The Ten Commandments of Speaking -- Part 3

#7 – Thou shalt not flail like a duck.
Thom Singer writes: “Specific and well-planned movements will express a powerful thought and help you make a lasting connection with the audience. However, stiff and awkward gestures distract from your expertise and make you appear like a novice, nervous, and uncomfortable.” Gestures can be one of the most powerful tools in your speaking arsenal. They can be used to draw attention to an important point. They can be used to emphasize an important fact. They can be used to visualize an important point. Just remember they can also detract from your presentation. Use them judiciously and wisely.

#8 – Thou shalt use stories in your presentations.
The greatest teacher of all time, Jesus Christ, largely taught in parables. Why? People easily remember stories. Embrace story-telling in your presentations. Whenever possible, frame your presentation with a single story. Whenever possible, illustrate key points with stories. Whenever possible, use stories in your introduction and conclusion. This takes work but it will make your presentation more effective and memorable. One other side note – include humor and wit in your stories. The audience is not expecting you to be a stand-up comedian (and you should avoid trying to become one). Learn the difference between telling jokes and adding observational humor to your stories and presentations.

#9 – Thou shalt memorize (a part of) your speech.
There is nothing worse than sitting in an audience listening to a speaker read their speech. Why don’t they just pass it out! Being a visual learner, I would prefer that! I am not suggesting that you memorize your whole speech. I am suggesting that you memorize your opening, your key stories, and your closing. This enables you to start strong, drive home your key points, and finish with a bang. If you want to be an effective speaker, this commandment alone will enable you to impact your audience. It allows you to let them leave with several memorable moments.

#10 – Thou shalt be personal.
Thom Singer writes: “Show your audience your personal side, even in a business presentation. Expose pieces of your personal life and your past mistakes and vulnerabilities, as this will make you easier for the average person to relate to you as a human being.” Speakers too often think that they have to appear as an authoritative expert. They think that being personal diminishes their effectiveness as a speaker. Nothing could be further from the truth. Authenticity is what makes an audience connect to a speaker.

There you go! This is not an exhaustive list of items one needs to work on to become an effective speaker. It is merely a starting point. Just know that if one masters these “ten commandments,” one will greatly elevate one’s speaking prowess and will be a long way down the road to speaking expertise.