What do you do when someone asks you something unexpected? Answer the question! Sounds simple, right? But fielding unexpected questions can be a nerve-wracking challenge for many people. Whether the question comes during Q&A (you can and should prepare for Q&A, but you can never anticipate everything that might be asked), in a meeting (“So, Jake, how’s that project coming along?”); Read More
100 top public speaking tips
Public Speaking Tip 58: For a Confident and Successful Presentation, Stand, Settle, Smile, then Speak
Have you ever seen a public speaker stride up to the podium and start talking before they’ve even looked at the audience? (Or worse, start talking on their way to the stage?) This is the equivalent of announcing that you just want to get your speech over with. And — funny thing — your audience Read More
Public Speaking Tip 52: Be an Entitled Public Speaker, Whatever Social Class You Come From
Is There Social Class in America? Hell, Yeah! When I was growing up, America’s white middle class was the envy of the world. We had good educations (free), great jobs (with health care and pensions), and respect. The government built highways for our new cars, regulated the banks, and even subsidized home purchases (with the Read More
Public Speaking Tip 16: When It Comes to an Audience’s Reaction, Forget About Control!
Communication is really important. (Well, obviously I think so, or I wouldn’t have devoted my adult life to it!) But it does have its limits. For instance, You Can’t Make People Think Anything Lots of my clients show up saying things like, I want them to think I’m intelligent, I have to impress people, They need to understand my point. This is asking for Read More
Public Speaking Tip 15: Know When to Lose the Script
In a post called What Mudbugging in a Chevy Taught Me About Public Speaking, I discuss the predictable ways a public speaking situation can veer “off road.” These include: Having your time cut at the last minute Finding out your easy audience is actually a tough crowd Listening as the person who speaks just before you Read More