Is Your Voice Helping or Hurting You as a Presenter?

It’s pretty obvious that what you say in a presentation matters more than the way you say it. Right?

If you believe that, try reading the following short passages aloud. Speak them first in a flat monotone, then with expression, as if this is the most important thing you’ll say all year:

• “You may have heard that this company is washed up . . . finished. But I’m here to tell you: Acme Industries is going to win back our share of the industry. And as our sales force, you’re the only people who can make that happen!”

• “The United States is absolutely committed to preventing genocide—in this region or anywhere in the world.”

• “I love you.”

Notice any differences in the meaning or strength of your message as you spoke neutrally or with emotion?

Now try reading aloud the short sentence below. Emphasize the first word, using punch and pitch inflection. Now read the sentence aloud again, this time emphasizing the second word. Continue doing that until you’ve read the sentence aloud six times:

“I didn’t give them those documents.”


You’ve just conveyed six different messages by vocally highlighting one word each time, haven’t you?

Both of these exercises—using emotional coloration and emphasizing words and phrases within a sentence—demonstrate a critically important point in public speaking: Your voice is one of your most powerful tools for persuading and influencing listeners.

In fact, no other presentation tool is capable of such infinite variety. And hardly anything in the way of content can match your voice for achieving subtle shades of meaning and intention.

 
Finding Your Honest Voice

So how can you achieve vocal expressiveness that will make your presentations more interesting, engaging, and influential?

Believe it or not, attaining a dynamic vocal presence is all about not doing something: trying to sound professional or working on becoming “an excellent public speaker.”

You’re already an effective speaker! Just listen to yourself in everyday situations, when you’re actively engaged with what you’re talking about: the exciting movie you just saw, or the fascinating new person in your life.

In other words, when we’re not self-conscious about high-stakes speaking situations, we look and sound completely like ourselves. Our voices take on the coloration and natural qualities that reflect both who we are and our commitment to what we’re talking about. And such a person is always interesting to listen to. It’s only when we become self-conscious that we try to sound different: professional, expert, business-like, and so on.

And this strategy never works. Audience members aren’t interested in hearing a polished speaker so much as they want to listen to someone who’s genuinely interesting. And that means you: the person, in fact, who is ideally suited to give this presentation.

Have a Talk Instead of Giving a Speech

How do you combine that honest voice of yours with presentation effectiveness? It’s as simple as can be: you only need to remember to be conversational. Talk to your listeners instead of trying to give a speech, and you’ll come across as an honest and trustworthy presenter who’s worth hearing.

Spend some time, then, in learning how effectively you use your voice. Train your ear to listen to how you say things, not merely the information you’re imparting. Record yourself talking with friends (when you’re activated and not self-conscious, remember?), and listen to the results. Ask colleagues what they think of your vocal delivery. Once you have more knowledge from “outside your own head,” start working on improving your problem areas.

If you use evaluation instruments following your presentations, include questions dealing specifically with speech and voice issues. And if you really want to reach the next level, find yourself a first-class speech coach, preferably someone with a background in acting.

You’ll be discovering what your listeners already know about whether you’re an effective vocal communicator. It’s “must have” information for anyone who speaks in public.

How to Talk Your Way Out of Public Speaking Fear

There is no such thing as public speaking.

That simple claim may seem like a castle in the air to anyone with public speaking anxiety. And yet it’s absolutely true.

We learn to fear this thing we call “public speaking.” Our fear doesn’t emerge out of nothingness, and it doesn’t take shape without our help. Speaking in public becomes anxiety-provoking only because we make it so. But the things we hope to achieve in a speech or presentation are the very same goals we aim for in interpersonal communication:

• We want to be heard.
• We want to connect with people.
• We’d like to help people if we can.
• We need to convey important information.
• We want to express our emotions.
• We’d like to bring about positive outcomes in people’s lives.
• We’re trying to solve a problem.
• We’re offering guidance or leadership.
• We have a vision we want to share with others.
• Our product or service meets a need, and we want to tell people about it.
• We wish to honor a person or an organization.
• It’s a special occasion, and we want to say something about it.
• We’d like to share something interesting or funny with our audience.

In all of these situations, we’re trying to move people: to positively change the way they think, feel, or behave.

And so we talk to them to make that happen.

We talk—and that little word says it all. We don’t orate, declaim, rant, or recite. We have a conversation with someone who is listening, which is the most natural and effective way for one human being to communicate with a person or a group.

We share important information and emotion by talking about those things.

When we do this with family, friends, colleagues, and chums, we speak easily and naturally. Our voice, body language, personality, and sense of humor emerge effortlessly. It’s just us, sharing something we hope our listeners will find interesting.

But a change takes place when we give a presentation, doesn’t it? That’s when nervousness and self-consciousness really kick in. Suddenly, those individuals we talk to without any problem become part of a huge creature with dozens or even hundreds of eyes, hands, and feet.

Now we’re no longer in easy conversation with people. Instead, we’re hoping simply to survive!

What we’ve done, of course, is create an inner reality that’s much worse than the actual reality. We sense danger when there really isn’t any. Is it any wonder that we race through our speech or meeting remarks, fearful and uncomfortable, demonstrating at every moment HOW UNPLEASANT IT IS TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF OTHERS?

You Not Only Hold the Key to Success, You’ve Used it Hundreds of Times

Here’s the good news—the great news—about not only surviving but thriving in situations like this: You already know how to be a confident and dynamic public speaker. In fact, you’ve been using the exact skills, in just the right way, your whole life.

You just haven’t realized it.

So here’s the secret that’s not such a secret about reducing stage fright: “Public speaking” is nothing more than a conversation you’re having with more than one person. If you happen to be standing up while giving your speech or presentation, then it’s simply a conversation on your feet.

In other words, you’re perfectly positioned to talk your way through your fear of public speaking. In fact, that’s the only way to do it!

To be good at speaking in public—to be fully confident and to enjoy it—you just have to speak as you would in a one-on-one conversation.

There’s never a need for you to become “better” than you would be while chatting with your friends. In fact, it’s the attempt to do so which makes you feel like you don’t look or sound like yourself.

No wonder, because you don’t!

Talking—just talking—to people is what will make you come across at your absolute best. There really is nothing fancier or more scientific you need to know about confident public speaking.

When you speak like yourself rather than that excellent speaker you’d like to be, you maximize the talents you already have in abundance.

So congratulations on being an interesting person who has something to say. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

How to Be a Powerful Speaker

Making yourself a powerful speaker is a lot easier than you think. And power--in terms of the dynamism of your platform skills--matters greatly in the world of business speeches and presentations.

You may be the world’s foremost authority on your subject. Yet you will always be measured as much on your performance as your knowledge or expertise. Political consultant Roger Ailes understood the juncture of self and message well when he titled his 1988 public speaking book You Are the Message.

In plain terms, your audiences will equate your message with you. And that’s a good thing. Otherwise, you could take the no-sweat approach and send out a blast e-mail of your speech, and no one would have to show up--including you. So from today on, think in terms of the “speaking version” of you--a performance persona that’s the essence of you talking about your subject area. That’s the person your audiences will find interesting.

In other words, it’s not enough just to be who you are when you present. You have to construct a performance version of yourself. That requires marrying your honesty and truthfulness about your message, to some simple but powerful presentation skills.

Here are three areas of speech performance to keep in mind in this regard:

1. Competence. Advertise your competence in everything you say and do. When you trust yourself and what you are saying, your audience will trust you. That’s the first step that allows them to invest you with presence and authority.

Every audience, that is, wants to feel that they’re in good hands. Make it easy for listeners to relax and trust that you are such a speaker. All it takes is for you to trust yourself. Believe that you’re a natural performer, because you are--just think of how many times in a day you trust yourself to communicate with others without premeditation.

Notice that I have used the word “trust” five times in the two short paragraphs above. This is not a subtle hint.

2. Rapport. Find a way to identify with your audience’s values and experiences, and externalize the connection by what you say. Most listeners resist speakers whose background or known views are noticeably different from their own. Wherever you can, show that you and your listeners share common ground. Remember that our experiences, motivations and feelings unite all of us around the world far more than they divide us. Create an atmosphere in your presentations that fosters persuasion and believability.

And remember to be interesting! You can judge this yourself in your practice sessions. If you’re looking forward to just getting this painful experience over with, without sharing your real feelings with listeners, your audience will want it to be over as quickly as possible too.

3. Delivery. Every audience arrives with preconceptions about a speaker. They may have nothing to do with you personally, but may be tied to the topic, organization, or viewpoint you represent.

You need to show that you are able to “deliver” on the implied promise that your presentation has created, i.e., that it will be worth spending time and effort to listen to. That’s what delivery means in this respect. When you give your speech dynamically and with conviction, you’ll be “delivering” the goods!

Credibility resides in speakers who appear confident and committed. And of course, there’s simply no substitute for enthusiasm. Embody your arguments with an energetic delivery, and you’ll go a long way toward changing the thinking and behavior of your audience.

Great Speaking? -- It's About Performance Over Content

Are you married to your content instead of your true love, your audience? Too many public speakers are guilty of this crime of passion. To be in love with your information instead of your listeners is to ruin the marriage of content and influence that makes any presentation a success.

Like many hopeless lovers, speakers can be too easily dazzled by the obvious and the pretty: the selling points and bullet points that they’ve tenderly selected for their presentation. “But this is a labor of love,” we can hear them saying. – “This proposal is exactly the way I want it to come out!”

But audiences don’t want perfect information delivery. They want a meaningful relationship with the speaker, and ideally, a positive outcome from the encounter. Regurgitating information in the face of this need is simply an embarrassment. We need to move listeners when we speak. Yes, our content is part of that equation. But there’s infinitely more needed in terms of rapport and emotional connections than can be supplied by our PowerPoint slides.

Think of it this way (and this distinction is critically important if you speak in public): A speech or presentation is a shared experience, a small example of community, in which you and your listeners make an interesting journey together.

You need to prepare for that journey by thinking about how to project such a relationship. When you spend all your time sharpening your information recital, you’re leaving that relationship up to chance. Doesn’t this sound like a recipe for disaster? After a certain point, in other words, you must forget about gathering and shaping content, and begin to rehearse your performance.

Here’s a simple formula to keep in mind: Rather than spend 100% of your time amassing content and 0% time (or close to that) practicing, make the ratio something like this:

40% creating content, 60% practicing

This sounds radical to you, doesn’t it? But remember this: You are already extremely strong on your content. It’s the reason you were hired for this position; that you spend every business day working on these issues; that you’ve been selected to make this presentation, in fact. Whether you’re aware of it, you already have content coming out of your ears!

What you don’t have if you’re a typical speaker is a maximum level of comfort on your feet, and a knack for conversing with audiences as if that’s the most natural thing in the world. You’re up there to give an oral performance, for goodness sake, not to recite facts and figures like a recorded voice on a GPS!

Strengthen the area where you’re probably weakest. Your strengths won’t disappear in the process.

Spend quality practice time—and a quantity of it as well—learning to be comfortable with audiences. Stand and move in space. Try out gestures. Solidify your eye contact. Use stories and illustrations to give your concepts a human dimension. Sometimes those stories will come to you on the spur of the moment. Use them! Develop your ear to the point where the casual conversational you (the interesting-sounding one) sounds no different from your presentation persona.

The more comfortable you are talking to people, the more you’ll feel like yourself saying the things you’re passionate about. In no time at all, you’ll find yourself loving your audience instead of your content.

Guess how your audience will respond.

How to Motivate as a Speaker in Tough Times

Recently, I coached a Marketing Director for a beverage company who said his job was “to convey facts and figures.”

After hearing that, I needed a stiff drink.

Actually, his viewpoint wasn’t surprising. And he quickly understood when I suggested that his real purpose was something quite different. His job as a speaker, I told him, was meeting the needs of his listeners and achieving lasting influence.

In tough economic times like the present, the distinction between conveying information and activating audiences is more important than ever. Merely informing audiences becomes a serious error when they are depending upon your leadership to help them in times of trouble.

Many people approach public speaking with this belief that their primary task is to deliver information. That is never the case. Information, like all speech content, is only one tool a speaker uses to achieve his or her purpose. Let’s look a little more closely at how this natural tension of purpose vs. information plays out, and why your task is naturally much more of the former, and much less of the latter.

It’s Your Emotional Impact That Lasts

Audiences will remember their emotional response to you long after the information you deliver has faded from memory. The retention skills of audiences are notoriously shaky, and within, say, a week, your listeners will remember as little as 10% of the “critical” data you presented to them.

Yet if you touched them emotionally, they may remember you for a lifetime. Consider these examples:

• Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school? Why do you remember her fondly today? Was it because of her visionary grasp of geography?
• Who among the many speakers you’ve heard in your life do you consider extraordinary? What were the main points or facts in the speech that you found so impressive?
• On April 19, 1951, Gen. Douglas MacArthur delivered his farewell address to a joint session of Congress. MacArthur said that “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” And no wonder this speech became one of the most famous in American history, given the General’s expert lesson on the medical needs of elderly combat veterans.

You see what I mean, don’t you?

Think carefully, then, of the purpose you’re trying to achieve in your presentation—and always in terms of your audience’s demographics, experience, and needs. Then use any and every means at your disposal to achieve that purpose. Don’t just educate—move your audience. Don’t inform listeners—inspire them. To do so means creating an emotional connection. Even CFOs must put financial information into context for the C-suite, to help these executives process the information in terms of company goals and initiatives.

Delivery Skills Foster Success

Studies have shown repeatedly that nonverbal communication equals or exceeds verbal content in achieving audience influence. In tough times especially, the skill of advocacy is critical in motivating listeners and leading them to action.

One reason PowerPoint presentations so often fail, for instance, is that the presenter depends solely upon a slide deck to convey information. But that is first and foremost the speaker’s task, although PowerPoint may be one tool he or she uses to do so. Above that, a speaker’s job is to move an audience through force of will and to lift listeners on a wave of emotional drama.

To motivate your listeners, then, use all of these nonverbal tools:

- Stance
- Movement
- Gestures
- Eye contact
- Facial expression
- Proximity to your listeners
- Open hand and arm movements
- Welcoming gestures (for questioners and skeptics)
- Vocal energy and variety
- Pauses and silence
- Smiles
- Emotion that audiences can hear in your voice

In general, spend less time gathering material and more time practicing on your feet. Employ a video camera or a mirror. Use different gestures each time you practice, however, so your physical expression won’t become stale and over-rehearsed.

You Are the Message, So Make the Message Strong

As we’ve seen above, public speaking is never about merely conveying information. Instead, it is an exercise in leadership. Speakers either lead or they bore. One of the marvelous facts about speaking in public is that no matter the pedigree of your listeners—you are the leader in the room during the time of your presentation.

No leader succeeds merely by possessing the best information. True leaders use that information to motivate and activate employees and followers.

A danger exists, in fact, that because we accumulate information, and spend so much time massaging that information as we prepare for our speech, we believe the information is all-important. Equally harmful is forgetting that the audience will be hearing our content for the first time. So we rattle off our data—secure in the knowledge that, once adequately informed, an audience will use that information exactly as we’d like them to.

It never happens that way. We must tell our listeners how they should use our information—we must, that is, lead them to do so.

There is only one tool that allows you as speaker to accomplish this task: It is you—physically, emotionally, and in the ways you demonstrate leadership when you speak.

In tough times or good times, you are the message. It’s a formula for succeeding as a speaker that goes far beyond “conveying facts and figures.”

Give your audiences the emotional connection and leadership they crave, and you’ll be delivering a powerful message indeed.

General McChrystal's Lesson in Dealing with Print Journalists

When the news broke that Gen. Stanley McChrystal was being fired by President Obama, I was conducting training at the U.S. State Department on how to deal with the media. My yearly Media Training course is for senior-level diplomats at our embassies and consulates abroad. The two-day course covers aspects of appearing effectively in the media, as well as handling oneself in the face of reporters’ ploys and tactics.

On Day Two, I discuss the differences between television, radio, and print journalism. I also point out the unique perils of speaking to newspaper and magazine reporters. It was at precisely this point in the workshop that the McChrystal news broke.

What a teaching opportunity!

Adding to the relevance of the breaking story was the fact that two of the workshop participants were posted to the Middle East-Southwest Asia region. These are diplomats for whom events in Afghanistan have a direct and immediate impact.

So what is the lesson I teach regarding handling oneself with a print reporter? There are three critical concerns:

Print Media Have Time to Burn (You)

Print reporters usually have more time to spend with sources than T.V. and radio journalists. Broadcast deadlines are relentless and fixed: If the news breaks today, then the story must be fully in place for the six o’clock news, the on-the-hour radio broadcast, the signature political show on cable, or the Sunday morning talk shows. The 24-hour news cycle is voracious. It demands tasty tidbits and the freshest ingredients for its entrees, and it will not hesitate to suction all such fodder into its maw.

Newspapers and magazines create banquets with slower-cooked, richer dishes. Print journalists often have the time to conduct research on their subject or interviewee. They may be part of a “spotlight” or investigative team that works months on a story. Since they don’t face La Broadcast Dame sans Merci, print reporters can often afford time to educate themselves on a story--and subsequently may question their sources more knowledgeably and precisely.

Print Reporters Can Hang (You)

Here, perhaps, lies the greatest danger for sources, as Gen. McChrystal and his subordinates learned to their sorrow. Because their stories are often more in-depth than those on television, radio, or online, print journalists have fewer restrictions on the amount of time they can spend with sources. They can hang. The Rolling Stone reporter who wrote the McChrystal article, for instance, spent parts of an entire month with the general and his staff.

When reporters and their sources hang out together, they don’t spend all of their time in hard-backed chairs in an office, or folding stools in a military tent. There will be lunches and dinners; time spent chatting in local watering holes, remarks made while waiting for taxis or drivers to arrive.

The Game (You) Is Played Differently

We naturally trust people more if we spend a lot of time with them. But print journalists have the added advantage of disguise! Television and radio personalities constantly remind us who they are visually: They bring with them camera operators, sound technicians, boom microphones, recording equipment and sound booths, and most obvious of all, broadcast trucks.

The print reporter carries a humble notebook, or nothing at all. No “on” or “off” switch reminds us when the recording stops. It is when the sit-down interview ends, in fact, that the source is at greatest peril. Unless one requests a ground rule of “off the record” at this or any other time, and it is accepted by the reporter, you must assume that the interview is still going on.

It is often when the reporter and source have strolled out of the interview room and are chatting of other things, that the unguarded remark that should never have been uttered is expressed.

Jimmy Carter may have lusted in his heart for other women and left the rest of us blissfully unaware of the fact, but he volunteered the information to a Playboy reporter after their interview was “over” and the reporter was leaving the Carters’ home.

As famed media adviser Roger Ailes reminds us, “Recognize that any time you are in the presence of a newsperson, the conversation is fair game for the record.”

Wouldn’t you agree, Gen. McChrystal?

BP's Tony Hayward and Surviving Congressional Testimony

In the media training I conduct for executives and political figures, I emphasize a goal of not merely surviving a media encounter, but thriving. In the media as in sports, the individual or team that focuses solely on defense usually will not win. Media appearances offer unique opportunities to reach huge numbers of stakeholders. They should be embraced with enthusiasm, rather than with the notion that escaping with one’s skin is a victory.

Yet some media encounters are barely survivable. When ambush is the order of the day, or where bias is institutionally entrenched, showing sheer guts and stamina can equal success.

Yesterday’s appearance by BP CEO Tony Hayward before Congress demonstrated this clearly. Even before any questioning had begun, the committee members’ opening statements branded Mr. Hayward with a prominent “P,” and led him straight to the stocks like a colonial sinner in an electronic town square.

No one would deny that BP is massively responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the deaths of 11 workers, and untold environmental damage. Nor could anyone reasonably conclude that a Congressional hearing of this type is about investigating anything. A witness who tries to counter the naked political maneuvering in such a hearing is doomed.

Congress doesn’t ask questions in such an encounter—it renders judgments. How then can a witness survive sitting opposite such a tribunal of judges with righteous voices thundering?

In testimony of this type, the ability to absorb punishment without revealing callousness or weakness is the key survival skill. Where authority and competence cannot win the day, steadfastness and accountability must be in full view.

Here are three critical tools for media appearances where the odds are stacked heavily against you:

Nonverbal Messages: When a crisis hits, nonverbal behavior that says “steady as she goes” is a powerful reminder of your personal or organizational competence. Posture which indicates engagement, an unwavering focus on one’s questioners, a willingness to remain in the crosshairs without flinching, and especially strong eye contact, are key nonverbal messages that set of tone of accepted responsibility. Has corporate or institutional malfeasance led you to the witness box? All the more reason to send out an opposite message with every visual tool at your disposal.

Low-Key Vocal Approach: In the long hours of his Congressional grilling, Mr. Hayward demonstrated this skill continuously. A general rule of media encounters is that the more vociferous your opponent is, the calmer you should become. Listeners hear reasonableness in steady pleasant tones, not in emotional storms. If your vocal inflection is muted and you speak plainly, your opponents will brand you as aloof in the face of disaster. Let them. Remain focused and deliberate as you add the third tool of survival:

Bridge and Stay on Message: “Bridging” means moving from the quicksand specially mixed for you by your questioner, to the solid ground of your prepared responses. Decide on the three critical points you want to hammer home in your interview or testimony. Then take every opportunity to get those messages out. Answer topics, not questions. Remember your strategy for this particular media encounter, and stay on that path despite the harshness of your opponents’ attacks.

By employing this approach, you will be using tools—three in this case—that are designed as practical applications of your media strategy. Above all, they will help you with the all-important goal of difficult media situations: staying in control and using the encounter to accomplish your aims.

In “survival media events” like the one discussed here, that strategy will only be achievable in the long run. But you must start the process now.

The World's Most Amazing Public Speaking Technique

For people the world over, speaking in public is a terrifying proposition. Yet what is more exciting than a powerful speech on an important topic? Speeches and presentations have changed history, inspired millions, created instant superstars, and rallied entire nations to action. On a more everyday level, they contribute to professional advancement and help organizations accomplish their mission.

With such a momentous pedigree, you’d think that speaking in public would be an ultra-sophisticated task, approachable only by the best and brightest among us. Yet public speaking is relatively easy, and with practice and experience, immensely satisfying. Stage fright is a significant hurdle, of course—but even gaining confidence as a speaker is easier than we might imagine.

There’s a simple procedure, in fact, that can assure us of greater confidence while contributing hugely to our speaking success. This procedure is so mundane and obvious, however, that we usually ignore it completely. So here’s the scintillating secret to undaunted and dynamic public speaking:

Breathe.

“Well, I’m already doing that,” I can hear you thinking—“and I’m still nervous!” And it’s true that what we call breathing for life doesn’t help us much in public performances. Vegetative breathing is a more or less autonomic response and doesn’t require effort. But breathing for speech is different. We need more oxygen, for one thing, to project sound outward and to lengthen our exhalation (since speech is simply controlled outward breath).

Equally important, we must unlearn the lazy habit of breathing shallowly. For speech, we need to breathe diaphragmatically or “belly breathe.” The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that flattens out when the lungs above it expand, and by that flattening, push out our abdominal muscles. That’s why our belly moves outward when we breathe in.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a bellows-like action that allows the lungs to expand fully and to effortlessly produce a full reservoir of air. That’s the level of oxygen we need to produce strong and resonant speech. But there are some other very positive effects to be gained from using this humble but amazing tool of vocal production.

Here are six benefits of using your diaphragm to breathe fully. Together, they go far beyond the simple production of sound. These attributes belong more to the realm of credibility, authority, and believability as a speaker. And those are characteristics that can take you a long way toward public speaking success.

Six Benefits of Diaphragmatic Breathing

1. Slows your heart rate and calms you physically.
2. Provides oxygen to the brain.
3. Aids your stance and appearance: formidable instead of “caved in.”
4. Gives a resonant floor to your voice which produces the sound of authority.
5. Supports sound to the end of the sentence, where the important words come.
6. You appear confident and in control (rather than gasping or out of breath).

In order of the benefits above, then, good diaphragmatic breathing will: Reduce your nervousness, keep you sharp and mentally present, help you appear prepared and professional, make your arguments credible and persuasive, “punch” the important words and phrases that drive your narrative, and give you the appearance of a practiced speaker who is completely in control.

“And the heart must pause to breathe,” wrote Lord Byron.

Indeed!

"Monster in the Gulf" -- Is BP Obama's Katrina?

More than five weeks have passed since the offshore rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, claiming the lives of eleven men. As oil continues to billow beneath the surface from BP’s damaged well, political blood has been spreading in the water as well.

Consider the rhetoric that spilled onto the airways today:

“The President has hired everything in Washington. Someone has convinced them that BP is their partner. They’re not their partner. We need some action here.” (James Carville)

“Why does it take the President 37 days, 38 days? . . . He’ll be there on Day 39.” (John King/CNN)

“We were dealt an untruth by the Corps of Engineers, another group that’s paid with our tax dollars. How much more are we going to put up with?” (Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser)

“We’ve started taking matters into our own hands.” (Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal)

Negative comments, all. We might expect as much from the Republican politicians represented above. But from a Democratic consultant, and the host of a CNN news show? Just how big a disaster is this disaster shaping up to be for President Obama?

The environmental damage is not only gargantuan, but without discernible limit. The “Monster in the Gulf” bloats daily, like a sea-going version of Blob. The BP/Deepwater Horizon blowout has grown to 19 million gallons, perhaps as high as 39 million gallons. BP has now surpassed 1989’s Exxon Valdez as the coastline oil disaster of preeminence.

Inescapably, the current occupant of the White House is taking the heat. President Obama will travel to Louisiana this Friday—the “39th day,” as John King reminded us on his show—and today the President framed his administration’s response this way at a press conference:

“The American people should know that from the moment this disaster began, the federal government has been in charge of the response effort.”

Those words certainly have a “the buck stops here” sound to them. Yet the American people can’t help but notice that this is the President’s first news conference in 308 days.

President Obama—like President Bush before him during the Katrina disaster—would do well to remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt, an earlier Chief Executive who once said: “I have a perfect horror of words that are not backed up by deeds.”

"And I Owe It All to Television": Making Your Case in 30 Seconds or Less

Want to make the acquaintance of the world’s greatest communicator? Allow me to introduce you.

Ladies and gentlemen . . . meet television.

Dazzler of billions, appropriately nicknamed The Glass Teat (or Boob Tube), Baby-Sitter, Goggle Box, and The Eye, television is the master persuader of our age. And whether you agree with the late Ernie Kovacs that “television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done,” the small screen has much to teach us when it comes to quick and efficient communication.

Television has been spectacularly successful in reducing people’s attention span, for instance—and then has plugged itself snugly into that smaller space. Equally important, T.V. has taught us that critical information succeeds when it is delivered vividly, with a visual kick.

As speakers who must convince listeners in short order—say, in the 30 seconds it takes for audiences to form judgments about us or to deliver an elevator speech—we can benefit from television’s techniques. We too can learn how to broadcast a message concisely yet powerfully and even include a visual component. Here are five ways to do so:

1. Decide on your objective. Let’s start with the persuasive tool par excellence of television: the commercial. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, commercials seduce and persuade like nobody’s business (except the advertiser’s). With extreme conciseness, sponsors show us how to home in on one’s objective and achieve it with maximum efficiency. Advertisers do this because they want to sell, right? Well, so do you! Whether it’s a product, service, idea, or vision, a crystal clear objective to make that “sale” will lead you to the influence you desire. In conceiving your message, give purpose precedence over sheer information.

2. Use an effective hook. Think of a commercial you enjoy (come on, I know you have one). The first time you saw it, weren’t you intrigued at the beginning of the spot? Didn’t the quirky, or startling, or funny, or outrageous nature of the ad pull you right in? Whatever your essential message is when you speak, it won’t resonate unless people are with you when you get to it. If you hook their interest at the start, they’ll be with you at the end. If you don’t, they won’t.

3. State the problem and its solution. Here’s a T.V. commercial of the type you’ve seen many times. It’s a series of visual images: (1) Four-year-old boy chasing the family’s new puppy, laughing and tumbling all over the front lawn. (2) Mom looking at his pants draped over her arm and frowning at the ground-in grass stains. (3) Shot of detergent box. (4) Mom smiling at the same pair of pants, now sparkling clean as she holds them at arm’s length. We get it all: a problem and its solution, presented as succinctly as possible. Television does this seamlessly with visuals. As a speaker, you need to use visuals too, though your brush consists of words. And so you must . . .

4. Paint word pictures. Studies have shown that visual stimuli can be the strongest elements of persuasive nonverbal communication. That means we must not only show visuals when we present our ideas, but speak in visuals as well. Paint a picture with words, and the image will captivate your listeners. Hamlet’s father’s ghost may have said this to the prince: “I could tell you how my own brother murdered me, but it would shock and horrify you too much.” Instead, Shakespeare had the character color his palette this way: “I could a tale unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes start from their spheres [and] each particular hair to stand on end like quills upon the porcupine.” Which of those two short speeches packs a wallop?

5. Use stories that illustrate your point. When time is short or the opportunity is fleeting, state your point first then back it up with evidence. Of forms of evidence, stories are among the most powerful that exist. In casting your evidence in the form of a story, you’re saying, “Look, I know that was just data. Let me show you what I mean . . . .” Your illustration that follows, with people involved and a successful outcome will make your information come alive. Tell a story, and you’ll have your listener hooked—which is how you engaged him or her in the first place. Why let them off the hook now?

How to Speak from Notes or a Manuscript

Good speakers need to relate to their listeners even while reading from notes or a manuscript. Sound like a difficult task? It isn't really.

Why then do so many people read their speeches badly? It can’t be because speakers find it helpful to pretend no one is actually listening to them (though they sometimes seem to be in their own little world in that way). And they can’t possibly be aiming to have a closer relationship with a stack of speaking notes than with their audience (though that sometimes seems to be the case).

If the whole idea behind a presentation is to influence one’s listeners, and it is, a speaker had better find a way to establish rapport with that audience! After all, is anyone willing to be persuaded by someone who basically denies their existence?

What follows are six practical tips for speaking effectively while using a manuscript or notes. These suggestions will help you remain engaging and influential as a speaker while maintaining a conversational dynamic with your listeners.

1. Write to speak. Compose your talk for the ears of your listeners, not their eyes, as would be the case if they were reading your speech. Aim for the rhythms of conversation rather than the more formal style of memos and reports (or the barely-composed slang of e-mail messages). That means choosing simple words and short sentences. Use a tape recorder to listen to yourself to improve in this area.

2. Make it easy for you to read. Give yourself pages that can you see readily from the lectern. Use a large typeface, wide margins, and avoid the bottom of the page (otherwise your audience will see the top of your head too often).

3. Grab key phrases and run with them. You don’t want to spend more time with your text than with your listeners. So look down and “grab” key phrases or sentences. Then look up at your listeners and say them. Practice the technique to acquire a rhythm, for this is an essential skill for speakers. An important general rule: if you’re not LOOKING at your audience, nothing should be coming out of your mouth.

4. Use the pause that refreshes. That’s an old ad slogan, but it applies to public speakers, who must learn to use pauses! Pauses help shape a speech. They show that you’re confident enough to introduce an idea, then let it sink in. Pauses are refreshing for listeners. The adrenalin you're producing will be prodding you to speed up, but you must take your time. A speech without pauses seems to go on forever, regardless of its actual length.

5. Look at your listeners. This is the forest that some speakers don’t see because the trees that their manuscript is made up of get in the way. You should look up from your speech with every sentence you say. Audience members need eye contact to believe you’re talking to them; and none of us is persuaded by someone who won’t look us in the eye.

6. Hit your peaks. Remember that a speech or presentation needs shape in terms of both ideas and vocal delivery. A speech lacking a climax, for instance, is as formless and anonymous as an amoeba; and presentations without vocal variety are sheer torture for listeners. The tendency of our voice to “flatten out” increases when we read from notes or a manuscript rather than conversing with listeners. Remind yourself always that you are talking to people, not sheets of paper. People demand much more from you than squiggles on a page. Provided you breathe life into those words, your listeners will return the favor handsomely.

Are You Singing Your Speech or Just Mouthing the Words?

Did you ever consider that delivering an outstanding presentation is like performing a great song? Not only is the “music” delightful to listen to, but your voice soars on a combination of dynamic technique and an inspirational message. The way you use your vocal tools carriers astonishing weight with regard to credibility, authority, and that all-important attribute, believability.

Why does your voice alone make such a difference? Well, for one thing, we all respond in basic, even primitive ways to the qualities of a person’s voice. If a voice is pleasant and authoritative, for instance, it may inspire confidence in the listener. But if it comes across as unpleasant, weak, or too quiet, the speaker will have difficulty persuading the audience toward a sale or any other positive response.

Vocal dynamics is one of the most powerful tools a presenter can use to win over an audience. Tone quality, pitch, inflection, emphasis, variety in pace, pauses, and all the emotional nuances our voices can project offer a nearly limitless palette to paint our “word pictures” and convince others. When we do that, we make our story, whatever it may be, come vibrantly alive for our listeners.

The potential of your voice

An effective way to reach toward your full vocal potential is simply to remember that the voice is inherently physical. That may sound obvious, but it’s easy to become so focused on our presentation’s content that we forget this essential fact.

Our voices are intimately connected to breathing, energy and relaxation. Any relaxation exercises—yoga, meditation, or simply lying down to rest—will help free your voice from the tension that comes from a busy life. Distractions in life naturally take their toll on how we express ourselves. Although it’s not always noticeable, the tension in your daily life reflects not only in your body but in your voice. Your voice functions most fluidly and powerfully when you relieve these daily tensions.

Getting to flow

To be convincing, you must combine the use of your voice with what you are saying. Beautiful words that don’t sound meaningful will not convince people. The converse is true as well: Meaningful words presented without eloquence can also come across as insincere. Content’s power and effectiveness hinges on your ability to combine the quality of your voice and your nonverbal communication. When you look and sound good and offer the audience a message worth listening to, all the components will be in place.

If you truly believe in your message, the way you move and your voice quality will make that message come through loud and clear. You will not have to try to be persuasive—you will be persuasive. At that point, the presentation will have a natural flow and persuasion will take place among audience members.

Delivering honesty

When you’re aware of the potential of vocal power, you can learn how to use the subtleties in your voice to influence your audience. The suppleness of our vocal instruments is a factor presenters too often neglect. The voice is the perfect tool to build trust, to instill confidence in a product or service, or to create excitement among potential clients or investors.

The key to this power is practice. When you’ve practiced enough to smoothly use your vocal tools in your presentations, remember a last point: Your listeners must trust and respect you, which means you must have an honest conversation with your audience. Be yourself—speak and move like yourself. Such authenticity looks and sounds like honesty to an audience.

Also, make sure to keep good eye contact with the audience members at all times. Look your listeners in the eyes and use your voice to persuade them of your cause. Remember to pay attention to your nonverbal cues and the subtleties of your voice. Convince your listeners by respecting their intelligence and listening to their opinions. Do these things and you’ll have standing room only for your next “performance.”

(This article originally appeared in Dr. Gary Genard’s book How to Give a Speech, which is available at http://www.publicspeakinginternational.com/how-to-give-a-speech.html.)