| 1. No speech is ever perfect. Perfectionism creates | | | | club like Toastmasters to get experience and |
| more fear. Do your best and leave it at that.2. Forget | | | | exposure. There's a crazy mindset that runs through |
| about what you forgot to say. Trust that the audience | | | | the brains of some speakers. They think that they can |
| heard what was needed.3. Someone has said that | | | | get in front of an audience and be fabulous the first |
| you should put ten hours of practice into every one | | | | time. Not gonna happen. No one plays an instrument |
| hour presentation. You can, but it's over kill. Practice | | | | without practice. The same is true with speaking.19. |
| until you feel like you have 80%, let the other 20% take | | | | Impromptu and spontaneous speaking only work when |
| care of itself. If you know your stuff, you may not | | | | you understand the communication rules and know |
| need any practice.4. Make it clear. No rambling. No | | | | how to break them. Many top speakers "ad lib" 80% |
| tangents. The audience should leave knowing your | | | | or more of their messages. That's only possible |
| position whether they agree with it or not.5. Be | | | | because they KNOW the exact response their words |
| conversational. No sterile speech patterns. No | | | | will bring. Their material may be new, but it's not an |
| monotone. Speak like you would to a friend over a cup | | | | experiment. They know how people will react to their |
| of coffee.6. Toss out ego. It's not about you or your | | | | words before they ever use them. Do you have |
| acceptance; it's about giving the audience value they | | | | audience response ESP? Do you know if the audience |
| can grow from. Too many speakers have their | | | | will laugh, cry, or clap BEFORE the words come out of |
| esteem wrapped up in being liked.7. Stop playing | | | | your mouth?20. If you can't summarize the intended |
| "What if..." What if I freeze? What if I forget?8. Be you. | | | | result of your speech in one sentence, then you're not |
| Chances are high that your friends consider you warm | | | | clear. There should be no doubt about the value and |
| and humorous. No one is against a speaker like that.9. | | | | intention of your presentation.21. Sometimes it's your |
| Use props if they clarify a point. In one of my | | | | job to offend. I have an upcoming speech that is going |
| presentations I have 2 jars on stage. One filled with | | | | to highly bother the attendees, but the CEO will love it. |
| money. One filled with trash. I get an audience member | | | | The audience will get what they need, not what they |
| to crack the trash jar with a hammer. Then we talk | | | | want. That's the way is has to go sometimes.22. Don't |
| about the crap they fill their lives with and the result of | | | | sacrifice clarity for cuteness. If you're amazed at the |
| that. Then another person cracks the money jar. We | | | | cleverness of your speech, then chances are better |
| talk about how to fill our lives with wealth. Close: | | | | than great that your audience won't be.23. Outlining |
| "What's in your jar? Nothing you haven't placed there | | | | your speech should never take more than hour. If it |
| yourself."10. Get to know the audience. Meet and greet | | | | does, then you're working too hard on something that |
| before and after. Get as close to the crowd as | | | | almost everyone will forget. Jot down your points. |
| possible when speaking. Forget the the podium.11. Use | | | | Subtitle some illustrations. Then practice. Speaking is |
| as few notes as possible. I like a single sticky sheet | | | | much easier than people make it out to be.24. |
| with my points on it.12. Your life provides your | | | | Self-effacing humor works miracles. Last Friday I |
| illustrations. Every experience holds the possibility of an | | | | walked into our church's baptismal pool by accident. |
| example or truth others can learn from.13. Don't tell | | | | Got soaked from the chest down. Good news: My cell |
| jokes. First, most are not funny. Second, most of the | | | | phone was saved. Bad news: It went to meet its |
| people have heard the lame things. Third, a story of | | | | maker a few minutes later. I've gotten phone calls |
| something foolish you did as a child is funnier than any | | | | galore from friends teasing me. I've already jotted |
| joke on the planet.14. You don't change lives. People | | | | down the details along with several ways I can use |
| have to take your words and apply them in order for | | | | this embarrassing tale as an illustration. If you're not |
| change to result. You are responsible to them, not for | | | | willing to look dumb, then you're not too smart.25. Don't |
| them.15. You become what you think about. Think | | | | take yourself too seriously. First, other people can |
| scared, you'll be scared. Think passionate, you'll be | | | | recognize it, and it will turn them off. Second, your own |
| passionate. Trace your feelings and you'll discover | | | | body will recognize it and turn you off.26. Words will |
| they came from thoughts.16. Your best for this | | | | never become ineffective. We live in a world of |
| moment is the best you can do. Don't compare | | | | advanced technology. Multi-media abounds. But |
| yourself to famous speakers. You can learn, grow, | | | | NOTHING will ever replace an individual with a bold |
| and become better, and you should. However, don't | | | | message, the passion to share it, and an audience |
| allow what you are not at this moment to hide the | | | | wanting to change.Paul Evans is the executive creator |
| greatness of who you ARE at this moment.17. Fear is | | | | of Instant Speaking Success. Over 24,000 public |
| part of speaking. Even the best speakers feel some | | | | speakers receive his weekly speaking letter. Sign up is |
| slight butterflies from excitement. Fear is not unusual; | | | | free. Paul's public speaking course has help thousands |
| it's typical. Don't be surprised by its presence.18. You | | | | of speakers overcome fear and deliver with power |
| cannot get better if you do not speak regularly. Join a | | | | and passion. |