Manner of Speaking

[johnzimmer]

7 tips in 2 minutes to make you a more effective public speaker.

[johnzimmer]

A Noteworthy Idea

When delivering a speech or presentation, it is preferable for a speaker to do so without notes whenever possible.  Being free from notes allows a speaker to have maximum eye contact with the audience; it frees the speaker from being anchored to a lectern and allows him to use the full speaking area; and it conveys to the audience that the speaker is comfortable with the subject.

However,…

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The pause that refreshes

Today’s post is inspired by a 1929 ad from Coca-Cola.  In that year, the company came up with a truly great slogan that you still sometimes hear today: “The pause that refreshes.”

As speakers, we can learn a lot from that slogan.  Knowing when and how to pause is a great skill, and one that will greatly enhance our effectiveness.

Too many people speak too quickly.  This shortcoming is…

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Making an Impact - The Poll

Making an Impact – The Poll

This might be my blog, but that does not mean that I should do all the work.  Now it’s your turn.

In today’s post, I want to focus on a very general question, the answer to which provides good insight into the preparation and delivery of a speech or presentation.

The question is straightforward: Which of the following aspects of a presentation or speech has the greatest impact on the audience:…

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New Day, New Look

Many thanks to those of you who have visited this blog since it was launched just over a week ago.  I appreciate the support and comments.

The most common suggestion was to switch from a black background to a white one in order to make the posts more reader friendly.  Although I liked the old black background, I did find the font too small.

So we have a new look.  I suspect that I will fiddle…

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Making an Impact - The Results

Making an Impact – The Results

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who participated in the poll or who took the time to write a thoughtful comment, either here or on Linked In. The topic is clearly one of interest and it generated a lot of good discussion.

I confess that the question was somewhat unfair in that it obliged you to choose which aspect of a speech – verbal, visual or content – has the greatest impact on an…

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[johnzimmer]

Kiss me, you fool

No, not like this.

Le baiser de l’hôtel de ville, Robert Doisneau (1950)

And not like this.

What I mean is the “Kiss principle”: Keep it short and simple. (Or, Keep it simple, stupid.)

Anyone can ramble on (and on and on) in a speech.  But the speaker who can cut to the heart of the matter quickly and precisely, and leave the audience enthralled – that speaker has understood the essence of good…

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You'll go bananas over this

You’ll go bananas over this

There’s more to life than public speaking and blogging. One of my passions is long-distance cycling.  In fact, I just got back from a three-hour 75 km ride up in the mountains. 

Every cyclist knows is the importance of eating right – before, during and after a long ride.  A mainstay of any cyclist’s diet is the humble but mighty banana.  Each one packs oodles of nutritional value.  But bananas…

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Be Unique, Be Yourself

One of the best pieces of advice I got as a young lawyer was to develop my own style in court.  “Watch other lawyers and learn from them,” I was told, “but never, ever try to copy them.  It won’t work.”  The same holds true for most forms of public speaking.  Except impersonations, of course.

Each of us has his or her own unique way of speaking.  Some are flamboyant; some are professorial; some…

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Your Speaking Rate

Frequently, we have to give a speech within strict time limits.  Speech contests are a good example.  If we go over by even one second, we are disqualified.  Other examples include being given a 30-minute slot at a conference or 15 minutes to do an after-dinner speech.

Those who speak longer than they should are doing themselves no favours.  Not only do they often end up boring their audiences,…

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Tell Me a Story

I love a good story.

As a child, I could listen for hours to the tales told by my parents, grandparents, teachers and others.  As I grew older, I sought out stories through novels, films or theatre.  As a parent, I thoroughly enjoyed reading books (complete with voice characterizations) to my two daughters when they were younger.  To this day, I am still not sure who had more fun – them or me.

It…

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TED - Ideas Worth Spreading

TED – Ideas Worth Spreading

To become adept at public speaking, we need to practise.  However, we can also improve our skills by watching and learning from other speakers.  Today’s post provides you with a great resource to do just that: TED.

TED (which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design) began in 1984 as a conference to bring together people from these three areas.  Since then, it has exploded in popularity and…

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[johnzimmer]

Funny You Should Say That!

Delivering a humorous speech is no laughing matter.  It is hard work.

In the fall of 2008, I had the terrific experience of competing in the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in District 59 (18 countries in Continental Europe).  The contest has four rounds – Club, Area, Division and District – with each round becoming increasingly difficult.  I am proud to say that I made it through all four…

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Speech Evaluations

While the adrenalin is still flowing from the District 59 Toastmasters Conference (on which I reported in my previous post), I thought that I would pen a few words about the “other” contest that featured there – the Speech Evaluation Contest.  I think that the Speech Evaluation Contest is the trickiest of all Toastmasters contests.  It requires you to be rigorously analytical in a very short…

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A Good Tip, Hands Down

Have you ever been empty-handed in a conversation at a cocktail party? No drink or plate of undercooked canapés to hold? Did you suddenly become acutely aware of your hands? So much so, that you were not sure what to do with them? Me too. Thank heavens for beer and wine. And undercooked canapés.

When we are on stage, however, we do not have that luxury. We are up there on our own.  Actually, we…

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Back from the Toastmasters District Conference

OK, after a hiatus of several days (during which I did not turn on a computer or watch TV – heaven!) I am back from the District 59 Toastmasters Conference.  The venue was the Intercontinental Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany.  As usual, it was a great time.

So, how did I do?  Second place in the International Speech Contest.  As the contest featured the top speakers from 18 countries in Continental…

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Exciting news!

I have some exciting news to share.

I began writing this blog in May 2009. It was an experiment to see what blogging was like. However, given that the lifespan of the average blog is short – most blogs stop after just 100 days – I didn’t have any expectation that it would become a long-term labour of love.

Almost 11 years later, it’s still going. I am grateful to everyone who has stopped by,…

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