THINGS THAT MATTER: Public speaking – Feared by some, butchered by others
“A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.” (Sir Winston Churchill)
“No audience ever complained about a presentation or speech being too short.” (Stephen Keague, in The Little Red Handbook of Public Speaking and Presenting)
“Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.” (Cicero)
My first quote is just one of Sir Winston Churchill’s brilliant quotable quotes. His wit was always there – either up front or lurking, ready to pounce and make its memorable mark. And that illustrates the fact that some people are just born great speakers, others can work at it and become great speakers, and some, sadly, won’t even try. Tragically, we’re exposed far too often to many of those.
I’ve been asked by many people – from all walks of life - to write about public speaking; sometimes by people who say they’ve been called upon and they just weren’t prepared. I’ve procrastinated for a long time because there’s no short cut to getting your feet wet and just doing it, to overcome the fear. But like all things in life, some understanding of the basics, preparation and practice will make all the difference. So here goes, with a few basic tips, compressing a lecture series into a single column!
Anyone might be asked to make a short speech on all sorts of occasions. Although this can be well done without warning by experienced speakers, it’s always best if you have time to prepare. It might be a toast at a wedding or a farewell speech for a colleague retiring; an acceptance speech for an award; “remarks” at a function such as an after-dinner speech; or introduction of a featured speaker. All of these should be brief, thoughtful, and if possible humorous, but the humour must be sensitive and unless a joke or anecdote is well practised it may be best avoided.
Introduction of a speaker is often mangled. If it’s an informal affair, nothing more than a few sentences is needed. If it’s a formal affair the speaker should be asked for a brief bio, and the MC or introducer selects what’s most important or most relevant for the audience. The introduction should not be a mini-lecture, it should not be more than a very few minutes, and on no account should the MC laboriously read a page of facts printed in the front of a programme. This insults the audience, who have already read it, embarrasses everyone and robs the speaker of precious time.
Planning the speech is key to success. There are three basic decisions to be made. Decide the nature of the speech – should it be serious, sad, light hearted, inspirational or congratulatory? Decide the length, and DON’T exceed the time suggested. And decide if you will read it, give it from notes or using a power point presentation, or ad lib (winging it!) Some topics NEED a power point, as a picture can be worth a thousand words. For others it can be a distraction. For controversial subjects a written speech is good, but for goodness sake, follow three rules: print it in large, bold type, practise reading it, and read it with feeling and expression, to show you wrote it and you mean it!
Gather the relevant information … from as many sources as possible, and get your facts right! Don’t agree to speak on a topic you know little about or aren’t interested in. Organise the themes in a logical order that flows, and keep your notes simple and LEGIBLE! If you decide to write it in full, to be read dramatically, write in an easy reading style, underline or put in bold the words you want to emphasise, and re-read it several times, so you can read it with expression. A well-read speech will hold the audience’s attention. Some speakers on TV seem to be either dyslexic or reading a speech someone else wrote, in bad hand writing, so everyone switches off. So practise!
When the time comes to give the speech, make sure you feel good and are dressed “right” for the occasion, Stand upright and use only appropriate gestures; some speakers appear to be swimming or wiping the air rhythmically, or waving to the gallery. Curb any funny habits, and don’t scratch or pick !
Speak well … VELVET (a voice like velvet) is the acronym! Voice should be your normal speaking voice – no affectations, no sing-song style and avoid Ah and Ahm, ahm, ahm! Emotion should be confident and friendly; as someone said, “speak when you’re angry - and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret”. Language should be standard English; where appropriate Bajan dialect may fit in, on informal occasions or telling a story. Practice pronunciation and avoid d or t for th, for example. Vocabulary should be simple – never use a long word when a short one will do – that was for the old time “tea meetings”! Your vocabulary is determined by your own reading, so if you read widely you’ll have a vocabulary you can call on readily, and if you read great speeches, you’ll become familiar with the rhetorical devices that can be so effective. Elocution is key – speak clearly, don’t mumble, and don’t drop your voice at the end of a sentence as so many people do – you must be heard! T stands for talk – don’t shout into the microphone, as most people tend to do – the mike is there to work for you, so nurse it with tenderness … and remember, speakers who shout are often covering a weak argument with a loud voice!
Finally – finish with a bit of a flourish, a smile and a thank you. ….
Some general tips include: Assess your audience: start with good humour or with a question to get their attention (the “Hook”) but don’t tell the wrong joke or ask the wrong question for the audience. A joke for a Sports team or Men’s Fellowship won’t work for the Mothers’ Union. Don’t be crude, and don’t drink too much alcohol beforehand! Many a story tells that story … Do read the speeches of the Greats – Churchill, Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Barack Obama. And remember the words of Mark Twain: “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”
Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com