Public Speaking

Public Speaking Should Be Like Having Coffee with Friends

I recently attended a workshop on public speaking moderated by Brian Collins of Ovat!ion, a training firm that helps business executives become better speakers. This session reminded me about how important it is for entrepreneurs to speak with confidence in front of groups.

John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

14 Nov 2006 • 1 min read

Here are a few tips that I picked up from Brian:

Smile. This radiates confidence.
Pause before you begin. This will help you and the audience relax.
Eye contact is critical to communication. Look at people directly for two seconds.
Show up early and check out the venue. This gives you time to adjust things.
Avoid cold drinks before a speech; they constrict the vocal cords.
Drink hot herbal tea to sooth the vocal cords.
Eat breakfast. Avoid dairy. Limit caffeine.
Avoid flashy accessories that may reflect light. That means no “bling” for the ladies such as earrings.
Rehearse in front of a mirror or use a video camera; this will help you monitor your use of gestures.
Avoid filler words or expressions such as “and”, “you know”, etc.
Speak conversationally. Avoid “business-speak” or words that you are uncomfortable using. Speak as if you are having coffee with friends.
Open with a compelling introduction. Try asking the audience a question.
Slow down and tell your story clearly.
Repeat yourself. This helps people remember your message.
Remember that you know more about your subject than 98% of your audience, so speak with authority.
Always write your own introduction for the introducer to read. This avoids any false expectations.
Conclude by repeating your message. People typically remember only one or two things from a speech, so make sure that they remember the most important points.
Bask in the applause!