the audience and read text effectively takes a lot of practice. You have to take in several lines at a time and keep your place. You are very likely to find yourself losing your place every time you look up to speak to the audience. Don't get me wrong, there are times when speeches must be read. For example, it is often necessary to read policy statements or company announcements. To avoid mistakes when some element of a speech must be communicated word for word, the speaker reads directly from written text. There are also occasions when a speech must be timed down to the second, as in a debate. In my opinion, reading a speech well is actually more difficult than speaking extemporaneously. Although people hear all the time they should not read their speech, most feel this is the only way they can actually give one. For those who feel compelled to read your speech, I'll help you at least sound better when you do. If reading is absolutely necessary, here are some suggestions to make your reading sound more professional. * Pay attention to your voice inflection. -- To sound natural you need to rehearse often, checking yourself for pauses. Ask yourself if your written words sound the way you would speak them. Tape yourself and listen to your own voice. Note where changes need to be made with your voice inflection. Try not to over inflect your voice or it will become distracting to your audience. * Say the words out loud. -- As you're practicing your speech, read it out loud several times so you can hear your tone and voice inflections. The more you practice reading, the more comfortable and familiar with the words you become. Using this approach makes it easier to read your speech and for the audience to listen to it. * Annotate your text. -- Give yourself cues for emphasis in the margin of your text. For example, numbers are the easiest target words to say slowly and with emphasis. You want to emphasize each syllable of any number word. For example, if you have the word "fifty" in your speech, and it appears as 50, make it a note in the margin so you say "fif-ty" when you get it. * Use gestures. -- Many speakers are so busy making sure they read the text correctly, they fail to communicate effectively with their body. One strategy is to double space your typed text. This leaves room for you to jot down notes and cues about which words to emphasize and gestures to accompany certain sentences, points, or key messages. You need to practice the annotated text of the speech so you can correctly read it and identify cues for your gestures so they come across naturally. This takes practice. Professional do this very effectively to the point where you almost don't know they are reading. Again, don't over gesture or it can draw your audience away from listening to your message. * Videotape yourself.-- I still videotape my speeches and presentations, especially those I deliver for the first time. I recommend you sit down with pen and paper in your hand and take notes as you watch your video. Watch the video several times, each time taking notes on different things you see. Here is the process I use to review my videotapes: * Review 1. - Watch the entire tape (alone) without being too critical. Watch the tape as an audience might for the first time. * Review 2. - Darken the picture or turn you back to the television so you cannot see yourself but you can hear your voice. Record on your notepad things you liked and disliked about your voice; for example. listen to how you phrase your words and the inflection in your voice. * Review 3. - Turn down the sound and just watch yourself. Watch how you use your hands, your facial expressions, or any nervous habits or distracting mannerisms. Again, record the things you want to change, improve, or eliminate. At the same time, note any gestures you feel worked well and look natural. * Review 4. - Watch the tape again with the volume turned up and take more notes. See if there are any areas you missed during earlier reviews. * Review 5. _ Have someone else watch the tape who will be honest and objective, such as your spouse, child, friend, and so on. As they watch the video, look at their reactions to your speech and then ask them, after the tape is done, to tell you what they liked and disliked. Having watched your own video four times prior, you are prepared to deal with any feedback, even negative. The review process is probably the single best technique you can use to help you learn, improve, and modify how you deliver a speech or presentation. Physically Prepare Your Speech Here are three tips to help you physically prepare your speech so you don't sound as though you are reading it to the audience. * Write the way you speak. - As I said earlier, people who read speeches have little or no eye contact with the audience. To avoid this, write in the voice you use when talking to family and friends. Then type your speech using upper-and lowercase letters, which are much easier to read then all caps (capital letters). TYPING EVERYTHING IN UPPERCASE AS I HAVE DONE HERE MAKES TEXT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO READ. * Keep paragraphs short and succinct. - Start a new paragraph every couple of sentences, the way you often see in newspaper articles. Some people go so far as alternating the text color for each paragraph. Also, don't have any sentence or paragraph begin on one page and run over to the next. Start each page with a new paragraph. This allows you to pause as you move to the next page. * Fasten pages together. - Fasten your pages together with a paper clip, not a staple, and remove the staple before you begin. Number each page. You would be amazed how many people have dropped their unnumbered speech notes. Disaster! Keep in mind that you will have to handle these pages during your speech, and you want to do this as smoothly and quietly as you can. During your pauses, slowly slide the page you have just finished to the side and continue with the text on the next page. Do not pick up the page and place it behind the previous page or turn the page over. Your audience will see you do it, and it brings attention to the fact that you are reading your speech. With a lot of practice and careful preparation, you can be successful at speech reading. Next issue: In my June, 2002 Issue I will be discussing the last two techniques of remembering material; using notes and using visual aids. Until next month! ------------------------------------------------------------------ In my book, "10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" I provide an example of a preprogram survey and a customized survey. Why not order your copy today in time for the holidays by clicking on the link below: ######################################################## 2. Our NEW Simply Speaking Discussion Board !!! ######################################################## Do you have some public speaking questions or questions dealing with presentation skills? Ask me directly and I will provide you with some sound advice and some immediate solutions using my on-line discussion board. Below is the direct link to our new discussion board. ######################################################## 3. 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