Public Speaking

Paul_J

Paul_J

Hi,

I will be speaking about public speaking at the ISA Conference in Portland in the last slot on the second day.

How many of you teach or speak to improve your business?
Do you like to speak?
What do you like and dislike in a presentation?

Any suggestions on how to get more people to attend the presentation?

Thanks,
Paul
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi,


Any suggestions on how to get more people to attend the presentation?

Thanks,
Paul

[/ QUOTE ]

Tell everyone that instead of pretending the audience is naked, you will be naked, to put them at ease.

Personally, I love public speaking. It's a chance for me to hear my awesome voice.

SZ
 
Doing seminars and presentations to garden clubs and environmental commissions is a great way of establishing your brand and gaining market recognition.

From my days as a trainer/facilitator, I learned a great deal about public speaking. For openers after death is our greatest fear. I learned to enjoy it. Most adult audiences are there because they want to be. That makes it much easier. All it takes is capturing them right at the beginning.

I've always liked someone who presents with passion for their topic and is animated while delivering the material. If they stand at the laptop mechanically clicking through their powerpoint while reading their speech like Stephen Wright or Ben Stein I feel like slapping them.

My other pet peeve is talking to the screen instead of the audience. People seem to become mesmerized by their own graphics and will turn to the screen while continuing to talk though their back is to you.

What reasons to attend have you given thus far? You need to answer the question, "What's in it for me?", in order to get the attendance you'll want.
 
I've done it often.

Getting people to attend means having a really good write up or summary ahead of time wherever the talk is published so that people will want to take a seat. You might even lead with a question. For example, say your talk is about rigging techniques. You could have your write-up start with something like "Lust for all that shiny gear but unsure what to do with it? Attend _______ talk and discover just how this stuff can work for you".

Delivering a good talk?

Anecdotes that illustrate a point are the bits that keep me entranced. These are better than dry facts. This is the major difference between a dry talk and a really enthralling one. You can do this with any topic.

Not using too many slides. But short video clips work well if they illustrate a point.

Making absolutely sure you don't go too long.

If they give you a choice of using a mike or not, use it!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Anecdotes that illustrate a point are the bits that keep me entranced. These are better than dry facts. This is the major difference between a dry talk and a really enthralling one. You can do this with any topic.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good tip; making it personal helps keep passion in your delivery.

How many of you teach or speak to improve your business?
Very often--it IS the business of consulting. And yes talking to local groups and getting coverage (even if you cover it yourself) is great for business.

Do you like to speak?
It's easier than listening, really listening. That's the problem!

What do you like and dislike in a presentation?
Likes--something new, or something old that is presented in a wild and crazy way. Humility. Responsiveness to questions. Command of the material, and the willingness to say "I don't know".

Any suggestions on how to get more people to attend the presentation?
Advertise FREE BEER. once they get there thirsty, slake em with the Word! Even if it is as boring a topic as rigging, if your research is solid and you keep a sense of humor, you'll do fine. Videotaping rehearsals can help a lot.
 
I spoke at at TedX conference- the topic was "Embracing Risk". Their rules were -no reading from notes, and no lectern to stand behind. It actually makes for a more interesting talk. You force yourself to really know your material, and no podium to hide behind opens yourself up to the audience.

And if I can do it, stutter and all, anyone can. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoAt--66s08

But for an example of a GREAT talk, watch my friend Mike Kiernan-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inoZ5M-VFd8

Passion for your material always shines through, regardless of topic.

Tim
 
I don't think telling people I will be naked would be much of a selling point:) I had the free beer idea too, but I'm not sure I can afford the convention center prices...

Who is planning on going to Portland?

Passion is key; Energy is important; Humor is a bonus; Tell a story and connect with the audience.

Tim - Great job at TEDx - I think the time constraints (less than 14 minutes), no notes, and nothing to hide behind (lectern) makes for a wonderful format. I attended my first TEDx last year and hope I can speak this year.
 
I do public speaking whenever I can, often using tree climbing championships as a practice arena. There are some rules I've learned. I use notes and find people are pretty forgiving about it. Some people see that as you having taken some time to work on your subject. I try to never point my finger, in any direction, for any reason good or bad. I look everyone in the room in the eye. When I get stuck, I take a breath, do a room sweep with eye contact and usually before I finish it I've regrouped. Engage, enroll, smile, connect, deliver, finish. I try to stay willing to laugh at myself. When people make a correction, I say thank you. These are only a few of the things I've learned about public speaking. I'm going to Portland and I'd love to sit your class.
 
Tom, compared to facilitating and presenting the effects of PHC / restoration pruning /root invigoration over time, rigging down chunks of biomass is like watching a thick coat of paint dry. And, one leaves a growing tree, one leaves a boring old stump. It seems to be a newbie thing, as in the first decade or two of climbing/removals thinking that's the criterion of "Real Tree Work". It got old for me by the early 80's, but to each his or her own.

X2: "Passion is key; Energy is important; Humor is a bonus; Tell a story and connect with the audience. " and "I try to stay willing to laugh at myself. When people make a correction, I say thank you." In a room ya gotta keep checking the back corners--for some reason, people hover as far away as they can--why sit in the bleachers when you're paying for the front?

I'm used to powerpoint, now Keynote, and am just scratching the potential audiovisual surface. It's fun to move animations, video etc in and out as today's technology makes possible. Used to going without the Notes function, but am filling some in now as senility creeps in.

Skipping Portland, only the 2nd missed ISA in a decade, due to a local mtg aug 8-10 and trips to Canada in september, France in October (the triennial Intl Oak Soc conference--come on over to Bourdeaux!) and China (hk chapter) in November, and ASCA in December. whew. Have fun!

And to start, the ISA site has good free ppts, as does gilman's site. I think you can still use these as templates and mix in your own examples, visuals etc to bring it all home. As long as the user is more in control than the technology, it's all good.
 
Guy, who said rigging is just for removals? I'm in about my 20th year (more or less), and still learning new and better ways to rig, big, small, live, dead, etc...

Anyway,

As far as publc speaking goes, lots of good advice, especially whiz... I just did my first indoor hour-long alone to a crowd of 55. Thought I was going to have trouble, but the opposite happened. I did all the things Kristian said, except no notes. Alot of really good photos, not alot of text. It depends on the subject matter, but if you can go photo vs. text heavy, with good accompaniment, it seems to me like folks like that. I know I do, and it worked for me!

-Tom
 
Agree, photos are great and if you throw in one of your family, I think your audience identifies with the human element as well as with the use of humor. I'm no stand up if I bust 'em up once, everyone seems to relax. Me too.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi,

I will be speaking about public speaking at the ISA Conference in Portland in the last slot on the second day.
...
Any suggestions on how to get more people to attend the presentation?

Thanks,
Paul

[/ QUOTE ]

Speaking from personal experience, I selected the last slot on the last day for my initiation as a presenter back in Salt Lake City. My thinking was the last in line would have a opportunity to discuss any further clarifications or explanations.

Very naïve and big mistake. Instead of some leisurely moments to expand with the audience, everyone was trying to get the hell out and back to the hotels for their flight back home.

I don't have an easy answer now that you're committed and scheduled, except to spread the word during the 1st day that what you're saying is important, and to ask them to consider sticking around so they can extend a discussion. You're being honest, sincere, and eager in circulating become straight-line boosters for attendance.

Best of luck and knock em dead...


Bob Wulkowicz
 
It's something I've done several times and enjoy.

I've had a projector available for most. And I think photos help these days a lot.

As for comfortable with it - sure.

Keeping them interested often hinges on telling them what they don't already know.

A lot of folks walk into lecture scenerios almost as if they have predetermined what the speaker is going to talk about.

cool.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom