Are you giving a talk? Here are some questions to help you prepare. Research included.

1. How will you
prepare
your talk?

2. Question # 1
How well do you know the
people you speak with?

3. The audience is
the heart of
a presentation.
https://hbr.org/2015/04/the-best-presentations-are-tailored-to-the-audience

4. The audience is interested in their problems.
Make your talk about them.
http://www.destination-innovation.com/articles/the-eight-worst-mistakes-made-by-keynote-speakers/

5. http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/02/going_from_suck_to_non-suck_as.html
http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20121022044446-22330283-from-crickets-chirping-to-a-standing-ovation-three-rules-of-effective-public-speaking
Show the listeners that you
truly care about them.

6. http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/matt-abrahams-good-question-can-be-key-successful-presentation
https://hbr.org/2015/04/the-best-presentations-are-tailored-to-the-audience
2 questions for you:
1. What do people already know?
2. What do people need to hear?

7. Further inspiration
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Needs-that-people-have-1530997

8. Question # 2
How short will your talk be?

9. Keep your talk focused on the 1 or 2 things
you want people to remember.
http://finans.dk/artikel/ECE4597216/l%E6r_at_tale_som_en_verdensleder/

10. State the most important
recommendations at the start.
Then move on to supporting data.
https://hbr.org/2012/10/how-to-present-to-senior-execu

11. Cut out everything
that is not essential.
http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

12. If you had only 1 sentence, what would you say?
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

13. Question # 3
What questions will
you ask people?

14. http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/matt-abrahams-good-question-can-be-key-successful-presentation
How many of you have....?

15. What about asking an event participant to
1. read a quote written on a slide, and / or
2. comment on a / the quote?
https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting

16. https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Explaining-your-reasoning/423244/438035-4.html
What do you think?

17. When you ask a question,
pause and count to 3 or 4.
http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html

18. Further inspiration
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conversation-exercises-1791882

19. Question # 4
How often will you pause?

20. The most powerful weapon in a speaker’s
armoury is the pause.
Use a pause after a question, for example.
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

21. Use a pause to help people absorb what
you say and to get people’s attention.
http://www.businessinsider.com/common-speaking-mistakes-2013-12
http://hbr.org/tip?date=050712

22. A pause gives people time to think.
http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

23. Question # 5
How slowly will you speak?

25. The average adult reads 300 words per
minute, but people can only listen well
to 150 words per minute.
Therefore, slow down.
https://hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay

26. Take a breath before you begin
speaking to avoid rushing and mumbling.
http://www.businessinsider.com/common-speaking-mistakes-2013-12

27. Communicate with a clear, strong voice.
http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw

28. Question # 6
How will you
make your talk personal?

29. Include some stories – preferably about real
people or even yourself.
The personal touch can really help to give the
talk authenticity and interest.
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0
Tip # 5.

30. http://youtu.be/O2dEuMFR8kw
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay/
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/01/is-the-lecture-dead/272578/
People will better follow and remember stories.
Stories create emotional connections.

31. https://hbr.org/2015/05/your-presentation-needs-a-punch-line
Have you thought about
why you should be telling
this story? What is unique
about you?

32. Talk about things
you believe in.
https://hbr.org/2013/02/going-from-suck-to-non-suck_as.html

33. If you should mention a person by
name and connect him or her to the story
you are telling, who would that person be?
https://hbr.org/2014/08/5-tips-for-off-the-cuff-speaking/

34. How can you bring
your natural,
informal style into
your talk?
http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

35. Further inspiration
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-is-your-purpose-1438787

36. Question # 7
How will you use
”I” language?

37. https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Speaking-so-you-understood/423244/438033-4.html
Examples:
I disagree.
I don’t see it that way.
I don’t understand.

38. Question # 8
How will you use
simple language?

39. Keep it simple. The human brain likes easy things.
http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21700610-why-donald-trumps-rhetoricwith-apologies-orwellworks-so-well-double-plus-effective

40. Question # 9
How often will you
repeat during your talk?

41. http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21700610-why-donald-trumps-rhetoricwith-apologies-orwellworks-so-well-double-plus-effective
Winston Churchill.
We shall fight on the beaches.
We shall fight on the landing grounds.
We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.

42. http://www.quoteslike.com/freedom-of-speech-martin-luther-king-quotes/

43. 3 ways to repeat
1. “To repeat,………….….“
2. “In other words:……......…"
3. “To put it more simply:..…........”
http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/want-to-be-a-better-presenter-fix-this-one-mistake-right-now.html

44. When someone asks you a question, repeat it.
There are 2 reasons for this:
Reason # 1
Some people in the audience may not have heard
the question.
Reason # 2
It gives you more time to think of your answer.
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

45. Question # 10
How will you use your
body language?

46. http://www.imagebase.net/Concept/Test-009-copy

47. When you speak, be open
in your body language.
http://finans.dk/artikel/ECE4597216/l%E6r_at_tale_som_en_verdensleder/

48. 55% of your impact comes from
what your body is doing.
http://www.francescolejones.com/how-to-wow/excerpt/

49. Question # 11
How will you
vary your voice?

50. Sometimes the most powerful points
can be delivered in a very quiet voice.
http://www.amazon.de/101-Tips-Speakers-prepare-tremendous-ebook/dp/B00S59KEY0

51. Question # 12
How much will you practice
before you speak?

52. Sources
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/02/going_from_suck_to_non-suck_as.html
http://epn.dk/job/article4597216.ece
http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html
Know your material extremely well.

54. Practice your talk 3 times
1. When you finished preparing it.
2. The day before the event.
3. A few hours before you go “on.”
https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting

55. https://hbr.org/2015/08/6-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-of-presenting
Avoid over-rehearsing.
That can be counterproductive.

56. When practicing, expect that your actual
talk will take at least 25% longer.
http://blog.prezi.com/latest/2014/2/7/10-most-common-rookie-mistakes-in-public-speaking.html

57. Further inspiration
http://crinfo.beyondintractability.org/essay/escalation-limiting_language/
https://hbr.org/2014/09/a-speech-is-not-an-essay/
https://hbr.org/2013/12/conflict-strategies-for-nice-people/
http://knowledge.insead.edu/contents/Communication-skills-steveknight-090918.cfm?vid=305
http://www.lollydaskal.com/leadership/the-language-of-leadership/
http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00079?pg=all
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Listening-tips-1485898
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dialogue-or-discussion-1567510
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-do-we-give-and-receive-feedback-1761017