Publicly Speaking

"Forget all the conventional 'rules' but one. There is one golden rule: Stick to topics you deeply care about and do not keep your passion buttoned inside your vest. An audiences' biggest turn on is the speakers' obvious enthusiasm. If you are lukewarm about the issue, forget it!"
Tom Peters

We all know how passion is the basis of public speaking. But, it's an abstract concept.

The best concrete illustration of passion I have seen recently is Benjamin Zander. Watch his passion and learn:

Came across a couple of interesting videos today.

Interesting from my perspective for three reasons:

- such a diverse group with members from so many different countries
- clearly, the meetings differ from Asian meetings, yet are so similar too
- whilst the formats of the meetings vary, the benefits remain constant.

Enjoy:

I had the honour of judging a public speaking contest at the weekend (not Toastmasters).

The speakers were professional adults; the standard variable. Without a doubt, the stand-out speakers were the storytellers. Yet, many of them made a basic error. This error, in my opinion, reveals the speaker to be inexperienced, unconfident and unaware of the audience's needs.

When I arrive at a venue to deliver a talk, I usually find myself rearranging the furniture. I am often met with objections and/or surprise. Yet, the way most rooms are set up are NOT conducive to delivering a good presentation. No matter how good a presenter you are, if the audience can hardly hear you or see you, it's going to be a challenge to connect.

Most rooms are set up all wrong.

Nuff said!

I'd arrived early to hear the previous speaker. I thought it was a good idea to get a feel for the audience, know what they'd heard and generally get 'in the mood'.

Big mistake!

Well, normally, it might not be a mistake. It's sensible advice that most professional speakers give out. It's just that the speaker before me was so BORING that he zapped all my energy. As I observed the audience chatting, playing with their phones or PCs, sleeping and staring into space, I started to get annoyed with them. I felt they were not being respectful to the speaker.

Almost 100 aspiring champions - or otherwise curious - Toastmasters gathered at the PolyU last Saturday to hear Donald Yee.

Donald Yee. This is a man that almost needs no introduction. If you are a TM in HK, you heard about him before you heard him speak. And unlike a lot of what is lauded in HK, Donald doesn't disappoint.