101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers

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Notes from tapes:

Tape 1 Side A

Chapter 1: Facing Your Number One Fear

Chapter 2: Plan to Exceed Expectations

1. Prepare Early
2. Plan to be effective

Three possible outcomes to a presentation:

a. It is irrelevant b. It is evaluated as good or poor c. It is effective - Not just "he was a good speaker" but he was EFFECTIVE. Your message has created change, knowledge or accepting a ideas, or action. You are an effective speaker if your listeners understand the concept, accepted a thesis.
Results from selection, organization, presentation of ideas.
Good + effective = successful speech ("Good speech" vs. "Let us March")

3. Determine your goal
4. Analyze the Audience

• Speaker
• Audience
• Situation
• Message

5. Consider the Situation
6. Highlight your Strengths
7. Minimize your Weaknesses
8. Sleuth the Rest of the Program Talk to other speakers. Know the timeline. Know the time limits.

Chapter 3: Build Your Body - Your Speech Body

9. Gather Information - You probably have much of the information in your head. Use your resources!
10. Limit Your Time
11. Limit Your Focus
12. Develop the Speech BODY First - Don't start prepping w/the introduction.
13. Determine Your Main Points
14. Use Supporting Materials Liberally; Build Credibility
15. Use Quotations/Testimony "...those were the words of" "according to..."
16. Use Statistics (ie, that is the size of Rhode Island)
17. Use Examples
18. Tell Stories
19. Use Comparison and Contrasts
20. Demonstrate
21. Define Unfamiliar Terms

Tape 1 Side B

22. Use Visual Aids Effectively
23. Restate Ideas in a Variety of Ways
24. Organize Your Ideas for Easy Understanding
25. Put Your Ideas in Sequential Order
26. Put Your Ideas in Spatial Order
27. Organize Your Ideas by Category
28. Discuss a Problem and it's Solution
29. Provide Listeners with a Statement of Reasons
30. Provide Listeners with Comparative Advantages
31. Use the Criteria-Satisfaction Method
32. Use the Negative Method

Chapter 4: Command Attention - Your Introduction Sets the Tone

33. Refer to the Subject or Occasion
34. Begin with a Powerful Quotation
35. Ask a Rhetorical Question
36. Make a Startling Statement
37. Keep Listeners in Suspense
38. Engage Listeners With a Vivid Illustration
39. Hit Listeners With a Humorous Anecdote
40. Orient Your Listeners
41. Build Rapport
42. Provide Explicit Motivation
43. Establish Credibility

Chapter 5: Close with Power

44. Summarize Your Main Points
45. Refer to the Subject or Occasion
46. End with a Powerful Quotation
47. Ask a Rhetorical Question
48. Make a Startling Statement
49. Leave Listeners with a Vivid Illustration
50. Leave Listeners with a Humorous Anecdote
51. Issue a Challenge or Appeal
52. Keep a Second Closing in Reserve (for example, if you want to grab attention again after a Q&A session)

Chapter 6: Prepare Like A Pro

Tape 2 Side A

A pro is prepared, professional and polished.

53. Check the Speaking Environment Prior to Your Presentation

Seek to modify elements you can, or adapt if the elements can't be changed.

• Is there a stage area? How high?
• Is there special lighting?
• Is there a lecturn?
• Is it open? Can I move around?
• Is there a mic? Fixed? Lavalier?
• Do I need a mic in this room?
• What AV equip is available?
• Special Placement required?
• How is room arranged?
• What is occupancy of the room?
• What are the chairs like? Are they movable? Fixed?
• What is the tempurature? Can I control it? How?
• Noise Level

54. Change Environmental Elements to Fit Your Style or Goal
55. Prepare your "introducer" with an Introduction
56. Select a title that's a hit
57. Use the 3 minute Prep for Unexpected Speeches
58. Determine Your Delivery Method
59. Prepare Notes (extemporaneous)
60. Prepare a Manuscript (Manuscript or Memorized)
61. Time Your Speech
62. Edit, Edit, Edit
63. Anticipate Questions from the Audience
64. Have Questions Ready to "Throw In The Ring"

Chapter 7: Control Fear

65. Solid Preparation is Your Best Defense
66. Be Totally Familiar With Your Introduction
67. Practice Out-Loud - Often
68. Record Your Speech
69. Practice Mentally
70. Focus on Ideas, Not Exact Phrases
71. Concentrate on Your Message Rather Than Yourself
72. Nervousness Connects You With The Human Race
73. Remember, You Appear Much More Confident Than You Feel.
74. Breathe Deeply from Your Diaphragm.
75. Channel your Adrenaline
76. Dress for the Occasion; Dress to Build Confidence
77. "Psych" Yourself Into Readiness

Chapter 8: Command Attention - Your Demeanor Conveys Authority

Tape 2 Side B

78. Approach the Lecturn with Confidence
79. Get Set Before You Speak
80. Stand Erect Behind the Lecturn
81. Distribute Your Weight Evenly on Both Feet
82. Project Your Voice; Speak with Authority
83. Convey Dynamism
84. Conclude, then leave the lecturn with confidence

Chapter 9: Sharpen Your Delivery

85. Speak Clearly
86. Vary Your Pace - Pace For Your Listeners
87. Pause Often
88. Limit use of vocalized pauses and fillers (uh, um, like, you know
89. Vary your inflection
90. Look at Everyone Frequently
91. Use Movement to Maintain Attention
92. Use Natural Gestures to Maintain Attention
93. Talk With Your Listeners, Not At Them
94. Hide Your "Errors"
95. Leave Playthings at Your Seat
96. Use a Microphone Effectively, but Use It Sparingly

Chapter 10: Respond to Your Audience

97. Communicate Your Enthusiasm as well as Your Ideas: Use Audience Feedback
98. Be Yourself--Your Best Self

Chapter 11: Sharpen Your Delivery

99. Keep a file of stories and quotations
100. Seek and Accept Opportunities to Speak
101. Practice Made Perfect - An addage gone wrong. "Practice makes permanent." Get honest feedback.

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