How to be a Great Speaker

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TITLE: How to be a Great Speaker
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
CONTACT: sandra@schrift.com
COPYRIGHT: ©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved

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How to be a Great Speaker

Did you know that great speakers are often nervous with
butterflies in their stomach before giving a presentation?
And there are many actors/actresses who can not speak to
live audiences without cue cards. My 13 years as a
professional speakers bureau owner allowed me to hear
several thousand speakers give their presentations. Here are
a few tips I learned from them.

1. You want to be nervous. Get your butterflies to fly in
formation. Some tension brings about a great speech. You
usually don’t look as nervous as you feel. Be prepared, be
relaxed. Practice, practice, practice. Use visualization
techniques. One speaker suggests that you curl your toes and
get rid of your adrenalin. Get out of your head and in to
your heart. Reduce nervousness with self talk.

Your mantra might be - “I am a relaxed, confident speaker.”

2. Great presentations are well organized.

Opening – You have 60seconds to get their attention. So
start with a great question, quote or short story. Tell ‘em
what you will tell them.

Body – Tell ‘em. This is where you tell your 3-4 points
supported by your stories.

Closing –Tell ‘em what you told them. Give them a call to
action. What is one idea they can use immediately? in seven
days? in one month?

There are basically two kinds of presentations – Informative
(to know) Persuasive (to do)

Be sure you know what you want your audience to do as a
result of your presentation.

Ask. . . What do they need to know to do this? What do
they need to feel to do this?

Then provide 3-4 points in the body of your message and
provide transitions between the points.

3. Great speeches have great stories. Sprinkle them
throughout your presentation. We delineate our thoughts
visually and your audience needs to “see” what they “hear.”

4. Technology is just a tool. Do not be a master of
ceremonies to your PowerPoint. It is not the presentation.

Here are some guidelines to follow:

Necessity - is this visual aid going to enhance the
audience’s understanding
Clarity – to help people understand
Simplicity – PowerPoint with words – no more than five words
per line and five lines per slide. Color – color enhances
the slide – but only use a few (we’re not talking about
your kid’s 300 Crayola box of crayons)
Visibility – keep it large and clear

5. Your voice is the source of power. FDR, Martin Luther
King, Churchill used the power of their voice. Remember
people need to see what they hear. Slow down, add a pause,
whisper . . .use your voice to change tones, be loud or soft
as needed.

6. Use your eyes – to make contact with audience. Focus on
one person at a time and all the other people will feel as
if you are talking to them also. This will help you to
connect with people and make them feel you are there for
them.

7. Interact – provide your audience with short role plays
or partnering exercises. This gives them an opportunity to
practice what you are telling them to do. Give them an
opportunity to tell someone about their challenge and get
some feedback as to how to resolve it. Then they can walk
out the door at the end of the program ready to think or act
differently. This is what every great speaker wants!

8. Join a fre*e Teleclass to learn how to speak like a pro
on June 30, 2004 from 8-9 p.m. (EST)
http://www.schrift.com eleclasses/index.htm