How to talk: 7 quick tips

I have spent most of my career giving talks. From time to time I share some of my thoughts on the tricks and tips that make for a compelling presentation. Here are 7 quick ideas….

1) Talk to one person

No matter whether you are speaking to 30, 300 or 3000 people, they somehow fuse together into a single entity. I have no idea how it happens, but it does. Every single time. The good news is that you can use this social quirk to bond with any audience.

When you chat with one person, you change your tempo, language, and stories to suit them. It’s the same with a large audience – change the words that you say, and the way that you say them, to fit the person they have become.

2) Create the illusion of spontaneity

A live event is like blowing a soap bubble. It’s sort of the same each time, but strangely unique and beautiful. That sense of wonderful uniqueness is key to a talk. For any audience, the talk must feel spontaneous, and live, and special.

You may have given the talk hundreds of times but remember that this is the first time this particular audience have heard it. For me, that means not using a script. I know what I want to say, but change exactly how I say it each time. It’s hard work, but it helps me to stay in the moment and so bond with the audience.

3) Have a script (but only for emergencies)

I have just said that I don’t have a script. That isn’t quite true. I do have one because, in the words of magician Eugene Burger, on a bad night I will need it. If I am tired, or it’s a tricky venue, or the audience aren’t settled, I like to know that I have a script to fall back on.

Those are never good talks, but at least you get through them. Oh and talking of bad nights, we all have them. Sometimes I come off and think: If that was the first time I had spoken, I would never do it again. It happens. Just get back on the horse and try again.

4) Don’t overstay your welcome

No one wants you to go on too long or is paying you for overtime. Brevity is always your friend. My friend and comedy writer Helen Keen once told there’s a saying amonst comedians – If it’s going well, get off. If it is going badly, get off.’ Remember the old theatrical adage – leave them wanting more.

5) Beware of speed bumps

Often you will be asked to speak for 50 minutes. That is a very long time to maintain attention (there is a reason why most television shows have a break every 12 minutes or so). In my experience, there are speed bumps (moments where the audience slows down and starts to lose interest) around the 15, 30, and 45 minute mark.

Try to ensure that you have something at each of these points to grab their attention. - Maybe a change of pace.
- Or a change of texture.
- Or a funny story.
- Or an unexpected twist in the tale.

6) Get out of jail free
If the talk isn’t going well: Cut to Questions and Answers! The talk might not be landing because you aren’t talking about something that interests the audience. With Q and A, you quickly find out where they audience are at and what they want to know.

It’s also a great way of writing a new talk! Cut to Q and A after about 25 minutes and incorporate the answers into your next talk! Let the audience write the show!

7) Dealing with nerves

Every speaker gets nervous, especially before the start of a talk. To help overcome them, try the old actors trick of reinterpreting your nerves as excitement. And remember that people have come along to hear you, not to have a bad time.

An audience will support you if you are authentic, likeable and want them to have a good time. And if that isn’t the case, maybe you shouldn’t be a speaker!

I hope that they are helpful! Enjoy!