The,art,public,speaking,from,o marketing The art of public speaking from one of its masters

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Millions of people consider public speaking a fate worsethan death. But if you occupy any type of leadership position it’s inevitablethat you’re going to be asked to stand up before a group – large or small – todeliver a speech. The careers of most executives advance or stall based on howwell they communicate in a variety of forms. Public speaking performances arethe riskiest of all, but they also give you a chance to make a very big impact.Being a sought-after public speaker gives you and your company a cachet thatwould otherwise be absent. When you do speak publicly you want your voice to be brimmingwith confidence and power. One of the best places to look for guidance in thesematters is the late Jack Valenti, former chief ofstaff to President Lyndon Johnson butbetter know in the latter portion of his life as chairman and CEO of the MotionPicture Society of America. Suave and silver-tongued, Valenti was renowned for hispublic speaking abilities. Whether donned in a tuxedo for the Academy Awards or in a basicbusiness suit for his many appearances on the rubber-chicken circuit, he alwayspresented himself and his thoughts flawlessly. Valenti was so well known for his talents at the podium thathe wrote a book on the subject titled Speak Up with Confidence. It might surprise you to know that Jack Valenti preached that20 minutes was the absolute maximum for any speech. That’s quite a contrast tothe politicians and keynote speakers of all stripes who routinely devour a fullhour of the audience’s time. Valenti believed in economy. It is best to leavean audience wanting more, not glancing at their watches and negotiating withtheir bladders. Valenti also memorized all of his speeches, just as stageactors commit their scripts to memory, so he could enunciate them without usingnotes. He was full of many good ideas for turning people intoeffective public speakers. Here are some of his core suggestions: While drafting your speech, keep the paragraphs short.Limit each paragraph to just one topic.Put two spaces between each graph so they stand on their own.Make the first sentence of each graph the key line that opens the door to therest of what you have to say on that topic, and have these key lines absolutelyfixed in your mind. That way, even if you can’t remember the full paragraphyou’ll be able to improvise based on the opening line.To memorize your speech, repeat aloud the first two paragraphs over and overuntil committed to memory. After that turn your attention to the next twographs and do the same until they’re also etched in your mind. Then put thefirst four paragraphs together and articulate them repeatedly until memorized.Continue adding two graphs at a time.You’ll quickly be able to speak with confidence the first six paragraphs of thespeech. “A strange thing happens as you go about this,” Valenti says. “As yougain confidence in your ability to remember, the speed with which the speechprogresses picks up considerably. You begin making measurable progress. Thememorization becomes less drudging and less daunting. Your exhilaration levelrises rapidly.”Read your entire speech two or three times, then read each paragraph over andover by themselves. Do this, he says, because the mind is like a camera. Youcan lift your gaze from the paper and almost see the paragraph in your retinawhile looking towards the audience. It’s the “photographing” of each paragraphthat will make you a good or great speaker.Consider underlining or using capital letters to emphasize key words or ideas.Use dashes to indicate where you should pause. There are likely to be manydashes because that’s what gives your speech the kind of rhythm and pacing thattakes it to a higher level.Use strategic pauses to verbally lift out special phrases that help addemphasis and understanding to the points you’re making.Speak into a recorder to practice your vocal intonations and rhythm.Rehearse in front of a mirror to practice making eye contact.Time yourself to keep track of the length of your speech.Keep your speech short so you can finish with a “climax opportunity.” In otherwords, stop talking when your listeners want and expect you to keep going. Theshorter the speech the greater your odds of success, according to Valenti,because it’s difficult to make a bad speech out of a short speech.Pick out several audience members and speak directly to them. Otherwiseaudience members will eventually notice that you’re just gazing out at aformless mass rather than connecting with people.When you make eye contact your nervousness will fade because your speechbecomes a one-on-one conversation, which is our natural manner of speaking.Believability is more easily attained when you appear to be speaking foryourself, rather than mouthing words like a ventriloquist’s dummy. For thatreason, Valenti suggests delivering your speech without notes rather thanreading from prepared text. “Speaking without notes is the most powerful formof communication,” Valenti writes in his book. “You have full command of theaudience and nothing to interfere with what you’re saying. You’re looking atthe audience … with no paper barriers.”Once you have the entire speech assembled, repeat it during informal opportunities.Valenti would repeat his speeches in the car, the shower, etc. He usually kepta copy handy so if memory failed he could glance at the written text.Don’t stress if you accidentally leave something out. Your audience won’t knowanything’s been omitted.It’s especially important to speak directly to your audience while deliveringyour final paragraph. That final point should be an “interlocking embracebetween you and your audience” with no distractions – not even a fleeting glanceat your notes. Implicit in all this advice is Jack Valenti’s steadfastbelief that being thoroughly prepared is the best insurance policy againststage fright and poor performance. How do you prepare for public speaking engagements? How doyou delivery a punch to your audience? Let us know in the comment field below.