How to Give Great Speeches
In the latest Forbes magazine Rich Karlgaard has an excellent article about giving speeches. I’ve given a few talks on e-Commerce or language and love it when I’m well prepared and enthusiastic about the subject matter. It has been a challenge though.
I’ll let you read Mr Karlgaard’s advice yourself but here are a few super tips for the Rugged Entrepreneur gleaned from the article:
- Tell stories and don’t hide behind a PowerPoint presentation.
- Leave the podium, walk the stage and engage your audience—this requires knowing your material well!
- Start speeches with questions from the audience; this creates a bond and keeps the audience interest up.
- Wear a white shirt—it looks best live
- Use humor, but keep it relevant and free from lewdness.
- Let your energy build—and I love this line, “Wave your arms. Shout. Whisper. Be animated.”
- “Send handwritten thank-you notes and small gifts to the hosts of your speaking engagement.”
Read the full column here (and don’t forget to subscribe to Forbes—it’s a great magazine and you don’t have to be a member of the Forbe’s 400 to enjoy it!)
