November 10, 2009
Welcome to the November Issue of Speaking-Out-Loud write-out-loud.com's monthly E-zine to help you effectively 'talk your walk'.
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Happy speaking,
Susan
In this Issue
If you don't have time to read the whole ezine, click on the topic that interests you. This month you will find:
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They Said It Second Hand Words - Using Quotations
Susan's Spiel
Be a Demonstration Expert at Work
This month's Article is for all of you who want to improve their show and tell skills. Often we're called upon to teach a process or demonstrate a new skill but we're seldom given guidelines about how to do it successfully. These 5 tips here will serve you well.
Second Hand Words - Using Quotations is the focus of this month's They Said It. Find out how to spice your speech through borrowing other people's words.
And lastly there's a look at How to End your Speech Do you stuggle to find the right words to end your speech? You'll find three effective ways here.
I am always looking for ways to improve the site. If you see any errors or would like to contribute in any way, please accept this invitation to contact me through my About Me page.
Thanks for reading and enjoy this month's Speaking-Out-Loud!
Till our next issue,
Kind regards
Susan
Article
Be a Demonstration Expert at Work
How you ever been asked to 'show and tell' in your workplace?
There are many situations that call for a 'show and tell' or 'how to' demonstration speech.
Perhaps you need to demonstrate a new software application.
Or it could be that there's been a change in an admin. process and you're required to teach staff the new one.
Your audience could range from one to many but the basics behind a good 'how to' are the same. Learning them will help you avoid two sets of frustration: yours, because your audience hasn't fully understood and can't reliablely replicate the process you've shown them and theirs,
because they've missed crucial bits of information and are now needing to start all over again.
Here are 5 tips for a great work place demonstration speech.
- Know what you want to teach, why and what outcome you want
When you are clear about what it is you are doing, why and what you expect the end result to be you will communicate that more clearly to your audience. The consequence is they will be more attentive. - Know your audience
Good teaching starts with knowing who the audience is - their level current knowledge, their capacity to learn new skills, the vocabulary or language best used enabling them to understand... - Be prepared to adapt
Consider your audience alongside what you want to teach. Do you need to break the new skill set or information into chunks and schedule several sessions rather than going for one large one? Is it suitable for big groups or would it be better in smaller ones or even one on one teaching? Do you need to de-mystify the vocabulary replacing jargon with plain English? Is this a show and tell session or a show and do? (Show and tell is passive. The audience watches as you go through the steps. Show and do is active. The audience goes through the steps themselves after you've shown them how.) - Prepare
Go through step by step what it is you want to teach BEFORE you try to teach it. Break the information or skill set down into a logical sequential process and as you go through it explain each part of the sequence clearly as if you were really teaching.
Consider what you need to illustrate your talk. Do you need diagrams? How big do they need to be for all the audience to see them? Do you need actual items for the audience to handle?
As you go through your preparation from the audience's point of view you'll find out what you need and where you need it. - Rehearse
Once you've got the basic outline of your speech and the props(maps, graph, diagrams, bits of equipment...) together try it out and ask for feedback on clarity, timing (too long, too short), use of props.
What was good? What could be improved and how?
Use the feedback to modify your presentation. Rehearsal is invaluable as it identifies problem areas before you go live with the real thing. - clarity
- humor
- wisdom
- authority
- expertise
- glamor
- Thank you quotations for use in speeches expressing gratitude
- Retirement quotations for use in retirement speeches
- Milestone Birthday quotations marking attaining a special age for use in birthday speeches.
- Witty Birthday quotations to give a birthday speech a dash of humor
- Inspirational quotations to include in a eulogy or funeral speech
- Summary of your most important points ending with a powerful quotation
- Summary of your most important points ending with a challenge
- Summary of your most important points ending with a call back
- The powerful quotation
Your speech purpose is to inspire people to join your cause. You've summarised the main points and want to finish with a statement that accelerates the audience into action.
Borrowing the words from a revered and respected leader aligns your cause with those they fought for powerfully blending the past with the present.
Martin Luther King, Jr said 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.' Now is the time to decide. Now is the time to act. Now. Where do you stand? - The challenge
Your speech purpose is to motivate your sales force. You've covered the main points in the body of it including introducing an incentive - a holiday as a reward for the best sales figures. You've reiterated those main points and have reached the closing sentences. The end is a challenge.
'You have three weeks from the time you leave this hall to make that dream family holiday in New Zealand yours. Can you do it? Will you do it? The kids will love it. Your wife will love it. Do it now!' - The call back
Your speech purpose is to honor the memory of dear friend who passed away. You've briefly revisited the principal points of your speech and wish to leave the audience with a happy compelling image to dwell on. Earlier in the speech you told a poignant story, it's that you return to or call back.
Remember that picnic tale? Every blue sky summer's day I'll see Amy in my mind. Her red picnic rug will be spread on green grass under the shade of an old oak tree. There'll be food, friends and laughter. I'll see her smile, her pleasure at sharing the simple things and I know what she'd say too. I can hear it. 'Come on, try a piece of pie. It's not the end of the world you know.'
Find out more about giving great demonstration speeches to take the stress out of teaching new skills in the workplace. Not only will it boost your confidence and self-esteem but you'll gain in respect from your colleagues as well.
They Said It
Second Hand Words - Using Quotations
We humans are a perverse group. We have deeply ingrained stigmas over using other people's castoffs like clothes or furniture but we have few qualms about second hand words. The best of these we pounce on to use over and over again
because adding other people's words or quotations to our speeches can lift them from ordinary to inspiring. Through a well chosen quotation we borrow from its original owner:
Finding the right quotation to fit your speech is not that difficult if you're willing to spend some time sifting through quotation collections. There are many on the internet usually usefully divided into topic categories. Similarly you'll find books of them in your local library.
To assist people find the quotations they need I have themed collections on my site for use in varying special occasion speeches.
These are:
Once you've found a quotation you'd like to use consider how it fits your speech.
Does it fit the tone? For example, if your speech is light hearted, a serious and formal quotation may be out of place. The opposite is also true.
Does it add meaning, clarity, authority or wisdom? If it doesn't your quote may sound random and even silly. Give your quote context, a reason for being there.
Try your speech out loud. If the quote doesn't sound right either find a way to make it fit or leave it out. Sometimes your words are better than anybody else's second hand ones! If you're unsure get someone to listen and give you feedback.
How to End your Speech
Did you know that the end of your speech was just as important as the beginning?
Research tells us that people most commonly remember the first and last things they've been told as part of a speech. Therefore if you want your speech to create an impression finishing with 'Well, that's all I've got say. Thank you for listening', isn't going to do it.
So what will?
Here are three effective alternatives. Each ensures your speech ends with a bang rather than a whimper.
To work out which of these to use, ask yourself what you want people to do or feel as a result of listening to your speech.
Do you want to motivate them to work harder?
Do you want them to join the cause you are promoting?
Do you want them to remember a person and their unique qualities?
What you choose to do with your ending should support the overall purpose of your speech.
Let's look at a couple of scenarios so you can see these endings in action.
Visit this page for more about structuring a speech. You'll find information on writing the body, opening and conclusion as well as transitions.
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Thank you for reading the November Issue of Speaking-Out-Loud. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to contact me with any questions through the form on my About Me Page. I love hearing from my readers!
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Until next time,
Happy speaking,
Susan