How to Speak Good

Tips and tricks for the technical speaker. Everything from overcoming fear to how to use PowerPoint properly.

Transcript

1. How to Speak Good CRAIG BERNTSON MAY 6, 2012 How to Speak Good Craig Berntson
3. Biology Mood Behavior Thinking
4. Anxiety will increase over time Anxiety is dangerous Anxiety worsens performance People will judge you negatively Avoid the situation Practice so you know everything Write down your talk and read it Don’t ask for questions Sit out of leader’s line of sight Hide your nervousness Picture audience naked Analyze what you did
5. Tell stories Don’t impress people, touch them Notify your face Look audience in the eyes Prepare Repetition Allow gaps between notes
6. Make a list of your fears You do not need to be an expert Prepare Rehearse
7. Only one thing we have to fear is fear itself
8. Hi! I’m Craig Church Disk Jockey in high school & college Tech events in North America & Europe Master of Ceremonies
10. Fear Types of Speaking Prepare You’re on!
12. Someone asks you Speaking is required You want to speak
13. Entertain Inform Persuade
14. Impromptu Business Social Online Events
15. Meeting • Want to talk • Do not evaluate • Focus • Speak up Authority figures • People too • Know them • No negativity • Confidence • Strengths • Every day Interview • Worry • Challenge fear • Connect • Regular conversation • Refine skills Called on • Do not hide • “I don’t know” • Best shot • Follow flow Answering questions • Guidelines • Every question • Follow up • Why afraid? • As many as possible
16. Online No animation Don’t move too quickly Stay in front of microphone Don’t connect wirelessly
17. Fear Types of Speaking Prepare You’re on!
18. • Keynote • Session Type • Know them • Content Audience • White board • Post-It Notes • Pencil & Paper Create an outline • Define flow *critical* • Something attendees can follow Storyboard
19. Plan in Analog Plan before you open the software. Sketch ideas on paper or whiteboards. The “Napkin Test” It’s not the software. It’s how you craft and deliver the story.
20. Messianic Sense of Purpose “We’re here to put a dent in the universe” What am I really selling? You have to love what your doing
21. What
22. Why
23. How
24. Introduce the Antangonist Do this early Setup problem, “Why do we need this?” Describe problem in detail Elevator pitch for your solution
25. Reveal the Conquering Hero Describe the state of the industry After establishing antagonist, use plain English how you have a cure Be passionate about it
27. Draw a Roadmap List key points you want your audience to know Categorize your list until you are left with three to five points Under each point, add rhetorical questions to enhance narrative
28. Single Major Point
29. One Question that Matters Most Why should I care? Eliminate buzz words and jargon One thing consistent across all marketing collateral, including press releases, website, and presentations
30. Simplify 2007 CES Steve Jobs Bill Gates Avg. words/sentence 10.5 21.6 Lexical density 16.5% 21% Hard words 2.9% 5.11% Fog index 5.5 10.7 2008 CES Steve Jobs Bill Gates Avg. words/sentence 13.79 18.23 Lexical density 15.76% 24.52% Hard words 3.18% 5.2% Fog index 6.79 9.73
31. Use “Amazingly Zippy” Words Unclutter your copy Simplify Have fun with words
32. PowerPoint Death by PowerPoint
33. Most common mistakes Put every word on slide Keep slides simple and relevant Long, complex slides take time to read The more they read, the less they listen Spellcheck Excessive bullet pointing Maximum 4-5 bullet points Maximum three levels of indentation
34. Bad color schemes Understand the color wheel In PPT 2007 or later use built-in schemes Earlier versions had bad color schemes, backgrounds, and default fonts Event or employer may provide template
35. Deliver Their Inner Zen Avoid bullet points One theme per slide Create visually aesthetic slides
36. Data, graphs, charts, and diagrams Keep graphs simple If you can’t, use “builder” slides
37. Dress Up Your Numbers Use data to support facts ◦ Don’t use too many numbers ◦ Carefully consider figures Make data specific, contextual, relevant Use rhetorical devices such as analogies to dress up numbers
38. Animation Avoid animation, sounds, transitions May be needed at times Emphasize a point Complex diagrams
39. Fonts No smaller than 24 point font Use sans-serif rather than serif font Font color should contrast with background
40. General Two basic slide types Show whole slide at once Prompt to keep you on track Reveal technique Show one bullet point at a time Summarize what you are going to say
41. General If it’s on the slide, talk about it Images add impact Back row can’t see bottom of screen Only use top 75% of slide
42. No PowerPoint Visual aids Whiteboard Flip chart 3x5 index cards Everything else is the same
43. Flow Transition Timing Demos Slides Blocking Setup
45. Make it Look Effortless Practice, practice, practice Practice some more Record your presentation
46. Toss the Script Write your script in full sentences in the Notes section Highlight or underline keywords from each sentence and practice Delete extraneous words. Leave only key words Memorize the one idea per slide Practice the entire presentation without notes
47. Realistic audience • Local group • Work colleagues • Family Run through without breaks • Request feedback • Check timing
48. Fear Types of Speaking Prepare You’re on!
49. Don’t install stuff two weeks before Check in with organizers Double-check travel plans Video cable! Power cable! Upload presentation Put presentation on USB drive Presentation clothing
50. Wear the Appropriate Costume Dress like the leader you want to become Wear clothes that are appropriate for the culture If you’re going to dress like a rebel, dress like a well-off rebel
51. Check in with organizers Verify location of room, size, layout, etc. Check your laptop with projector Blocking
52. Setup • Turn off IM • Use restroom • Empty pockets • Laser pointer, clicker, etc • Other material • Water or energy drink • Turn off cell phone Display • Open everything you need • Show or Presenter View • Mouse pointer off screen You • Be fresh • Be enthusiastic • Be yourself • Be entertaining
53. Make first point positive Starting with a joke is not always best Introduce yourself and the topic Set expectations and skill level Go over agenda Don’t hunt for files Keep hands out of pockets
54. Tell them what you’re going to tell them Tell them Tell them what you told them Remember golden rule It may be obvious to you Attendees may not get it the first time Skill level is usually wider than expected Include conclusions and summaries Repetition is a good thing This drives it home Clearly identify your key point
55. Share the Stage Have customers that use your product back your claim Incorporate testimonials Publicly thank employees, partners, customers
56. Stage Your Presentation with Props Build a product demo during planning Commit to the demo Provide something for every type of learner: visual, auditory, kinesthetic
57. Reveal a “Holy Shit” Moment Plan the moment Script the moment Rehearse the big moment
58. Obey the Ten-Minute Rule Your audience checks out after ten minutes
59. Master Stage Presence Body Language ◦ Eye contact ◦ Open posture ◦ Hand gestures Say it with style Act like the leader you want to be Vary your vocal delivery
60. Macbook Air What is MacBook Air? In a sentence, it’s the world’s thinnest notebook The world’s thinnest notebook We decided the build the world’s thinnest notebook Macbook Air. The world’s thinnest notebook Apple introduces MacBook Air – The World’s Thinnest Notebook We’ve built the world’s thinnest notebook
61. It didn’t stop there The industry’s greenest notebooks 1,000 songs in your pocket The world’s most popular music player made even better Apple reinvents the phone iPhone 3G. Twice as fast at half the price
62. Create Twitter-like Headlines 140 characters Once sentence vision statement Consistently repeat headline Offer audience a vision of a better future
63. Never talk down It makes you sound condescending Don’t assume attendees are idiots Don’t insult them Don’t assume attendees are geniuses Explain what you are talking about
64. Misunderstanding or insults Culture Humor Slang
65. When things go wrong Reset once Don’t debug Betty Crocker moment Apologize once Move on
66. Wrap up •Give summary •Take questions •Contact info •Get off stage •Be available
67. Set rules Always repeat Off- topic I don’t know Don’t make up ? ? ? ? ?
68. Evaluations • You can’t please everyone • Appreciate good • Accept bad • Use both to improve
69. Fear Types of Speaking Prepare You’re on!
70. Resources Start small Community theater Improv Toastmasters Classes Mentor Billboards
71. Resources Watch others Guy Kawasaki Steve Jobs TED.com Scott Hanselman (tekpub.com)
72. Master communicator Passion Simplify Practice
73. Resources Books The Confident Speaker Beyond Bullet Points Slideology The Craft of Scientific Presentations Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs Presentation Zen Presentation Patterns
74. Resources Websites SlideShare.com BeyondBulletPoints.com Slideology.com Office.microsoft.com Blogs DuarteShop.com PresentationZen.com
75. Resources Speaking coach CarmineGallo.com ValerieKittel.com
76. Summary What, Why, How Tell them what you’re going to tell them Single most important point Repetition, repetition, repetition Tell them Tell them what you told them
77. Summary Know your material Knowing the subject isn’t enough You don’t need to be an expert Be prepared Slides, demos, flow, and timing Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse Above all, enjoy yourself
78. Have fun Treat presentation as “infotainment” Never apologize
79. The Payoff
80. Questions Email: craig@craigberntson.com