Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Preparation is one of the most powerful drivers of success in public speaking. Some people will tell you they don’t prepare. It was Mark Twain who said “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”. It may also be that they are preparing mostly in their heads, visualising trying out new word combinations and structures for their speeches, rather than a more formal preparation, say, sitting at a desk and writing. MORE
Practice with a timer. Prepare two versions of your presentation, one long and one short. Prepare a detailed handout. a) If you are speaking at a lectern, or have a table to which you will return during the talk (for e xample, to pick up a prop) place your watch on the lectern or table with the face up so that you can quickly check it. (b) Only use a smartphone as a timer if you can place it on a lectern or table. MORE
Some speakers get out from behind the lectern, but give their regular talk, loaded with slides and no storytelling. You'll learn how to plan, write, time, practice, and deliver a talk or presentation that really meets the level of TED quality. MORE
This month, when Mr. Romney prepared for his seventh debate of the 2012 campaign, at Dartmouth College, there were no lecterns. And even if you need to speak with a lectern, take a lesson from Romney and practice without the podium. MORE
(Editor's Note: Talk About the Talk is a series in which speakers I've worked with share their experiences preparing and delivering major talks. Even the “casual saunter” back to the lectern to refer to my notes (s ee photo) wasn’t as embarrassing as I t hought it would be. MORE
Barack Obama is human, Kevin Rudd… well, you can practically hear the whirring of the tiny servo-motors and sophisticated vocal synthesis circuits that make his performances so reasonably human-like. Leave The Lectern. “Good morning and welcome, ladies and gentlemen.&#. MORE
Visualize your success at the lectern. Practice, Practice, Practice your speech beforehand. Those who fail to prepare are preparing to fail.' (C)2008 Here are some tips to reduce speech anxiety that I have gleaned from working with professional speakers over the last 24 years. When you visualize your success, you will be successful.' Arrive early and become familiar with the room in which you will give your presentation. MORE
Calling someone a "practiced speaker" is a compliment that recognizes the work involved in becoming a smooth, eloquent presenter, interviewee or speaker. But even speakers who invest in training need to spend time practicing on their own. MORE
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience. MORE
Do you really need video practice to speak well? But I'd say to any would-be speaker: Take any opportunity you can to practice on video, even if it's on your own. You don't need to practice on video every time, but it's a great aid to the speaker, and easier than ever to do. MORE
Help your speaker practice and promote her talks with a Sony Bloggie Touch , the same ultralight camcorder I use in group training workshops for speakers. Give your speaker a practice advantage with a portable presentation lectern. MORE
It’s practically here!” The little Who lecterns all stood in a row. These lecterns,” he grinned, “are the first things to go!” Maybe speaking, he thought, just needs good preparation. MORE
7 Public Speaking Timely Tips for Pre-Presentation Preparation. How will you reach the lectern? Is the light on you instead of the banner or the lectern if you are not standing behind it. Hand-held, lavaliere, or Lectern? Practice talking into it, the proper placing is chin level for a handheld. Public Speaking Advice. By Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE. The big day has come. You are ready to deliver your presentation. MORE
April 12, 2011 Posts Comments The Speaker Point Helping you master public speaking and communication skills Home Delivery Speech Analysis Making Money Preparation Reviews About 4 Skills We Can Learn From Obama’s Speech January 20, 2011 By Alex Cequea View Comments On January 11 th , president Obama addressed a congregation in Tucson Arizona in the wake of the tragic shootings. MORE
There are a lot of men who are so uninterested in fashion and so uncertain about what style of clothes to wear that they are prepared to pay for professional advice and reassurance. Are Lecterns and Tables Barriers to Communication? MORE
Stage There was a large screen in the middle of the stage, and the speaker was off to the side in a small spotlit area next to (or behind) the lectern. This doesn't guarantee that the emcee will practice your introduction or have any measure of polish, but at least you can choose the words. MORE
My checklist to prepare the whole speaker is one of this blog's most popular posts of all time. The principle behind it remains the same: To succeed as a speaker, you need to prepare the whole speaker for your presentation, not just one or two parts of yourself. Do I feel prepared? MORE
For some speakers, the dangers of a speech lurk in the preparation. They over-prepare for speeches , focus on the writing, or worry about potential pitfalls. Bring a funny picture, child's drawing, or photo that only you can see at the lectern to start your speech with a welcoming face. MORE
"How do you wean yourself from the lectern?" Leaving the lectern and making a closer connection with the audience was among my recommendations. Return to the lectern and your prepared remarks when you''re done. All of these tactics take practice before your actual talk. MORE
Practice with a timer. Prepare two versions of your presentation, one long and one short. Prepare a detailed handout. a) If you are speaking at a lectern, or have a table to which you will return during the talk (for e xample, to pick up a prop) place your watch on the lectern or table with the face up so that you can quickly check it. (b) Only use a smartphone as a timer if you can place it on a lectern or table. MORE
Everyone can tell that I didn't prepare. If I prepare, I will seem too forced and unnatural. If I prepare a lot, my presentation will go better. If I don't prepare, no one will notice. I don't need to prepare. I need a lectern. MORE
They gripped them like safety blankets, splayed them on top of tables holding demonstration equipment, occasionally wielded paper alongside an iPad, or propped them up on lecterns and music stands. From the article: All the live practice began to reshape the talk itself. MORE
Cliff Atkinson's The Backchannel: How Audiences are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever gets into one of the most creative--and sometimes controversial--phenomena in public speaking and offers lots of practical tips for speakers on handling it. MORE
Lose the armor: Truly killer presentations get the speaker off the platform and out from behind the lectern. Stand next to the lectern at first, or move behind and away from it. I use the Coco Chanel method to gauge what''s "too much" in a presentation I''m preparing. MORE
My checklist to prepare the whole speaker is one of this blog's most popular posts of all time. The principle behind it remains the same: To succeed as a speaker, you need to prepare the whole speaker for your presentation, not just one or two parts of yourself. Do I feel prepared? MORE
Stage There was a large screen in the middle of the stage, and the speaker was off to the side in a small spotlit area next to (or behind) the lectern. This doesn't guarantee that the emcee will practice your introduction or have any measure of polish, but at least you can choose the words. MORE
For some speakers, the dangers of a speech lurk in the preparation. They over-prepare for speeches , focus on the writing, or worry about potential pitfalls. Bring a funny picture, child's drawing, or photo that only you can see at the lectern to start your speech with a welcoming face. MORE
It’s practically here!” The little Who lecterns all stood in a row. These lecterns,” he grinned, “are the first things to go!” Maybe speaking, he thought, just needs good preparation. MORE
If someone''s preparing a text for you to speak from, clue them in to any pronunciation issues you may have. Practice aloud to make sure you''re not going to stumble over how to say something, and make changes as needed before you get up to speak. MORE
You’re standing on a podium behind a lectern giving a speech to a packed house and you’re hands start shaking ever so slightly. Practice Really Does Make Perfect. I am really well prepared. A Guest Post from Catherine Joyner. MORE
How much preparation do you want to do? Preparing a formal speech or talk is a lot of work. That''s why you so often see celebrities doing Q&A format on stage--the organizers can then make the invitation easier to accept, because the famous person need not prepare as much. MORE
Readers chose the tips and treats they found on this blog in October, and I'm happy to share them with you in this monthly roundup of our most popular posts: Should you use or lose the lectern? You can see online trainee Stephanie Benoit's thoughts on speakers and lecterns here. MORE
Following up on my post about where to put your notes , here's my quick tip about using a lectern: Don't. But using a lectern is problematic for several reasons. It's too tempting to lean on the lectern or grasp its sides for comfort. MORE
We focused this time on giving practical tips to clients, something that would figure in the week ahead for me. Both examples are a far cry from today''s popular plexiglass lecterns, intended to disappear and take away any sense of a barrier between speaker and audience. MORE
I suggest you do not use a lectern. Standing away from the lectern exposes your full body to the view of the audience. How Can You Use a Lectern Effectively? The problem is most speakers hide behind lecterns thereby greatly constraining important body language. Notes are essential only when you must read a prepared speech, or give a presentation in a foreign language. Lecterns do make things look official. Judges always hide behind a lectern.) MORE
The preparation, so everyone knew what they were doing. The strong transitions from President to Toastmaster to Evaluator to Speaker, etc, that come from repeated practice. The key factor in both routine and interpretive choreography is planning and preparation. MORE
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience. MORE
While one person is at the lectern speaking and the rest of the panel is waiting to speak, I train the video camera not on the person speaking, but on the waiting panelists. It's one more reason to embrace video practice (and my list of what to look for when you're recorded as a speaker ). MORE
Always ask yourself two questions before you begin to prepare a speech or presentation: (a) What is my key message? (b) L – Lectern. I think that the poor lectern has a bit of a bad rap these days as being a “barrier&# between the speaker and the audience. There are times when it will be perfectly appropriate to use a lectern when speaking. Did the lectern create a barrier between Steve Jobs and his audience in this speech ? A - Audience. MORE
Do I need to prepare a presentation or remarks, or is this more of a roundtable with the moderator asking questions? What's the panel setup--table with microphones or each of us taking a turn at the lectern? MORE
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience. MORE
How can you look confident and relaxed, instead of pinned to the lectern? It's a small-group, two-day intensive training that will show you how to get ready, relaxed and resilient in dealing with all kinds of speaker situations--while looking and feeling more prepared and confident. MORE
Danah had prepared a new presentation for the conference and she was working from a script. She was initially rattled by the set-up: a flat lectern, a Twitterstream displayed on the screen behind her, and bright lights blinding her. MORE
But into each speaker''s life some panels will fall, so you may as well be prepared.) Do I need to prepare a presentation or remarks, or is this more of a roundtable with the moderator asking questions? MORE
Speak Schmeak
AUGUST 20, 2008
Following up on my post about where to put your notes , here's my quick tip about using a lectern: Don't. But using a lectern is problematic for several reasons. It's too tempting to lean on the lectern or grasp its sides for comfort.
The Eloquent Woman
JULY 30, 2014
"How do you wean yourself from the lectern?" Leaving the lectern and making a closer connection with the audience was among my recommendations. Return to the lectern and your prepared remarks when you''re done. All of these tactics take practice before your actual talk.
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Executive Speech Coach
MAY 16, 2012
I suggest you do not use a lectern. Standing away from the lectern exposes your full body to the view of the audience. How Can You Use a Lectern Effectively? The problem is most speakers hide behind lecterns thereby greatly constraining important body language. Notes are essential only when you must read a prepared speech, or give a presentation in a foreign language. Lecterns do make things look official. Judges always hide behind a lectern.)
Manner of Speaking
SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
Always ask yourself two questions before you begin to prepare a speech or presentation: (a) What is my key message? (b) L – Lectern. I think that the poor lectern has a bit of a bad rap these days as being a “barrier&# between the speaker and the audience. There are times when it will be perfectly appropriate to use a lectern when speaking. Did the lectern create a barrier between Steve Jobs and his audience in this speech ? A - Audience.
Manner of Speaking
JANUARY 22, 2012
Practice with a timer. Prepare two versions of your presentation, one long and one short. Prepare a detailed handout. a) If you are speaking at a lectern, or have a table to which you will return during the talk (for e xample, to pick up a prop) place your watch on the lectern or table with the face up so that you can quickly check it. (b) Only use a smartphone as a timer if you can place it on a lectern or table.
Manner of Speaking
JANUARY 22, 2012
Practice with a timer. Prepare two versions of your presentation, one long and one short. Prepare a detailed handout. a) If you are speaking at a lectern, or have a table to which you will return during the talk (for e xample, to pick up a prop) place your watch on the lectern or table with the face up so that you can quickly check it. (b) Only use a smartphone as a timer if you can place it on a lectern or table.
The Eloquent Woman
AUGUST 13, 2015
They gripped them like safety blankets, splayed them on top of tables holding demonstration equipment, occasionally wielded paper alongside an iPad, or propped them up on lecterns and music stands. From the article: All the live practice began to reshape the talk itself.
The Eloquent Woman
AUGUST 27, 2010
My checklist to prepare the whole speaker is one of this blog's most popular posts of all time. The principle behind it remains the same: To succeed as a speaker, you need to prepare the whole speaker for your presentation, not just one or two parts of yourself. Do I feel prepared?
The Eloquent Woman
NOVEMBER 10, 2008
Calling someone a "practiced speaker" is a compliment that recognizes the work involved in becoming a smooth, eloquent presenter, interviewee or speaker. But even speakers who invest in training need to spend time practicing on their own.
The Eloquent Woman
OCTOBER 11, 2009
Do I need to prepare a presentation or remarks, or is this more of a roundtable with the moderator asking questions? What's the panel setup--table with microphones or each of us taking a turn at the lectern?
Green Room Speakers
OCTOBER 26, 2011
This month, when Mr. Romney prepared for his seventh debate of the 2012 campaign, at Dartmouth College, there were no lecterns. And even if you need to speak with a lectern, take a lesson from Romney and practice without the podium.
Fripp THE Executive Speech Coach
MARCH 27, 2010
7 Public Speaking Timely Tips for Pre-Presentation Preparation. How will you reach the lectern? Is the light on you instead of the banner or the lectern if you are not standing behind it. Hand-held, lavaliere, or Lectern? Practice talking into it, the proper placing is chin level for a handheld. Public Speaking Advice. By Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE. The big day has come. You are ready to deliver your presentation.
The Eloquent Woman
MAY 24, 2009
Do you really need video practice to speak well? But I'd say to any would-be speaker: Take any opportunity you can to practice on video, even if it's on your own. You don't need to practice on video every time, but it's a great aid to the speaker, and easier than ever to do.
The Eloquent Woman
OCTOBER 30, 2009
Readers chose the tips and treats they found on this blog in October, and I'm happy to share them with you in this monthly roundup of our most popular posts: Should you use or lose the lectern? You can see online trainee Stephanie Benoit's thoughts on speakers and lecterns here.
Speak and Deliver
DECEMBER 16, 2011
The preparation, so everyone knew what they were doing. The strong transitions from President to Toastmaster to Evaluator to Speaker, etc, that come from repeated practice. The key factor in both routine and interpretive choreography is planning and preparation.
Can You Hear Me Up the Back?
AUGUST 20, 2009
Barack Obama is human, Kevin Rudd… well, you can practically hear the whirring of the tiny servo-motors and sophisticated vocal synthesis circuits that make his performances so reasonably human-like. Leave The Lectern. “Good morning and welcome, ladies and gentlemen.&#.
The Eloquent Woman
JUNE 16, 2011
For some speakers, the dangers of a speech lurk in the preparation. They over-prepare for speeches , focus on the writing, or worry about potential pitfalls. Bring a funny picture, child's drawing, or photo that only you can see at the lectern to start your speech with a welcoming face.
Succeed Speaking
JANUARY 7, 2013
You’re standing on a podium behind a lectern giving a speech to a packed house and you’re hands start shaking ever so slightly. Practice Really Does Make Perfect. I am really well prepared. A Guest Post from Catherine Joyner.
Sandra Schrift - Executive Speech Coach
MAY 18, 2008
Visualize your success at the lectern. Practice, Practice, Practice your speech beforehand. Those who fail to prepare are preparing to fail.' (C)2008 Here are some tips to reduce speech anxiety that I have gleaned from working with professional speakers over the last 24 years. When you visualize your success, you will be successful.' Arrive early and become familiar with the room in which you will give your presentation.
Speak Schmeak
APRIL 19, 2010
Stage There was a large screen in the middle of the stage, and the speaker was off to the side in a small spotlit area next to (or behind) the lectern. This doesn't guarantee that the emcee will practice your introduction or have any measure of polish, but at least you can choose the words.
Speak Schmeak
APRIL 19, 2010
Stage There was a large screen in the middle of the stage, and the speaker was off to the side in a small spotlit area next to (or behind) the lectern. This doesn't guarantee that the emcee will practice your introduction or have any measure of polish, but at least you can choose the words.
The Eloquent Woman
DECEMBER 7, 2009
Cliff Atkinson's The Backchannel: How Audiences are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever gets into one of the most creative--and sometimes controversial--phenomena in public speaking and offers lots of practical tips for speakers on handling it.
Manner of Speaking
DECEMBER 30, 2011
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience.
Manner of Speaking
DECEMBER 30, 2011
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience.
The Eloquent Woman
FEBRUARY 17, 2009
For some speakers, the dangers of a speech lurk in the preparation. They over-prepare for speeches , focus on the writing, or worry about potential pitfalls. Bring a funny picture, child's drawing, or photo that only you can see at the lectern to start your speech with a welcoming face.
Manner of Speaking
DECEMBER 30, 2011
I will prepare. I will practice. I will speak without using a lectern. Some ideas to help you take your public speaking to the next level in 2012. In no particular order: 1. I will have a clear message. I will be able to distill every speech and every presentation into a single sentence. I will always ask myself: “Why should the audience care about my message?” ” 6. If I cannot answer that question, I will find a new message. Or a new audience.
The Eloquent Woman
APRIL 27, 2017
Everyone can tell that I didn't prepare. If I prepare, I will seem too forced and unnatural. If I prepare a lot, my presentation will go better. If I don't prepare, no one will notice. I don't need to prepare. I need a lectern.
Speaking about Presenting
FEBRUARY 10, 2010
Danah had prepared a new presentation for the conference and she was working from a script. She was initially rattled by the set-up: a flat lectern, a Twitterstream displayed on the screen behind her, and bright lights blinding her.
The Eloquent Woman
DECEMBER 11, 2013
Help your speaker practice and promote her talks with a Sony Bloggie Touch , the same ultralight camcorder I use in group training workshops for speakers. Give your speaker a practice advantage with a portable presentation lectern.
The Eloquent Woman
MARCH 9, 2017
Some speakers get out from behind the lectern, but give their regular talk, loaded with slides and no storytelling. You'll learn how to plan, write, time, practice, and deliver a talk or presentation that really meets the level of TED quality.
The Eloquent Woman
APRIL 2, 2015
How much preparation do you want to do? Preparing a formal speech or talk is a lot of work. That''s why you so often see celebrities doing Q&A format on stage--the organizers can then make the invitation easier to accept, because the famous person need not prepare as much.
The Eloquent Woman
APRIL 9, 2014
We focused this time on giving practical tips to clients, something that would figure in the week ahead for me. Both examples are a far cry from today''s popular plexiglass lecterns, intended to disappear and take away any sense of a barrier between speaker and audience.
The Speaker Point
JANUARY 4, 2011
April 12, 2011 Posts Comments The Speaker Point Helping you master public speaking and communication skills Home Delivery Speech Analysis Making Money Preparation Reviews About 4 Skills We Can Learn From Obama’s Speech January 20, 2011 By Alex Cequea View Comments On January 11 th , president Obama addressed a congregation in Tucson Arizona in the wake of the tragic shootings.
The Eloquent Woman
JULY 24, 2013
If someone''s preparing a text for you to speak from, clue them in to any pronunciation issues you may have. Practice aloud to make sure you''re not going to stumble over how to say something, and make changes as needed before you get up to speak.
The Eloquent Woman
APRIL 5, 2011
While one person is at the lectern speaking and the rest of the panel is waiting to speak, I train the video camera not on the person speaking, but on the waiting panelists. It's one more reason to embrace video practice (and my list of what to look for when you're recorded as a speaker ).
The Eloquent Woman
JULY 30, 2015
(Editor's Note: Talk About the Talk is a series in which speakers I've worked with share their experiences preparing and delivering major talks. Even the “casual saunter” back to the lectern to refer to my notes (s ee photo) wasn’t as embarrassing as I t hought it would be.
Speak Schmeak
DECEMBER 24, 2009
It’s practically here!” The little Who lecterns all stood in a row. These lecterns,” he grinned, “are the first things to go!” Maybe speaking, he thought, just needs good preparation.
Speak Schmeak
DECEMBER 24, 2009
It’s practically here!” The little Who lecterns all stood in a row. These lecterns,” he grinned, “are the first things to go!” Maybe speaking, he thought, just needs good preparation.
Max Atkinson
AUGUST 17, 2010
There are a lot of men who are so uninterested in fashion and so uncertain about what style of clothes to wear that they are prepared to pay for professional advice and reassurance. Are Lecterns and Tables Barriers to Communication?
The Eloquent Woman
MAY 14, 2014
Lose the armor: Truly killer presentations get the speaker off the platform and out from behind the lectern. Stand next to the lectern at first, or move behind and away from it. I use the Coco Chanel method to gauge what''s "too much" in a presentation I''m preparing.
The Eloquent Woman
OCTOBER 22, 2012
My checklist to prepare the whole speaker is one of this blog's most popular posts of all time. The principle behind it remains the same: To succeed as a speaker, you need to prepare the whole speaker for your presentation, not just one or two parts of yourself. Do I feel prepared?
The Eloquent Woman
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
But into each speaker''s life some panels will fall, so you may as well be prepared.) Do I need to prepare a presentation or remarks, or is this more of a roundtable with the moderator asking questions?
The Eloquent Woman
JANUARY 27, 2011
How can you look confident and relaxed, instead of pinned to the lectern? It's a small-group, two-day intensive training that will show you how to get ready, relaxed and resilient in dealing with all kinds of speaker situations--while looking and feeling more prepared and confident.
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