Jeff Haden
Ghostwriter, Speaker, Inc. Magazine Columnist
1
. Find one thing no one knows.
Find a surprising fact or an unusual analogy that relates to your topic. Audiences love to cock their heads and think, “Really? I had no idea...”
2. Share a genuinely emotional story.
Instead tell a story (directly related to your topic) and let your emotions show. If you were sad, show it. If you cried, say so. If you felt remorse, show remorse. When you share real feelings – which even the most inexperienced speaker can do – you create an immediate and lasting connection with your audience.
3. Pause for 8 to 10 seconds.
There’s a weird phenomenon that occurs when you stop talking. Pause for two or three seconds and the audience assume you lost your place. Pause for five seconds and the audience begins to think the pause is intentional... and starts wondering why.
Pause for ten seconds and even the people who were busy tweeting can’t resist glancing up.
4. Admit you don't know everything.
Instead ask a question you know the audience can’t answer and then say,” That’s okay. I can’t either.” Explain why you can’t... and then talk about what you
do know.
Most speakers have all the answers; the fact you don’t — and are willing to admit you don't — not only humanizes you, it makes the audience pay greater attention to what you
do know.
5. Ditch the sales pitch.
Most businesspeople assume they should capitalize on a speaking engagement to try to promote a product or service, win new clients, and build a wider network.
Don’t. Thinking in terms of sales positioning only adds additional pressure to what is already a stressful situation.
Weed out the subtle and not-so-subtle sales stuff and focus solely on ensuring the audience benefits from what you say.
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