Public Speaking

Was up in Palo Alto, CA, couple of days ago for a speech for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and some of the community leaders in that Stanford/Silicon Valley intelligentsia crowd.

I’ve been a public speaker for 40 years now. And it always surprises me somewhat that public speaking is evidently listed as one of the top phobias many people have. Even above fear of snakes and spiders and heights, millions of people dread getting up even in front of small group and talking.

At 6th grade graduation, Jimmy Woodruff was our class speaker. I was sitting around in my little lace skirt, minding my own business when the principal came to me in a panic. “Diana, Jimmy is throwing his guts up in the bathroom. He’s terrified of speaking today. Can’t do it. Any chance you could come up with a few words?”

I relished the opportunity….and went on a bit too long.

I’m not adept at many things in life, but I can stand up in front of a crowd and engage them in life stories, crafted in an arc that takes us all on an interesting journey.

If you’re interested in what I think are the key elements to successful public speaking, here are some basics:

1. Don’t use notes…every time your eyes leave the audience, you lose them
2. Better you should fumble on a word, even search for a word or an idea for a moment, be real, than be PhD perfect with pre-crafted perfection (I even call out to the audience now and then: “I forget, what was I talking about?”)
3. Don’t talk about things you don’t know; take command of your subject, feel the passion for it
4. Breathe, make eye contact…..you need to make each person there feel as if you were alone, just the two of you, on your living room couch, and telling them this story you’re fascinated by….eye to eye….sincere…don’t let your mind wander, just as you wouldn’t wander if you were telling an intimate story to someone in your living room….BE PRESENT

OK, let me know how it goes, next time you’re called to get up and present your ideas in front of a group.