nullHow to Become A Good SpeakerHow to Become A Good SpeakerKai-Fu Lee
Corporate Vice President
Microsoft CorporationWhy Be a Good Speaker?Why Be a Good Speaker?
“The man who can think and does not know how to express what he thinks is at the level of him who cannot think.”
Pericles
Not just “presentation”, but also “persuasion”
Get people’s “mindshare”
Influence a friend, colleague, or boss
Tell people what you did, and why it matters
What You’ll Learn Today:What You’ll Learn Today:First Topic: Learn Speaking SkillsFirst Topic: Learn Speaking SkillsSpeaking Skills Are ImportantSpeaking Skills Are Important“Without effective delivery,
a speech of the highest mental capacity
can be held in no esteem. With effective delivery,
even one with moderate abilities may
surpass those of the highest talent.”
Cicero
What Are Speaking Skills?What Are Speaking Skills?Verbal (words spoken)
Vocal (tone, range, appeal, credibility of voice)
Visual (physical appearance, gestures, eye contact)7%
38%
55%Delivery SkillsMost Important: EnthusiasmMost Important: Enthusiasm
“There is just one sure cure for bad speeches – Get truly excited on the subject, and 99 percent of the faults of your speaking will disappear.” Robert Montgomery
Don’t accept a talk without enthusiasm
Could be from interest, experience, environment
Example: Martin Luther King
I have a dream… that one day this nation will rise up; live out the true meaning to its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.
Not how loud, but how sincereVerbal Skills – Be Simple & ClearVerbal Skills – Be Simple & ClearBe simple and clear!
Don’t ramble
Stop to think if you need to
Example one: Dan Quayle celebrates democracy
Example two: Dan Quayle trying to say “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”Verbal Skills – Use simple wordsVerbal Skills – Use simple wordsSpeaking is not like writing!!!
Use simple words
Don’t use complex sentences
Can you understand this:
Text:
The development of this frightful means of destruction was ardently demanded by the perils of the time and situation. Simultaneously, however, a new paradoxical situation has been…. is upon us continually. One cannot defend oneself effectively any more.
-- Albert EinsteinVocal Skills : Play your voiceVocal Skills : Play your voiceProject & resonate your voice
No “UM”s and “ER”s. (Pause instead)
Tools: silence, loudness, intonation, speed
“You are right. I am wrong.” – Stalin to Trotsky
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” -- John F. Kennedy
“I welcome this kind of examination, because people have to know whether their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook.” -- Richard M. Nixon
Don’t overdo it!!!Vocal+Verbal : Words+IntonationVocal+Verbal : Words+IntonationJohn Kennedy:
“You need to contribute to your country”
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.
Quayle vs. Benson Debate:
Quayle: "I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."
Answer 1: “Jack Kennedy is better than you.”
Answer 2: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.“Visual SkillsVisual SkillsUS Election 1960 was won on visual skills
Components of Visual Skills:
Eyes
Body
Hands
FaceVisual Skills – EyesVisual Skills – EyesLook forward at audience (trust)
Don’t shift eyeballs; don’t look in corner
Don’t look too much at computer screen or notes
Look at people’s faces (not eyes)
3-6 seconds per person
Shift randomly
Nod, smile, use facial expressionVisual Skills – BodyVisual Skills – BodyStand up when talking
Walk around = informal
Don’t:
Rock, shake
Lean too muchVisual Skills – HandsVisual Skills – HandsGesture complements talk
Should come naturally, without thinking
Make sure they match!
Need to exaggerate a little
Especially with large audience
Don’t fidget or put in pocket
Videotape whole talk & watch
Can improve hand gesturing!Visual Skills – FaceVisual Skills – FaceShow emotion!
Most of the time:
“I care a lot about this.”
“I really believe in this.”
“I love my work.”
Sometimes (in response to questions).
“This is the most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I will have nothing to do with this.”Next Topic: Develop the talkNext Topic: Develop the talkThe Key Point: the Goal of the TalkThe Key Point: the Goal of the TalkThe ONE clear walk-away message.
The answer to the question: “How was the talk?”
The one thing people remember in 3 monthsThe Origin Point
(Where the audience was)The Key Point
(Where you took them)PersuasionMust Have Audience BenefitMust Have Audience BenefitPut audience needs at heart
“What’s in it for you?”
Has to be their reason, not yours
Must consider feeling, not just reaction
Must have right “you”
Good phrases to know:
“This is important to you because…”
“Why am I telling you this? Because…”
“What does this mean for you? Let me tell you…”
Know your audience
Experience, knowledge, attitudeNext Topic:Next Topic:Organizing the StoryOrganizing the StoryYou’re the salesman
First lesson for salesmen:Tell them what you’re going to saySay itTell them what you saidOpeningBodyEndingThe OpeningThe OpeningYou never get a second chance to make a first impression Jerry Weissman
The opening
A question
Factoid
Anecdote
Quotation
Analogy
Joke (make it relevant!)
Customize the opening
Lead to the Key Point
Give a (very short) outline/overviewThe BodyThe Body
Brainstorming into data dump
Connect the ideas into “main themes”
Connect the teams using one logic flowReady to write the slides? DON’T!!!Data DumpData Dump& Main ThemesThe FlowThe FlowPossible flows:
Convincing logic & order
Smooth transitions
Keep repeating the Key Point!(See “Presenting to Win” by Jerry Weissman for more examples)The EndingThe EndingEnd with a BANG!
“Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be served.”
George W. Bush
Repeat the Key Point
“If you remember only one thing from this talk, then you should remember XXX”
Say thank you
Review of Organizing Your StoryReview of Organizing Your StoryOpening Key PointClosing Key PointBody (Repeat Key Point)Tell them what you’re going to saySay itTell them what you saidNext Topic:Next Topic:Design GraphicsDesign GraphicsPowerPoint only supports your talk
Spend more time on organization & delivery!
Design principles
Keep it simple
Apply psychology
Make it easy to follow
Make it attractive
Your titles should tell your story
Why “Keep It Simple”?Why “Keep It Simple”?Aim to develop a consistent style, using the standard stylesheet whenever possible.
One concept per slide.
The font that is being used should be very large
24 point or larger. I will now use smaller fonts to prove to you that it is a major strain to your eyes to read small fonts.
The color of the font and the background should be in sharp contrast. If one is light, then the other should be dark. Otherwise it will be very hard to read.
The use of bullets should be simple. Too many bullets distracts the user from listening to you.
3 big sub-ideas (or bullets) is the most you should have.
The entire slide should have fewer than 8 bullets and sub-bullets.
I will add a few more bullets to show this is not a good idea
And one more
And one more
Keep the language used simple, so that the user doesn’t have to “think” to understand your point.
Each bullet should fit in one line, because the idea of a bullet is to convey idea, headline, and server as a reminder (or cue) for you to describe and amplify.
Parallel wording means the bullets are roughly parallel, and contain similar grammatical constructs. This can save the user a lot of time trying to “understand” what you said.Keep It SimpleKeep It SimpleConsistent look
One concept per slide
Readable
>20 point
Avoid abbreviation
Use shadow outline fonts
Contrast font & background
Don’t leave too much blank space
Keep It Simple : BulletsKeep It Simple : BulletsHeadline, not sentence
Reminder for you
Concise
<4 top-level bullets
<10 total bullets & sub-bullets
Simple language
One line per bullet
Parallel wordingWhat’s wrong with this?What’s wrong with this?A good speech
Clear point
Understands what audience wants
Organization based on logic
Powerful opening
Ending that people remember
Instead, do this….Instead, do this….A good speech
Clear point
Appealing audience benefit
Logical flow
Powerful opening
Strong close
Apply Psychology to DesignApply Psychology to DesignDon’t fight natural eye movements
Move left to right
Return to upper left corner
Sweep to lower right corner
Subliminal hints
Graphics to match your key point
AnticipationApply Psychology to DesignApply Psychology to DesignDon’t fight natural eye movements
Move left to right
Return to upper left corner
Sweep to lower right corner
Subliminal hints
Graphics to match your key point
Anticipation
Avoid bad signsWhat’s Wrong With This?What’s Wrong With This?Great financial results -- Revenue reached $1,000,000 -- Growth passed 20% -- Profit exceeded $200,000
Instead, do thisInstead, do thisGreat financial results
Revenue reached $1,000,000
Growth passed 20%
Profit exceeded $200,000
What’s Wrong With This?What’s Wrong With This?RevenueInstead, do thisInstead, do thisRevenueMake it Easy to FollowMake it Easy to FollowUse outline
Highlight upcoming section
Use builds
Remind where you are
General goal:
Don’t make the audience think (Other than what you’re saying)Make It AttractiveMake It Attractive20 hours on preparation
10 hours on practice
Why not spend 1 hour on attractive design?Instead of doing this…Instead of doing this…Cost
Satisfaction
Productivity
RevenueWhy not do this…Why not do this…Instead of doing this…Instead of doing this…Bill Gates
Brilliant Technologist
Steve Ballmer
Powerful Salesman
Steve Jobs
Passionate Evangelist
Lou Gerstner
Logical BusinessmanWhy not do this…Why not do this…Your Titles Should Tell the StoryYour Titles Should Tell the Story
“The man who can think and does not know how to express what he thinks is at the level of him who cannot think.”
Pericles
Not just “presentation”, but “persuasion”
Influence a friend, colleague, or boss.
Tell people what you did, and why it matters.
Get people’s “mindshare”.
Next Topic:Next Topic:Rehearsing Your ContentRehearsing Your ContentPrepare, prepare, prepare
Customize the talk
Within-talk references
Repeat key point
Repeat main themes
Repeat your company (university) name
Practice to use same word(s) per concept
Practice transitions between slides
Rehearsing Your DeliveryRehearsing Your DeliveryRecord & listen to every talk at least twice!
Best : PowerPoint features
OK : Tape recorder
Get the timing right
Running out of time is a disaster
Practice to an audience or record video
Ask experienced speaker to critique
Record video for critiqueNext Topic:Next Topic:Delivering the TalkDelivering the TalkConfidence & passion
Overcoming language barrier
Overcoming nervousness
Humor
Audience participation
Be yourself
Confidence & PassionConfidence & PassionMake sure you’re not too tired:
Get enough sleep the previous night
Drink (up to) 3 cups of coffee!
No milk
Stand on left side of screennullConfidence & PassionConfidence & PassionMake sure you’re not too tired:
Get enough sleep the previous night
Drink (up to) 3 cups of coffee!
No milk
Stand on left side of screen
During your talk, do not apologize
“Sorry I’m behind on time”
“Sorry this slide is so hard to read”Overcoming Language BarrierOvercoming Language BarrierKnow your limitations
Don’t use fancy words, complex sentences
Don’t take any chance of looking silly
Prepare an outline/script
Rehearse before the talk
Don’t have to use it
Not OK to read your bullets
But OK to read or memorize your speech
Practice still required
Proper vocal & visual skills still requiredOvercoming NervousnessOvercoming NervousnessIt is possible to hide nervousness!
Don’t let the shaking show!
Make a fist; hold the lectern
Speak loudly
Take a deep breath
Don’t have to look at audience’s eyes
Look at a friendly face
Look above people’s heads“Do the thing you fear
and the death of fear is certain.”
-- Ralph Waldo EmersonHumorHumorGood humor:
Relevant
Respectful
Short
How to tell a joke?
Prepare audience
Pause after “punch line”
Move on naturally if no reaction!
Plan your humor:
Remember what worked
Use it again!Audience ParticipationAudience ParticipationAsk audience a question
Anticipate their answer(s)!
Respond with something interesting AND relevant
Also OK to ask before talk & include in talk“I hear and I forget;
I see and I remember;
I do and I understand.”Be YourselfBe YourselfDon’t copy others’ styles
Many styles could be effective
You must be yourself to be credible
Adapt your style, but stay within “comfort zone”Last Topic:Last Topic:Q&A: Opportunity to AmplifyQ&A: Opportunity to AmplifyQ&A is your last chance to:
Amplify your points (particularly the Key Point)
Increase your credibility
If people are too shy, you start!
Hard questions
No need to answer directly
But don’t hide!
Narrow questions
Take offline
Q&A – Giving A Good AnswerQ&A – Giving A Good AnswerRespect the listener
Don’t argue or dismiss a question
Right body language
Answer to the entire audience
Repeat the question
Complete if people cannot hear
Paraphrase to help amplify your point ConclusionConclusionAnyone can become a good speaker;
It just takes :
a little skill,
and a lot of practice!
Use of Demos / MultimediaUse of Demos / MultimediaKeeps the talk interesting
Don’t overdo it
Should be tied to content
Ordering :
2,N, N-1, N-2,….3, 1