From the Nedroid cartoon’s fantastic wit: here’s Like a cool Shakespeare.
Honestly I used to not really value the difference between a speech’s topic and key message. Then a mentor years ago set me straight!
How does it impact the arc of speech content?
A story that grapples with these questions plus examples unfold in the quickie video above (which is also apart of Tinu Abayomi-Paul’s video challenge project – which you can participate in too).
As for key messaging for your presentations, what helps you formulate your primary point for your speech content? Do you like that part of preparation? What are examples that you’d enjoy sharing?
Discerning and shaping key messages can be a welcome but distinct challenge for me — so please, your ideas are welcome anytime in the comments(!)
Have you ever seen an actor be completely silent, simply looking out in the distance or directly at the camera, and yet even without words – they are riveting?
Many of the faces in this TV show promo strike me this way – they exude energy without externalizing thought or words:
I’m reading Tony Barr’s Acting for the Camera where he covers how acting has changed since the silent film era; he gets into specific scene work and how actors should perceive stimulus.
What’s been fascinating are his perceptions about energy and actors.
A favorite quote in his book:
“I believe energy is a direct result of how much an actor cares about what is happening (in a scene). If the content is important enough to you – if what is happening in your performance life is important enough – you as an actor will be listening with sufficient intensity to create the necessary energy in the scene.” ~Tony Barr in Acting for the Camera
This expression of energy and ‘listening as caring’ bring the hopes of many public speakers to mind as well, myself included.
How can delivery of a particular presentation be authentically expressed and energized – with both articulated and unexpressed cues?
How can we as public speakers convey a sense of care – a sense of attentiveness – to the audience?
Tony Barr’s philosophy about energy and intentional care for what is happening in scenes address these answers too in my view. It’s a highly engaging, specific resource and I’m enjoying the crossover of relevance as a speaker coach.
How does this quote strike you?
The good creative folks over at Matrix Group International just launched a new video series called The Matrix Minute. They are neat friends and strong supporters of the social tech community.
From her purple office and purple sofa –
Joanna Pineda asked to talk-shop about videoblogging and if I’d share ideas on how to get started with online video.
Sounds like fun (and it was!).
Videoblogging and the value of impromptu speech
Impromptu conversations via video or audio are such fantastic practice forums for speaking in public — let alone great vehicles for sharing stories with your core communities.
Thanks Joanna and Matrix Group for the time (and congrats again on the Matrix Minute series).
What are your favorite tips for videoblogging or impromptu speaking in general, like giving a toast or a statement of congratulations at formal events?
Conviction.
Grit.
Joy.
He’s livin’ his talk!
…from one kid and his one-minute speech:
Her prized, numero uno, #1 favorite speaking tip is…:
It’s been a tremendous week here at Blogworld Expo East. And this morning’s workshop was fantastically interactive, co-presented with @AlizaSherman about empowering women as public speakers. The attendees for our Speak Up workshop were so motivating; and people showed determination and progress on their speech topic ideas throughout the session. It’s been a great day.
Words from a witch
In the spirit of finding and asserting our voice as speakers, Nathalie Lussier talked shop about her favorite speaking tip. She presents often and really enjoys the dynamic.
It was energizing to talk with her from Blogworld’s expo floor
- and she blogs regularly at The Raw Foods Witch on lots of healthy stuff.
Nathalie’s #1 tip revealed in this fun, speedy talk:
How are you? Hope all is well.
Here’s an audio snapshot just below about presenting at Blogworld (or a written summary follows soon after on Blogworld reflections and questions about speaking in public):
‘A’ Game as public speakers (and you?)
There’s a big adrenaline rush on this end of the webz to head out to NYC for the Blogworld East New Media Expo. I’m thrilled to co-facilitate a workshop this year about empowering women to bring their ‘A’ game as public speakers with the motivating and motivated Aliza Sherman.
We’ll approach the session from a few angles:
At Blogworld Expo East this week? Here’s an invitation for you!
Have a super time at Blogworld and know you have a hearty invitation to join us Thur, May 26th at 9am for our session officially called: Speak Up – empowering women to find their voice. Our session’s specific hashtag is: #BWEvoice
Your favorite tips and strengths as a speaker: would you share?
What favorite tips do you practice in preparing for a speech — when organizing content or delivery or any aspect of stage preparation?
And what are your favorite attributes as a presenter? As in, do you love the sound of your voice or vocal range? Do you get an addictive kick out of storytelling and make an audience feel at ease? Are you a maestro at creating media decks or stimulating a sense of momentum in your narrative?
Image Your Are Your Voice by Jem Yoshioka, Creative Commons
DISCLAIMER to readers: Darth Vader was not harmed in this recording.
She just gave a great speech on the benefits and stress from having so many available choices.
She has resolve, success, and a great depth of reflection.
She’s got one heck of a sense of humor, is a Women Grow Business blogger — and she’s a clear winner too.
This ’she’ is Ann Bevans, a business owner and prize winner of this year’s case study competition for the Hot Mommas Project.
The Hot Mommas Project is an online mentorship library for women and girls, comprised of case studies accessible for free. People from across the globe submit case studies reflecting their life experience about entrepreneurship and different professional industries.
What challenges did they face?
What decisions or fears or obstacles helped to crystalize their success?
These questions are often framed and answered in the most personal and triumphant ways in these case studies.
Ann’s case study won top honors this year, revealing her sense of purpose for her business and resolve to look at specific choices.
In this video talk: Darth Vader talks shop.
And Ann shares more on what compelled her to write her case study. Her potent acceptance speech was a hot topic too, looking at the trials of choice in & beyond business — all this from the Hot Momma’s Awards Ceremony earlier this week.
Congratulations to Ann (and also Liz Scherer, a Women Grow Biz blogger who received Hot Mommas honors this year and was unable to attend the ceremony).
This was first published as a guest post to entrepreneurship community Women Grow Business.
A colleague recently shared her pre-game angst for giving a product demonstration. She felt less confident for this particular demo, especially when envisioning questions from attendees that could favor her competition vs her product.
Here are (3) tips that helped her increase her sense of ease, confidence, and control:
She opened her remarks by overtly declaring her demo a full-on conversation zone; she distinctly invited curiosity about her work (and what they, the attendees, were looking for). Leading the tone in this way was a simple, empowering move. Cultivating this type of conversational environment head-on made my colleague feel like she was guiding the exchange (vs hiding nervously from potential questions).
The nature of our products and services can be so carved out in our minds that a vivid, concise way to describe its meaning can get obscured. Before the demo, clearly define and articulate a key message that captures the value of your product. Linking mini stories to the key message can help make it all the more humanized, personal, and distinct.
As example: “My #1 interest is providing fantastic, fashionable footware that’s reasonably priced. Faculty at my alma mater are my best customers for this reason….”
It can be natural to defensively respond when people affirm competition in the face of your product. To diffuse your own anxiety and cultivate a sense of confidence, prepare ways beforehand to gracefully acknowledge competitor features should they come up i.e. “Yes Sallie’s Lime Cupcakes are tasty…” And practice how to immediately re-focus attention on your product’s distinction i.e. “I’ve found the bulk of my customers may try fruit cupcakes once or twice in the short term. But my customer community as a whole craves chocolate and vanilla. And we provide that in 85 creative recipes.”
I’m now craving a cupcake (vanilla, not lime) in the most urgent way(!)
Before signing off though, have you ever experienced anxiety before giving a product demo? What were ways you prepared when anticipating criticism from attendees?
I just saw a delicious documentary, The Kings of Pastry.
One pastry chef judging a major competition in France gave an interview toward the end about developing creativity. It really struck a cord; it brought to mind certain benefits (and concerns) mentors can have on our development as speakers.
Here’s a 90 second story, all motivated from one super tasty documentary (& a compelling pastry chef).
Warning: It’s for the pastry-addicted!
Advisory Board Member 2012
