Public Speaking

To stand out as a public speaker, it is important that you identify the right speech topic so that you become comfortable with it while also being able to capture your audiences attention. As a professional speaker, I always take the time to watch other speakers to see what they are talking about and how they cover this particular topic. I had the opportunity to evaluate one of the motivational speakers, Red Nelson whose speech focused on a variation on a theme.   He started with a deck of cards, and flipped it to reveal the Ace of Hearts. Lucky in love he suggested. He then talked about three other types of cards. Advertising post cards, greeting cards and business cards. All variations on a theme of “cards” When discussing the advertising post card, he suggested that we are all conditioned to look at the reverse of  a post card, just as we tend to want to flip a face down card to see what is on the other side. When discussing greeting cards, he noted that a preprinted card is not all that inspiring, although we are all likely to open greeting cards mailed to us, where we may not open other junk mail. What really matters he pointed out is the added cursive writing on a card, the little extra effort that makes in personal and meaningful. He then discussed business cards, and how the little extra of a meaningful logo or other significant short piece of information can go a long way toward making a business card more meaningful. He tied it all back together by bringing back the deck of cards and re-emphasizing how we as people are conditioned to  look for more than the one side of cards. That we tend to automatically look for more information with the format. In my evaluation, I suggested that he could have taken it a bit further by suggesting more people use the reverse side of their business cards. So what’s the message from all this? According to the speaker agency Keynote Speakers, when looking for a topic for a speech, even simple common things like a deck of cards can be used to serve as the foundation of a meaningful presentation.  Just expand the idea and think about possible variations. Second, part of the value of a Toastmaster group is the evaluation provided by a member. Now many of us can be hyper sensitive to criticism, unless it is put into a positive framework.  In Toastmasters we offer criticism as a formal part of the meeting. That way it isn’t seen as being picked on as it is expected. Further, we practice what we refer to as a “Sandwich.”  This means an evaluation starts and ends with some positive comments, with a suggestions sandwiched in between.  We all need criticism to help us recognize and act upon shortcomings. This is true in all aspects of life, but we frequently freeze out criticism by accepting it poorly and/or reacting negatively to those who do try to offer advice.  Public speaking is an art form and one where the recognition of strengths and weaknesses permits faster progress than in a situation where only positives or only negatives are offered.