Title: Confessions of a Public Speaker (Amazon Link)
Author: Scott Berkun
Confessions of a Public Speaker covers a range of topics, but at the core of the book it’s really just the experiences of a person putting themselves out there. Speaking is simple, “It’s just a person with ideas”. By taking us through his own experiences with public speaking, Scott Berkun unearths some underlying truths behind what goes into a good talk. See below for my attempt at organising the lessons I learned from reading the book.
Inspirational Speaking requires Deep Thinking
The problem with most bad presentations is not the speaking, but the lack of thinking. Let me just extend that further. Thinking has two main roles when it comes to speaking. First you need to think deeply about your subject, only through this process of exploration can real insight be made (which may be backed up by good science or well thought out arguments). The second part of the puzzle comes from a self-centred view of the world. The tragic misconception behind all of this is that people come to your talk to hear about what you’ve done. This is wrong. To quote the book, people come to talks because they:
- “Want to learn something
- Wish to be inspired
- Hope to be entertained
- Have a need they hope you will satisfy
- Desire to meet other people interested in the subject
- Sell a positive experience they can share with others”
Therefore focus on the final conclusions; the insight; the ideas. That is what people really want. The long process of how you came to a conclusion is in most cases a self centred and boring thing to talk about. After all “Adults pay adults a lot for doing safe, boring, adult things”. You’re paid for what other people don’t have to see.
Everyone forgets about mistakes, except the person who does it. So don’t focus on them and because the message is what is really important. Therefore practice for confidence, not perfection. Fear is a natural response, but finding strategies to reduce it will make you excel. You can make yourself comfortable by making the audience comfortable. And remember, one person hates you the least; Find them.
Strategies to improve your speaking and give the perfect talk:
- Often the simplest things are the most important to say.
- Don’t ask people to listen to something you haven’t listened to yourself.
- Never plan to use the full time. No one ever wants you to go longer.
- Own your turf.
- People love rhythm, so be a drummer.
- Tension and release can create rhythm.
- Get the audience involved.
- Direct the attention.
- Take a position.
- Density theory – Get people close together.
- “Take a strong position in the title.
- Think carefully about your audience
- Make your specific points as concise as possible
- Know the likely counterarguments from an intelligent, expert audience.”
- Know your: title, 5-min version and full version. Knowing a five minute version will make sure you are clear on the main points to emphasise in the full version.
- Outline!
- You’re the star; be bigger then you are.
- People expect very little from most teachers. Most are happy to just be entertained.
Only you know what happens next – so make sure that you do (That means practice).
– Stephen
Click here for details and reviews of Confessions of a Public Speaker at Amazon.com.
