Being in the throes of the Holiday season, I am focusing a lot of my time on giving. Gifts for my family and friends, the gift of time for worthy causes, and the gift of feedback to public speakers.

I have identified three types of feedback gifts that it is possible to give to experienced speakers:

1. The Re-gift – the evaluator passes along wisdom they have received with little thought.  Evaluators hear that vocal variety is important, so they pass this nugget on without regard to whether it would actually improve the speech or the speaker.  Not all speeches would be better with more vocal variety.
2. The Thoughtful Gift – the evaluator puts a lot of thought put into this gift.  If the speaker really takes to heart this feedback they will definitely be a better speaker…in your opinion.  Their speech will be dynamic and compelling if only they used the active voice.  Not all speakers would be better if they took your advice.
3. The Gift of Receiving – the evaluator does not give this gift directly.  Instead, the evaluator describes gifts received from the speaker.  The focus is not on what was done well, or could be done differently, but instead on how the speaker touched the evaluator  Surely all speakers want to know how they touch their audience?

When starting out in Toastmasters, we model the behavior of more seasoned members.  We re-gift the advice we have received.

As we grow, we learn to create unique feedback based on our experiences.  This feedback can be very good and helpful to the right person.

Finally, you can transcend to a new level by not “trying” to help the other person.  Instead you, as the evaluator, express how the speaker made you feel.  The speaker is free to create their own advice from your experience.  Often experienced speakers know what techniques they used effectively and what needs work.  They need feedback that goes beyond mechanics.  If they are to become great public speakers, they need to get into the minds of their audience.

What kind of gift are you giving?

Inspired by the Public Speaking Holiday carnival.  Check it out: http://www.definiscommunications.com/blog/public-speaking-and-the-holidays/

Posted under evaluations

Are they as good as the ones in the video below?  Skip to the 3 minute mark to see them…

Posted under General

by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International
World Championship of Public Speaking

Here’s a tip used by theater people to prevent memory blanks.  On the day of your presentation, just before getting on stage, repeat your text rapidly without emotion.

I once wrote a play for children and hired some professional actors to help me deliver my tale. On the day of the show I was happy as we were setting up the stage and the sound system when I heard one actor say to the others: “Let’s make a rehearsal!”.

I was shocked. We didn’t have time for a rehearsal! We only had a half hour before the kids would come in the room.

To calm me down they explained to me that they would not do a regular rehearsal but instead an exercise called a “speed run-through” aimed at bringing the text back to their memory.  That’s all. They would do it as they would work on something else. We would rehears the play but the actors would simply say their part rapidly without interpreting it.

I found it to be a quite ingenious way to refresh one’s memory. In addition, once it was over I was less nervous. I felt more confident because the exercise proved to me that I knew my text since I just said it out loud.

Here’s what I suggest. A short while before giving your next speech, say your text out loud, rapidly and without emotion.  You should make this exercise even if you don’t know your text by heart. Read your notes out loud if you have any.  What’s important here is to refresh your memory just before you speak.

Is it a guaranty that you won’t have a memory blank? No.  However, it will decrease significantly the risk that such an accident occurs. Having taken such a precaution you’ll be less stressed and that will make a difference on stage!

Happy speech!

©MMX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.

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PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:

This article was reproduced from “Speaking in Public with J.A.”, a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.

Posted under Guest Article

Learn to pause………… or nothing worthwhile will catch up with you.
- Doug King

Posted under Quote

Excellent article from Craig Valentine…

3 Keys To Hook Your Audience Into Your Story

Tap, Tease, and Transport

Most speakers start their stories and hope their audiences will come along on those journeys. That’s average. World Class Speakers don’t do that. Instead, they make their audiences curious so that they want to come along. So here is the secret: it’s what you do before your story that really matters.

Example

For example, before one of my stories, I say the following:

“What do you think is the number one thing that stands between most people living their dreams?” The audience yells out various responses. Then, in a friendly/humorous way I say, “Those are all great answers and if you listen closely they all have the same thing in common. They’re all wrong.” The audience laughs. Then I say, “No, they’re not wrong. They’re just not the number one thing in my opinion that gets in the way. The number one thing is not what you think.”

What do you think the audience is thinking at that point? Right, they are thinking, “Okay, what is the number one thing?” And that is the key to curiosity. You have to get them to ask themselves a question and let them know the answer is coming up in the story.

Tap, Tease, and Transport

This is what I call the Tap, Tease, and Transport method. It is a three step process which includes:

1.   Tapping into your audiences’ mind with a question

2.   Teasing them to want to know more

3.   Transporting them into your story

The Method in Action

Tap: I tapped into their mind by asking, “What do you think is the number one thing that stands between most people living their dreams?” That was the tap. I got them thinking about themselves!

Tease: Then, I told them, “Your answers are wrong. The number one thing is not what you think.” That’s the tease. Now they know they’ll find the number one thing inside my story so they are amped up to come along. Why? It is because they know they are going to be given a point that will help them reach their goals.

Transport: Finally, I transport them into my story in stealth fashion. What I mean by that is you should never say, “Well, listen to my story” or “Now I’m going to tell you a story” or anything like that. Instead, sneak into your story. Get them into your story before they realize you’re going to tell a story. Once you say something like, “I’m going to tell you a story,” many audience members put down their pens and let their minds wander elsewhere. Instead, sneak them into it.

For your next story, try this 3-step method out. When you use the tap, tease, and transport method, you’ll look up and see you have everyone’s undivided attention as they join you on your journey. Tap, Tease, and Transport.

Article from Craig Valentine here.

Posted under Guest Article

Would you like to be able to write this:

When the smell of trees surrounds me as I walk in a forest, when the wind caresses my face during a bicycle ride, when the piece of paper I just folded becomes a bird, when I do all these, I am truly happy.

instead of this:

My favorite hobbies are taking walks, cycling and origami.

If so, check out this article from J.A. Gamache:

USE PARALLEL STRUCTURE TO SPEAK LIKE PRESIDENT OBAMA
by J.A. Gamache

To add power and eloquence to your speeches you could use a writing technique called “parallel structure”. I learned how to use it in one of Lynda Goldman’s communication capsule. (www.lyndagoldmanink.com)

What is “parallel structure”? As Lynda explained: “Parallel structure means that ideas that are parallel in content should be parallel in structure.”

Let’s look at the following phrase exerted from United States President Barack Obama’s 2009 inaugural address as an example of parallel structure:

“… I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. …”

Have you noticed how this sentence can be easily separated in three similar parts?

“… humbled by the task before us ,…”
“… grateful for the trust you have bestowed, …”
“… mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.”

Each idea has a parallel structure starting with an adjective followed by the article “the”.

Have fun and try it in your next speech! See if you can tweak a paragraph or two using the same grammatical form at the beginning of each idea.

For example, instead of simply stating that your favorite hobbies are taking walks, cycling and origami, you could say:

“When the smell of trees surrounds me as I walk in a forest, when the wind caresses my face during a bicycle ride, when the piece of paper I just folded becomes a bird, when I do all these, I am truly happy.”

Do you see how this paragraph is much more powerful? It has more rhythm. Sprinkle some parallel structures in your texts and you’ll add pizzazz to your presentations.

Happy writing!

©MMIX J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.

———————————
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:

This article was reproduced from “Speaking in Public with J.A.”, a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.
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Posted under Guest Article

Here’s 7 tips on exactly how to speak at the drop of a hat.

I especially like #3.  As speakers, we need to focus on the audience much more.  Learn to do this with your prepared speeches and it will come easier with your impromptu speeches.

Posted under Public Speaking

When talented people write badly it’s generally for one of two reasons:

Either they’re blinded by an idea they feel compelled to prove or they’re driven by an emotion they must express.

When talented people write well, it is generally for this reason:

They’re moved by a desire to touch the audience.

~Robert McKee

What drives your speech? Is it a desire to touch your audience? If not, reconsider until it is.

Posted under Public Speaking

Great post from CopyBlogger on The Quentin Tarantino Guide to Creating Killer Content.  My favorite parts:

You’ve got to memorize what’s important so you can make the rest your own.

This is so true for speeches.  Trying to memorize your entire speech is going to be anxiety inducing.  You may pull it off, but the speech is unlikely to come across naturally.  How can it?  You are effectively reading from your notes, just no one can see them.

Instead, memorize a few key pieces.  The introduction and conclusion are good candidates, along with your key points and a couple of choice phrases.

The only way to do that is to keep saying it and saying it and saying it and saying it.

Practice is the key.  Not just practicing your speech, but practicing speaking in general, week in, week out.  Tell stories whenever you get a chance.  Each time is an opportunity to build on the last experience.

Check out the article, great advice for speech writing and also copywriting.

Posted under Public Speaking

It is generally thought that whitewashing with respect to feedback on a speech is bad.  I have even told you on this blog how to avoid giving whitewashes.

What if there was something good to be had from a whitewash?

When you deliver an evaluation with only praise, you are (contrary to popular belief) providing value:

• You practice your active listening skills.
• You tell the speaker what they did that was good (they may not know).
• You are telling everyone else in the room what to model.
• You are practicing public speaking with little preparation.
• You are providing the General Evaluator an opportunity to suggest something you may have missed.

The above does assume that you are specific with your whitewash.  I am not suggesting that you can get away with an evaluation where you say, “I loved your vocal variety and your wonderful gestures, and great storytelling.”

The typical sandwich evaluation is expected and very little attention paid to it.  A whitewash on the other hand gets everyone thinking about what the speaker could have done.  Having the audience actively thinking is a good thing!

On the flip side, an evaluation full of areas for improvement will also make the audience think.  This type of evaluation should be given to someone that can take it otherwise you risk alienating the speaker.

Often we as Toastmasters see a whitewash and think it is such a missed opportunity.  I believe the real opportunity missed is making the most of the situation.  Don’t be so quick to dismiss whitewashes.

Posted under Public Speaking