"My 9 Tips for Speaking" By: Patrick Combs

If you've ever held an audience spellbound you know it is a true form of power. You may not desire to make your living yakking, but you know it would only do you great if you could dazzle when you present at the next meeting or pitch your next big idea. Having earned my money for four years now based on my ability to grab the mic and yammer well for an hour or so, I offer nine bits of advice:

* Be enthusiastic or stay home
If you're going to give a talk bring your enthusiasm. If you haven't got enthusiasm for your topic get some or call in sick.

* Force people to sit close together
Audience members like to spread out but you've got to corral them into a crowd. I bring tape and I block off the seats in the back and the seats on the side. Let people spread and the audience feels dead. Force them in tight and everyone feels right.

* Open with a bang
Don't waste the all-important first 30 seconds with a courtesy remark i.e. "It's so nice to be here. Thank you for coming. How are you today? Blah blah blah." Say or do something Unexpected: Force people to say "Wow!" And if I hear another person open with a joke that ain't that funny or isn't related to their talk I just might hurl.

* Tell stories
People remember stories. If you're speaking it's because you've been there - you've had the experience, and people want to hear about it straight from the horses mouth. The formula for success: A few superb concepts and many great stories. Caution: Unless you're a true performer, keep your stories short (less than 3 minutes). Anything longer than that and you'll probably be telling stories of the bedtime sort... zzzzzzzzzzzz.

* Reach out and talk to someone
If you're the speaker and you've got an audience then for heaven's sake, talk to your audience. I'm not saying talk at them. I'm saying talk TO them. Pick a happy face and ask them a question or use them in an example. Bring them on stage. Throw them candy. Anything. Just make sure you break the barrier between them and you.

* Make it fresh
Incorporate something - anything - from the same day into your talk. The instant you speak a word about a just-happened-event your audience thinks you're alert, smart and spontaneous. I make a point to read a magazine or newspaper hours before my talk because I usually find something that works well enough for me to honestly say "I just read in the paper that ..." And if I don't find it in the papers I strike up a conversation with a stranger (often someone who's come to see me speak) and I let them tell me something about my topic.

* Work work work on your script
In my humble estimation 90% of the reason that speakers are often not-so-good is because they didn't work hard enough on their script. They didn't read additional books to bolster what they know or they didn't research additional facts to strengthen what they're saying. And one draft is not enough. Neither is two. Rule of thumb: For every five minutes you're going to talk, work three hours on your script. Sixty minute talk = 36 hours of scripting. I know - I know - Your style is off the cuff: Every not-so-powerful speaker's style is off the cuff.

* Change your speech some the night before
If you're writing your speech the night before you've already let your audience down. But if you're revising your already ready-to-go talk you're doing exactly what it takes to make your presentation sizzle. My best ideas often hit me the night before, just when I'd like to be hitting the sack early for a good night's sleep. But I stay up an extra couple of hours and incorporate the after-midnight inspirations. Experience has taught me that are usually responsible for the WOW factor in my talk (not to mention the fact that last minute changes ensure that I'll be nervous enough to sparkle.)

* Remember, we all sucked at first
I cringe while watching videos of myself during my first year of talking. I don't like my second year videos for that matter. But the simple truth is that if you work hard and stick to it you'll become a speaker that dazzles.
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Written by Patrick Combs
www.goodthink.com