Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes - The Goodman ...

Tone
Serious, sarcastic, playful, bored – your voice can also convey a range of emotions. Changing
your tone can completely change the meaning of your words. For example, consider the
sentence: “Now there’s a good idea.” Said one way, it can mean, “Finally, someone has come up
with a useful suggestion.” Said another, it means, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
And spoken in a neutral tone, it can leave the listener wondering what the speaker is really
thinking. Since you probably want your audience to know precisely what you are thinking,
take a moment to ask yourself if your tone is consistently conveying the meaning you intend.
Presenters who do not alter their volume, speed, or tone, produce a monotonous white
noise that can gradually lull audiences to sleep, or at least send them reaching for their
BlackBerrys. It is the variation in these qualities that makes for interesting listening, and
purposeful variations are one mark of gifted orators.
Body Language – What Is Yours Saying?
Escaping the Podium Prison
When Bill Clinton debated George H.W. Bush, there was a memorable moment in which
Clinton left his podium to stand closer to an audience member who had just asked a
question. The move was classic Clinton – brushing aside the vestiges of formality to be
“closer to the people” – and an excellent example of one effective way to handle yourself
on stage.
A podium is fine for holding a microphone, your notes and a glass of water, but it can also
become a barrier between speakers and their audience. Your entire body is potentially an
instrument of expression, but a podium can conceal most of that instrument. So why hide
behind it or allow it to keep you rooted in place? Wearing a wireless microphone can free
you to talk more directly to audience members, point at items on the screen for greater
emphasis, and generally communicate more like a human being than a lecturer.
Of course, there will be instances when the room set-up or audio/visual equipment
absolutely requires your sustained presence at the podium. Even on these occasions,
though, your body can work with your eyes and voice to energize your material and
engage the audience. “I try to project movement and energy from behind the podium
with large gestures and very small, subtle gestures,” says Geoffrey Canada, president
and CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone. “The audience begins to look at you differently
when you use both. You can raise your hands or just raise an eyebrow and they’ll zoom
right in on your face.”
pg. 43
“If your goal is persuasion,
you have to convey a sense
of conviction and passion
yourself. No one is going to be
swayed by someone who does
not, himself, seem strongly
committed to the proposition.
That does not mean table
thumping, but a good strong
look in the eye, use of pauses,
even talking quietly can do it
– as long as it’s heartfelt.”
– Lilyan Wilder
Author
7 Steps to Fearless Speaking
“I use a lavaliere so I can
move. People don’t love a stick
who reads.”
– Lorraine Monroe
Lorraine Monroe
Leadership Institute