If you want to get good at speaking, you can get there faster by sponging off other speakers. For instance, I watch young professionals who are hungry for success. They realize the one important skill that will help satisfy that hunger is mastering the art of public speaking.
One speaker in particular stood out from this pack…
April captured my attention from beginning to end. Her topic about freedom resonated with the entire audience. She led us to think about what freedom means from different angles-yet gave us the power to decide for ourselves.
I was simply in awe.
She wasn’t flashy or dramatic. She wasn’t a diva seeking praise from the crowd. She told us a simple, heart-warming story from a mother’s point of view.
She was absolutely delightful. I knew I had to watch her again. I wanted to soak up more from her speaking style.
Which is why I suspect you’re reading this article…
If you want to become a master speaker, think about gravitating toward those whom you admire. No matter what their age or experience. And when you come across your April-latch on for as long as you can.
Let’s examine three compelling keys that make April a master speaker:
1) She dropped us directly into the scene. She did this by having a dialogue with her daughters. This bypasses the long and lengthy set up… which, in most cases, may be construed as filler.
For example:
Instead of saying, “It was 70 degrees outside on a bright sunny morning. The birds were singing and chirping away. I walked into the den with my cup of coffee. All of a sudden, the phone rang.”
Just say, “(Ring.) Hello?”
This drops your audience right into the middle of the scene. They don’t have to second-guess where you’re leading them. They’re already on the edge of their seats asking themselves who’s calling, what do they want, and the reason for the call.
2) She used tentacles. Experienced speakers know about connecting the close to the opening. This wraps the speech into a tight package. The close becomes a tentacle of the opening.
An advanced speaker will have tentacles throughout her speech. Something in her body is a tentacle of her opening. Something from her third story is a tentacle of her first story. Something in one of her transitions is a tentacle of her introduction.
Using tentacles strengthens and fortifies your speech. It adds depth and dimension. It increases believability by recalling, repeating and restating what was previously said.
3) She painted pictures. Imagine your speech as the canvas with you being the artist. You have been granted unlimited power in what you want your audience to see, hear and feel. And if you’re a virtuoso, you could have them tasting, touching and smelling from your vast tapestry of experiences.
You create magic with your words. You use everything you can get your hands on to paint that picture. What picture? The picture you want your audience to see.
The picture you paint can have an audience feeling joy or sadness. Anger or anxiety. Pain or relief. Or the many other combinations that make up a rich tapestry.
Get it?
Becoming a master speaker isn’t that hard, but it takes practice and stage time. And if you do find your April, she can help you shortcut that time. Begin now by becoming a speaking sponge.
Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy’s Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at http://www.TommyYan.com.
If you’re a speaker, trainer, coach, or a consultant the major challenge you face is connecting with your audience. You talk, shout, or recite your message while they are dreaming about dinner.
Their eyes are glossy, their minds’ elsewhere, and their bodies ready to bolt. You don’t have a lot of time, so you’ve got to grab their attention fast. Or else, you’ll die wrestling against audience resistance.
