Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action 1

Public Speaking 101:Managing the Challenge

Jessica Cassidy, Malcolm Harden, Darryl PeekAssistant Coaches

Associates 2014

Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

The Big Picture: Why is Public Speaking Important?

• Public speaking skills help you communicate messages internally and externally. Strong public speaking skills:o Help get your point acrosso Build self confidenceo Are a requirement for top-tier leaders

Most people have to work at public speaking in order to be successful.

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Public Speaking – Core Messages

• Know your material (inside and out)• Know yourself – practice appropriately

o “For every pass I caught in a game, I caught a thousand in practices” – Don Hutson, NFL Hall of Famer

o Relax: Transform nervousness into enthusiasm• Know your audience• Know the room – Walk the space, practice with

microphone, test visual aids• Involve your audience• Be prepared to handle questions (don’t worry about

saying “I’m not sure, let me get back to you.”)3

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Adjust for the AudienceInformal presentation: Briefing a small group or even a boss

o Have some form of agenda or outline

o Know the people you are briefing and lead the session

o Remember to be brief for senior executive audiences

o Be interactive: use listening skills and solicit feedback

o Document the outcomes

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Formal presentation: You are (one of) the featured speaker(s)o You’re going to be in

front of a group of people, both friends and strangers.

o Know your audience and understand its perspective.

o Presentation can be basic or quite detailed

o Always work with the organizers to clarify time, place, agenda, etc.

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Panel Presentations• Panel: A presentation where you are presenting with

three to four other people • Things to Remember:

o Do not read your speech; tell your storyo Know your audience and understand its perspectiveo Know the people who are on the panelo Make sure you do not do anything to make yourself

look bad (sleeping, rolling your eyes, etc.) o Always participate in prep calls / meetings o Communicate 3 to 5 key points you want the

audience to remember o You should not dominate the entire panel

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Interpersonal Communications

• Critical for building relationships. • Probably the majority of your job if

you deal with people – communication is key o Some are detailedo Some talk too mucho Some are big pictureo Some people struggle to communicate

with each other

• Tune your messaging style to the recipient

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Presentation Structure

• Depends on formality of your presentation • Some structural tips:

o Monroe’s Motivated Sequence - technique for organizing persuasive speeches that inspire people to take action

o Business Storytelling Frames – How can you tell a story in order to be effective?

o Other Frameworks & Techniques» Standard: Introduction, body, conclusion» Key Points: key points you want to emphasize

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Presentation Materials

• PowerPoint is a visual aid, not the entire show• Do not read the slides, supplement them• Text should be large and there should be white

space • Use bullet points – not full sentences or

paragraphs• Avoid eye charts!• Choose colors that are easy to read• Don’t let text fly around too much – you can

overdo it8

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Body Language

• Make eye contact across the entire room• It’s okay to smile• Express emotion with your facial muscles – but

don’t overdo it• Stray true to your personality – gestures should

be natural• If you can get out from behind a podium, move

from one spot to another• Avoid distracting mannerisms – lip smacking,

key juggling, biting lip, wringing hands9

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Other Non verbal considerations

• It’s Not Only What You Say – Keeping the Right Voice & Body Language with Your Materialo Postureo Gestureso Facial Expressions o Voice (Tone, Pace, Breath, & Dynamics)o Eye Contacto The venue – the audience - who is

attending?

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Professionalism is Still Paramount

• Your personal brand is important• Dress for the right occasion• Remember that you represent your organization

or agency when you speak • Use enough body language – not too much, not

too little, - Just Right• Do not provide any non-essential information for

the presentation • Know if press is going to be there and if you are

being quoted (not for attribution vs. on the record)11

Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Visual Aids & Props

• How to Use Them to Complement and Not Crush Your Messageo Slide Decks – how to use them effectivelyo External links, clips – they’d better worko Lectern – more formal than anything elseo Walking the room – can convey openness o Technology in the room – where is everything located?o Clickers / Pointers – know how they worko Timers

If you use these incorrectly, the crowd’s attention is drawn to these things and not to your message

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Appendix

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Your Speaking Style - SWOT

• Strengths– What do you do well?– What strengths can you showcase to minimize your weaknesses?

• Weaknesses– What keeps you from doing a speech or presentation well?– How can you take what you consider your weaknesses and turn them

to assets?• Opportunities

– How do you handle when presented with speaking engagements?– What are you trying to present? – What is in your way?

• Threats– What patterns keep you from being a good speaker?– How do you overcome?

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Resources to Assist

• Toastmasters• Public Speaking Courses• Mentors• Watch speeches• Go the events and see how others do it• Sit down with a CIO or Senior Executive• Others?

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Advancing Government through Collaboration, Education and Action

Links to explore

• http://www.businessinsider.com/10-biggest-public-speaking-phobias-2011-2?op=1

• http://hbr.org/web/special-collections/insight/communication/storytelling-that-moves-people

• http://www.speechtips.com/speech-outline.html

• http://www.school-for-champions.com/speaking/resources.htm

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