The PPPPPP Golden Rule of Public Speaking

University of Essex 22nd Feb 2017Daniel Sandars ACS ALB

speechcraft@sandars.org.ukDistrict 71 Speechcraft Chair

Preparationand practice lead

to excellence.

1

Become familiar with  Lectern and audience location  Microphone usage  Room conditions  Visual aids

2

Become familiar withLectern and Audience Location Speaking area  Audience configuration  Stage location of platform steps or ramp

3

Become familiar withMicrophones  Groups of 100+  Audience over the age of 50  Poor acoustics Voice strain

4

Become familiar withRoom Conditions Temperature  Appropriate lighting  Discreet entry for latecomers  Competitive outside noise

5

Become familiar withVisual Aids  Located where all can see Appropriately sized viewing screen Handout distribution

6

Extra ConsiderationsProvide an introduction  Prepare yourself physically  Have a mental rehearsal

9

Rehearsing the Speech    Practice ideas, not words.  Prepare a mental draft of the

speech.  Finish each rehearsal session.

7

Improving Your Speech  Add improvements gradually  Arrange for feedback

8

How do you learn if…

1

Starting late allows…

1

Starting early allows…

Time to find what you don’t knowTime to ask questionsTime to identify support resourcesTime to identify coaches and mentorsTime to obtain training

1

Conclusion

Good luck happenswhen preparednessmeets opportunity. – Anon

10

The Golden Rule

1

The first use of the phrase piss poor itself is found in the archives of the OED, where it is recorded in the writing of A. L. Hench in 1946: Piss-poor… Jim Constantine (...formerly sergeant in Air Corps in West Indies) told me this morning that this word was used by all the soldiers he came in contact with as descriptive of a thing in its lowest condition…E.g. This is a piss-poor outfit. My job is a piss-poor one.

1