Focus Early, Focus Narrow
When developing a speech, even if a topic is provided, novice speakers often ask, “What should I talk about?” This is very common, especially when the topic is broad or little direction is given. In a previous post, I discussed selecting...
What is Fear of Public Speaking, Really?
As Jerry Seinfeld once joked, most people would rather be in the coffin than deliver the eulogy at a funeral. Fear of public speaking is so prevalent that entire studies concern themselves with researching intervention methods. I cover fear of public...
How Much Detail?
When developing a presentation, most people include far more detail than is necessary- especially novice speakers. I find there is a strong correlation between a speaker’s subject matter expertise and the amount of information they feel is needed to make their...
Audience Research
In my previous post, I discussed getting after the who and why of your audience in order to figure out what to talk about. Today we’ll delve deeper into the who. Sometimes knowing your audience is as simple as asking for...
Selecting a Topic
When faced with a public speaking or writing assignment, fear is often the first response. “I don’t even know what to talk about,” people say. Whether addressing your department, speaking at a dinner, pitching to clients, or negotiating with vendors, determining...
Welcome to the No-Fail Mission
Years ago, as a U.S. Air Force intelligence analyst, I was supporting flying operations at an overseas base. During one routine mission, an American pilot encountered an aircraft from a nation with whom the U.S. had a rocky relationship. We weren’t...