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How to Master Speech Delivery - Chapter 6

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This page will teach you exactly how to deliver your speech with power and influence.

 

It will teach you the main ideas from Chapter 6 of How to Master Public Speaking.

 

You will learn how to master speech delivery...

 

...and speak like a master public speaker.

 

Are you ready? Let's get started.

​

Contents of This Chapter

 

Conversationalism

Here's the brutal truth:

 

So many speeches fail for one reason.

 

And here it is:

 

The speaker doesn't understand conversational and formal approaches. More specifically:

 

What they are.

 

How to achieve them.

​

Why they are different.

 

And most importantly:

 

Which one to use in the first place, based on the situation.

 

But don't worry. I will teach you everything about conversational and formal approaches.

 

I will also tell you exactly how to know which to choose later on.

 

Just some background:

 

A conversational approach is when you speak as though you're talking to a group of friends. That's the simplest way to think of it.

 

Here's why a conversational approach is powerful, without seeming powerful:

 

  • It creates a bridge between minds.

  • It allows for a free transfer of ideas.

  • It builds a strong speaker to audience connection.

  • It avoids seeming "high-minded" (pretentious) in certain situations.

  • It fosters speaker to audience relatability.

  • It relaxes your audience.

  • It relaxes you.

 

To describe the power of a conversational approach...

 

...in a single word...

 

...it would be this:

 

Subtle.

 

It doesn't seem like you're using any advanced speaking techniques. And you aren't. What you're doing is tapping into the magic of a conversation. That by itself is one of the most powerful public speaking techniques.

 

In the book, I tell you what to do, and what not to do. For now, I'll just tell you what not to do when trying for a conversational approach.

 

Here's what you don't do:

 

  • Do not try to memorize a conversational speech. Do you memorize what you are going to say when you're talking to a friend? If you do, that's a bigger problem.

  • Do not use extremely intense words, vocal modulation, or body language.

  • Do not use excessive emotion.

  • Do not use complex language you wouldn't use in a conversation.

  • Do not try to over-plan the speech.

 

Formality

Imagine this:

 

The year is 1962. You've got the cold war, political upheaval, and general...

 

...well...

 

...anxiety.

 

You're at Rice University, waiting for president JFK to begin his speech.

 

Here's how he starts:

 

"President Pitzer, Mr. Vice President, Governor, Congressman Thomas, Senator Wiley, and Congressman Miller, Mr. Webb, Mr. Bell, scientists, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen: I appreciate your president having made me an honorary visiting professor, and I will assure you that my first lecture will be very brief.”

 

You just know something big is coming. Something earth-shattering. Something out-of-this-world. Something so big that it demands a high level of formality.

 

Alright, step back into 2019, so I can tell you something:

 

Are you announcing your plan to send Americans to the moon like JFK was?

 

Are you announcing something big? Talking about an important idea? Perhaps competing in a public speaking competition?

 

How big is your audience? How have other speakers giving similar speeches approached it?

 

Is your audience likely to be as serious about your subject as you are?

 

If not...

 

Are you able to make them as serious about it as you are?

 

How do you want to portray yourself?

 

These are questions that will help you make the most crucial decision you might ever make as a speaker.

 

This decision:

 

A conversational approach...

 

...a formal approach...

 

...or some sort of blend.

 

Don't worry about making the wrong decision. The book shows you exactly how to decide, and exactly how to achieve both conversationalism and formality.

 

I would show you how here, but there's just too much to it. You'd be scrolling endlessly. After all... this is just supposed to be big ideas and key concepts.

 

Formal and Conversational Diction

Do you say "ask?"

 

Or do you say "inquire?"

 

Do you say "tell?"

 

Or do you say "inform?"

 

"Start," or "begin?"

 

"Wrong," or "incorrect?"

 

"Say no," or "reject?"

 

"Right," or "correct?"

 

"Nice," or "kind?"

 

ALRIGHT... that's enough. You get the point. There is a crucial distinction between conversational and formal diction.

 

It is a subtle one...

 

...but what is effective public speaking?

 

The mastery of subtleties.

 

The book has countless examples of conversational words compared with their formal equivalents.

 

Why? Because these things are important.

 

Is it insignificant if you say "try" versus "attempt?"

 

No. If you thought yes, you're wrong.

 

Here's the truth:

 

Want to give a good speech? Yes, of course you do.

 

Know what makes a good speech? A set of key subtleties being used together. And they are very subtle subtleties.

 

So subtle that alone, they seem...

 

...meh.

 

But when used together, they produce the most wonderful, powerful, magical speeches. The speeches of Martin Luther King... of presidents... of famous leaders everywhere.

​

The Informational Approach

Let's face it:

 

9/10 speeches you will have to give...

 

...are probably supposed to inform your audience.

 

So if you want:

 

More success informing.

 

More attention from your audience.

 

Less anxiety.

 

Then keep reading.

 

Let me tell you a secret:

 

To inform well, be a selfless speaker. How do you do that?

 

Here's how:

 

Think only of the information and of your audience. View yourself as simply a vessel through which the information can reach the audience.

 

Everything you say, as well as the way you say it, should maximize the effectiveness of your function as a vessel for the information.

 

This is a selfless approach because you’re taking yourself out of the picture. This might have sounded abstract at first, but it is very concrete.

 

Your mindset, after all, impacts your outcome.

 

Here's (some) of the tips the book teaches you about informing:

 

  • Perform "audience checks" to ensure that you aren't moving too fast.

  • Don't spend too much time on simple concepts.

  • Tailor content depth to your audience persona.

  • Aim for a calm, controlled approach.

  • Also aim for personability and humor, without diluting the information.

  • If you provide any opinion, provide the opposite one too.

  • Give your personal opinion if you want, but disclaim it as such.

  • Be humble.

 

I'm way too nice. I was supposed to only give you some of the tips...

 

...and make you buy the book for the rest.

 

Instead, here's some more:

 

  • Organize your speech into information bundles.

  • Build up your speech in a pyramidal structure.

  • Interchange information bundles based on the situation.

  • Match visual aids (if you have them) to information bundles.

 

Okay... I need to stop now and make you buy the book to get the rest of the tips.

 

But I'm just... way too nice. A pushover, even. Here are more tips:

 

  • Speak from your base of knowledge, not a manuscript.

  • Memorize a structure, not words.

  • Make a mental map of your "information web."

  • Give yourself room to speak outside the map; plan for unplanned moments.

 

Okay okay... now you really need to buy the book if you want the rest of the tips.

 

Well... I don't want to leave you without them! So...

 

Here they are:

 

  • Allow... actually, encourage audience questions.

  • Do not give answers in this form: [factual answer] (10 seconds), but this form: [factual answer] [the significance of factual answer] [connection of factual answer to broader concept] [analysis of factual answer] (60 seconds to 2 minutes).

  • Answer questions at length to satisfy a broader curiosity.

  • Teach through relevant, engaging, and humorous stories.

 

Alright, now...

 

...you already know what I'm going to say.

 

*sigh*

 

Here are the last of the tips:

 

  • Structure your speech in support of one central concept and a big idea.

  • Do not make your information be a string of disconnected facts.

  • Always focus on the "umbrella concept."

  • Always focus on key patterns.

 

Alrighty! I just gave it all away. If any of those tips seem vague, the book goes in depth on each and every technique.

 

In other words:

 

The book shows you exactly how to execute each of the above tips, if they aren't self-explanatory.

 

The Persuasive Approach

Are you sick and tired of hearing the word no?

 

"No, I don't think I want to buy that."

 

"No, I'm not sure that's a good solution."

 

"No, I disagree."

 

No, no, no, no... Life is full of them.

 

Well guess what:

 

You may never have to hear the word no again.

 

By the time you reach this section in the actual book, here's what you will have learned:

 

  • 16 persuasive principles.

  • A step-by-step process to use them.

  • Simple methods to apply them directly to a public speech.

 

Here are the 16:

 

  1. Reciprocity

  2. Scarcity

  3. Authority

  4. Consistency

  5. Likeability

  6. Consensus

  7. Ethos

  8. Pathos

  9. Logos

  10. Kairos

  11. Invoking the desires of: Getting

  12. Bonding

  13. Learning

  14. Defending

  15. Feeling

  16. Improving

 

If this seems like a mountain of persuasive principles...

 

...I'm about to drop another mountain on top of a mountain.

 

Let's start with one particularly important "don't do."

 

Never, ever, ever try the hard sell.

 

Why not? I'll be honest. Right now I'm trying to sell my book to you.

 

Are you having a bad time? Are you anxious? Do you hate me?

 

No? That's because I'm not hard-selling.

 

Here's what a hard-sell would be:

 

"BUY MY BOOK. Buy it NOW. If you don't buy this, you will never succeed in your entire life. If you can't speak in front of people, you won't become anything EVER. You absolutely need this book. You need it now."

 

Gross. That's not salesmanship. That's not persuasion.

 

Consider what I'm doing instead:

 

  • Educating you on key concepts.

  • Giving you valuable information.

  • Not constantly badgering you to buy.

 

Believe it or not... this is actually a public speaking lesson.

 

Here's the wisdom:

 

  • Aggressive persuasion is weakness disguised as bravado.

  • Straight-to-business, hard-sell persuasion is LEVEL ONE. You don't want to be on level one.

  • The "hard-sell" comes off as needy.

 

Now that we've covered the most crucial persuasive principle (that the hard-sell is no good)...

 

...here are more powerful persuasive tips and techniques:

 

  • Don't convince your audience, get them to convince themselves.

  • Don't just speak your mind... speak your audience's minds.

  • Focus on inspiring a desire in people.

  • Persuade through the frame of giving solutions to problems.

  • Describe in and out the problems your audience are facing.

  • Show understanding for the situation your audience is in.

  • Act as a connector between problem and solution, need and fulfillment, desire and outcome.

  • Detach yourself from outcome.

  • Be assertive (that doesn't mean hard-sell).

  • Use a damaging admission.

 

These are just some of the persuasive techniques taught in this section of the book. The book shows you how to execute each and every single persuasive technique.

 

In other words:

 

The book makes these complex techniques simple, easy, and straightforward.

 

The Inspirational Approach

There's a very important secret out there...

 

...that describes every single inspirational speech.

 

Every successful one, that is.

 

This book reveals it.

 

I'll give you some hints:

 

  • It has to do with Freud's theory of the tripartite personality.

  • It has to do with empowering one part of the tripartite personality and weaking another.

  • It has to do with using a set of techniques to accomplish this goal.

 

Effective public speaking and psychology are so closely tied together. This is another example of that connection.

 

I'll give you some tips from the book now. Just know that the secret isn't one of the following:

 

  • Subtly play upon guilt.

  • Make doing the right thing seem easy.

  • Highlight the consequences of doing the wrong thing.

  • Make those consequences seem massive.

  • Build positive visualizations.

  • Build negative visualizations.

  • Build negative visualizations followed by positive visualizations (the contrast method).

  • Build positive visualizations followed by negative ones (the reverse contrast method).

  • Compare a current reality to a possible, better reality.

  • Jump back and forth between the possible reality and the current reality.

 

Again, if these tips seem vague...

 

...don't worry:

 

The book explains them all in depth. It tells you how to use each of these insanely powerful inspirational techniques

 

Want to succeed?

 

Chances are you'll need to get a team of people on board.

 

Want that team to work hard?

 

They need to be inspired.

 

It's that simple.

 

The Entertaining Approach

You have this HILARIOUS JOKE in your speech.

 

I mean... absolutely hysterical.

 

You start speaking, but all you can think about is that joke.

 

Finally, it comes time for the joke.

 

You set the stage...

 

...slowly building up to the AMAZING punchline.

 

You can sense the audience getting ready to laugh. You can't wait to hear the thundering applause and laughter...

 

...all praising your wit!

 

Then bam! Punchline time.

 

You feel a sinking feeling as 3 horrible things happen:

 

  1. One person laughs.

  2. That person is your mom.

  3. Even she seems to be faking it.

 

Don't worry! This never has to be reality. There's two things you can do to prevent this:

 

  1. Teach your mom how to do a convincing fake laugh.

  2. Read this section of my book.

 

Luckily, since I'm so generous, and because I never want just your mom to be laughing at your jokes...

 

I'm going to give you this entire section.

 

Here it is, straight from the book:

 

"Detachment from outcome is crucial for all speeches, but even more so for a speech to entertain. Someone who wants to be funny needs to seem like they don’t care whether or not they are. They need to seem like they have an “I don’t care if you laugh at what I’m saying because I think it’s funny so I’m going to say it and laugh at myself” attitude. Not only do they need to seem like that’s what their thinking: it’s even better if it actually is.

Don’t be afraid to draw humor from your own life. As long as it’s not too personal, you should be willing to expose some mildly embarrassing stories. A very effective model for a joke is saying the first half of a phrase which suggests a logical second half, and then blowing away that expectation. Make your audience think you will say something, and then don’t say it. Build a pattern, and then break it. Confound their expectations. It’s important when using this technique that the logical conclusion that would follow from the first half of your joke is assumed by most of the people in your audience. Make it very clear.

​

As with any speech, it’s important to limit the number of words you’re saying. Brevity is key. Don’t delay unnecessarily: build up a joke only as much as it needs to be before getting to the punchline. It’s important when giving a speech to entertain that you are natural, easygoing, and are having fun yourself. Your audience will take that cue from you and begin having fun themselves.

​

Timing is everything when it comes to humor. Build suspense before giving your audience the punchline, and let them process it by pausing after you deliver it. Be energetic, and make your audience energetic by simply being extremely energetic yourself. Unusually energetic. Concerningly energetic.

​

Be authentic and don’t try to get into an avatar that isn’t you. Be genuine to who you are when you’re trying to express a funny persona, and you’ll find it much easier to get into a flow.

​

There are many principles of comedy which are beyond the scope of this book, but which are worth learning nonetheless. Believe it or not, there are actually joke structures and molds that have proven to be effective.

​

Lastly, use metaphors, analogies, and exaggerations, and paint a picture in your audience’s minds of what you want them to imagine.

​

If you want to learn more about speeches designed to entertain, watch successful comedians do their work and closely observe their techniques."

 

Timing

Eternity is a long time.

 

You never want your audience to feel like that's how long they've been listening to you.

 

Let me tell you a secret:

 

Every speech ever delivered had a time limit, whether it was a strict allotted time, or an informal time limit on the audience’s attention span.

 

Let me tell you a second secret:

 

Even the most captivating speaker cannot engage an audience forever.

 

Let me tell you a third secret:

 

No matter how brilliant a speech might be, its brilliance fades with time. If you see your audience start to seem restless; if you see them shifting in their seats, muttering amongst themselves, or checking their watches, gracefully cut your speech short.

 

And a fourth:

 

If you can accomplish the same goal with the same quality in a shorter speech, then do so.

 

Conversation Fillers

You're giving a speech.

 

It's all going great.

 

Except...

 

...those constant "uh," "ah," and "um" sounds you keep making.

 

No matter how hard you try...

 

...it seems like they will forever taint your speech, keeping you from eloquence.

 

Don't worry:

 

I will teach you powerful strategies to never say a "conversation filler" again.

 

But first, I will teach you why they happen:

 

In the heat of the moment, you are briefly unsure what to say next.

 

What does your mind decide to do?

 

Find a way to fill the silence...

 

...with one of these "um" sounds...

 

...until you figure out what to say.

 

But let me tell you something:

 

A pause is better than an "um." Your subconscious brain just doesn't realize it.

 

Here's what your subconcious mind is thinking:

 

"I'm speaking right now... speaking is making sounds... I must always be making sounds as long as I am in a state of speaking."

 

That's also why dramatic pauses (while incredibly powerful) seem so nerve-wracking to do.

 

Now...

 

...it's time for the solutions:

 

  • When you feel a conversation filler coming, just pause until you get back on track.

  • Take note of when you use conversation fillers, and look for patterns.

  • Practice your speech extremely well if it is written.

  • Review your subject matter extremely well if your speech is centered around a core set of ideas.

  • Know what you're talking about (you won't have trouble knowing what to say next).

  • Speak slower.

  • Rephrase unnatural sentences (which often cause conversation fillers).

  • Watch for places in your speech where they keep occuring, and rewrite those.

​

Fumbles In Speech

So many people will never speak publicly for one reason:

 

They are afraid of fumbling their speech.

 

In other words:

 

They are replaying a vision in their heads, that usually goes something like this:

 

They get up on stage, start speaking, fumble, then die.

 

Public speaking is one of the most feared activities. It is so feared that it has its own phobia...

 

...which 75% of people suffer from, according to some estimates.

 

Let me tell you something so important:

 

Nobody cares if you fumble.

 

I'm incredibly critical of speakers (I have to be).

 

EVEN I DON'T CARE IF YOU FUMBLE.

 

Realize this:

 

You are your biggest critic. No audience member will be as critical of your speech as you.

 

Every single person in the room will be thinking about one thing:

 

THEMSELVES.

 

Want a window into the mind of most people?

 

Here it is:

 

"Me... me... me..."

 

That accounts for 80% of people's thoughts.

 

Just because you fumble...

 

...doesn't mean people stop thinking of themselves and start thinking of your mistakes.

​

Even if you fumble, they will still be thinking these thoughts:

​

"How does this information relate to me?"

 

"How is this speaker helping me?"

 

"How will this impact my life?"

 

"How will this help me get ahead?"

 

Only one person will be thinking "oh no... what a bad fumble."

 

You.

​

Individual Styles

Here's what the book has to say about individual styles:

 

"The key to success in public speaking, as well as the rest of life, is figuring out what you naturally are, and becoming more of it. Everyone has their own natural voice. Your voice can be deep and booming, quiet and timid, or loud and high pitched. No type of voice is better than another. What actually matters, however, is how well you master whatever kind of voice you were born with. Deep and booming voices, while sounding powerful, make it harder to enunciate syllables. Quiet and tremorous voices, if used properly, are the most soothing to listen to. Loud and high-pitched voices cut through the air and are very easily heard.

 

Every speaker, over time, develops their own individual style. Some are calm, measured, and in control. Such a style consists of speaking slowly, clearly, and with depth of voice. Another style is passionate and excited. These speakers speak rapidly and excitedly, often making impassioned gestures and motions on the stage. Such speakers can be very influential and energizing to listen to. Another style is relaxed. This style is exemplified by a laid-back posture and more casual language. While this might make a speaker appear aloof, it can also make them more personable to the audience. Another style is sophisticated and knowledgeable. Such a style consists of using complex phrases and diction that grant authority to oneself.

 

The number of individual public speaking styles is just as limitless and unique as the number of people who pursue public speaking, and the kinds of people that they are. The challenge lies not with choosing an individual style, but in developing and refining the one you naturally revert to. Find out what kind of speaker you are, and go all in on it."

 

Responding to Challenges

You just finish speaking in a meeting.

 

You smile, satisfied with the way you spoke.

 

Everyone seems to agree with you...

 

...except Matt.

 

Stupid Matt.

 

You can tell he's about to say something, but you don't know what.

 

Here it goes:

 

"That's quite frankly ridiculous..." he says, and continues to talk for 5 minutes about why you're wrong.

 

*sigh* Stupid Matt.

 

It can be very scary to be challenged as a public speaker.

 

Trust me, it happened to me probably hundreds of times.

 

Here's (some) of the book's tips on how to respond to challenges and maintain your dignity:

 

  • If someone throws hate your way, respond with love (this is one of the most powerful techniques... and no, it's not soft... and no... it's not abstract either).

  • Take 2 deep relaxing breaths before you respond.

  • Watch your jaw; it can show anger if it is clenched.

  • Realize that you are being called out because you are relevant.

  • View the situation as an opportunity to address concerns.

  • View the situation as an opportunity to improve your stance.

  • Make eye-contact with the critic.

  • Smile as you begin your response.

  • Pause after they finish speaking and before you respond.

  • Be patient and don't interrupt them.

  • Give them positive affirmations as they speak.

  • Try to minimize the amount of time between your critic finishing and you responding.

  • If someone jumps to your defense, let them.

  • Balance kindness with an assertive response that addresses what they said.

 

Does all this "be nice to the person trying to verbally maul you" stuff seem...

 

...well...

 

...soft?

 

It's not. In fact, it's the opposite.

 

Trust me, this non-traditional approach works. I've used it plenty of times with great success as a Massachussets Speech and Debate League competitor.

 

Like the time an opponent said (in a very confrontational way):

 

"Peter, that's absolutely ridiculous. You said yourself that [contradictory point]. You can't possibly expect [my statement] to be true. [2 more minutes of this kind of stuff].

 

And I began my response, in an insanely non-confrontational way:

 

"[Name], I definitely see what you're saying *smile*. I appreciate your input and I respect your ideas. That was very well-worded. I'd love a chance to build off your points *smile again* [response]."

 

And no... it wasn't sarcastic.

 

But here's the truth:

 

Taking the kind approach when your opponent wants to pull you into a confrontation...

 

...is more of a power move than getting pulled into the confrontation.

 

Anyway:

 

Those were just the book's tips on the way to respond. It also teaches you how to actually build a response.

 

Challenging Others

You know what?

 

Sometimes you've gotta do it.

 

Sometimes you've gotta call others out.

 

Sometimes it's unavoidable.

 

Like, for example, in any of these cases:

 

  • When there is money that might be lost.

  • When people might be hurt.

  • When someone is spreading misinformation.

 

But just because you've gotta do it...

 

...doesn't mean you've gotta be mean about it.

 

So when you need to challenge others in a public speaking setting, follow these guidelines:

 

  • Don't use an "ad hominem," a logical fallacy of attacking the person, not what they are saying.

  • Don't be too derisive (a little is okay, but keep it toned down).

  • Clearly explain the logical errors, or missing information, that you noticed.

  • Be assertive, but be kind and polite.

​

Pleasantries

How to Win Friends and Influence People...

 

...a great book.

 

Also, incidentally, one that is in the public domain.

 

Know what that means?

 

It means I can teach you exactly how to apply the principles taught in that book to public speaking.

 

I probably could've done that before it was public domain... but you can never be too safe.

 

Disclaimer:

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People focuses on one-to-one interactions. But, as you will come to see, the principles can easily be applied to public speaking.

 

In the book, I show you 10 of the principles and how to apply them to a public speech.

 

For now, I'll show you 3 of them.

 

Straight from the book:

 

"1 - Don’t Criticize, Condemn, or Complain

 

Anybody who intends to convince others of something must avoid these three harmful habits. If our climatologist went up on stage in an effort to get people to live more climate friendly lives and said “You people are ridiculous. Don’t you know that you need to recycle? It’s literally so easy. The bins are right next to the trash cans. It’s because of the things you all do that our planet is dying," do you think he’d get anywhere? No. Absolutely not. Even if the things being said are true, people will by no means respond well to criticism, condemnation, or complaints.

​

4 - Talk in Terms of the Other Person’s Interests / Be Sympathetic with Their Desires and Ideas

 

This is similar to principle three. If you want people to follow your advice, then frame it in terms of what interests them. Most people are interested in saving money, so our climatologist could say “Money is great. Unfortunately, a great deal of it will have to be spent if we don’t make small changes now to prevent climate change later on. Small expenses today will save massive expenses ten years from now. This is a coastal community. Imagine how much a giant flood wall in front of your house is going to cost!”

 

People respond much better to those who speak in terms of their interests. For example, a climatologist might pursue their work because they are disdained by the impact climate change has on animals. However, not everyone might share that interest. You should always try to find what interests your audience and speak in terms of it. Our climatologist could even interact with the audience, like so: “The gentlemen in the blue blazer in the first row, what is something you like to do on the weekends?” The gentleman might respond “I like to go on hikes with my son up by the creek trail.” The climatologist could then incorporate this interest into his speech and say “I really enjoy hiking up that trail too. It’s really saddening to me that the trail I’ve been hiking since I was a kid is going to be flooded soon due to climate change related rising sea levels.”

 

9 - Talk About Your Own Mistakes Before Criticizing the Other Person / Call Attention to People’s Mistakes Indirectly

 

When advising an audience to make changes to their lifestyle, a speaker can risk making themselves seem high-minded and above the audience. This is easily corrected if our climatologist were to say, for example, “Believe me everyone, I know how difficult it can be. The little changes seem to just slip through the cracks. Before I was a climatologist, I don’t think I recycled a single piece of paper.” Doing this builds immense relatability."

How to Win Friends and Influence People...

 

...a great book, by a man named Dale Carngie.

 

We talk later about how to apply every single principle in that book to public speaking.

 

But, to sum up the whole book in two words:

 

BE NICE.

 

And I have a way to do that:

 

A concession. Admitting that part of what your opponents are saying is true.

 

Unfortunately, here's how most books and resources teach concessions:

 

  • Admit that your opponents are correct about something.

  • Enjoy the trust you just gained at the risk of undermining your own speech.

 

Not bad. But there's a better way. My way.

 

Here's how my book teaches concessions:

 

  • Admit that your oppenents are correct that a particular benefit is important.

  • Agree about the benefit, and then show how your idea has more of that benefit.

  • Enjoy the trust you just gained.

  • Enjoy the lack of risk you gained it with.

  • Enjoy seeming level-headed and objective.

  • Enjoy the ability to assert your idea over an opposing one without seeming petty.

 

Which do you prefer?

 

I'm not going to say that mine's better...

 

...but...

 

...it definitely is. And luckily for you, the book shows you exactly how to execute this strategy.

 

Emotion

I don't like it when people call other people emotional.

 

Aside from the obvious reasons, here's why:

 

Everyone is emotional.

 

In other words:

 

Everyone acts based on emotions.

 

Everyone pretends that isn't the case and tries to rationalize emotional decisions with logic.

 

And most importantly:

 

Everyone can be motivated by emotions.

 

Now let's talk about public speaking:

 

So many of your speeches will have to motivate people.

 

See where I'm going with this?

 

If you want to motivate...

 

...an incredibly powerful way to do so...

 

...is by tapping into something that motivates everyone.

 

Emotion.

 

You can tap into the incredible power of emotion in 2 ways. The first is pathos, which we talked about in a previous section. The second is by portraying personal emotion.

 

Indeed, the two are very tied together. And one often leads to another.

 

But for now, let's talk about personal emotion.

 

Here's why it's powerful:

 

  • More people can relate to emotion than unfeeling logic.

  • Emotion builds the speaker to audience connection.

  • The vast majority of decisions people make are based on emotion.

 

Quite simply...

 

...emotion resonates.

 

And here's how you do it:

 

  • Keep it controlled.

  • Concentrate your emotion and channel it in a specific direction.

  • Focus your emotion on a single goal.

  • Make sure the emotion is genuine.

  • Don't "fake" emotion, just expose the emotion that is already there.

  • Show vulnerability.

  • Pair emotional delivery with an emotional subject.

  • Use emotive, evocative language.

  • Make sure emotion is appropriate for the setting.

  • Use emotion in an otherwise logical, evidence-based speech, as a way to emphasize a particular point.

 

One last piece of wisdom:

 

They will forget what you said...

 

...but they will never forget how you made them feel.

​

public-speaking-book-mockup.png
Conversationalism
Formality
Diction
Informing
Persuading
Inspiring
Entertaining
Timing
Speech Fumbles
Conversation Filler
Individual Styles
Getting Challenged
Challenging Others
Pleasantries
Emotion
Intensity

Intensity and Dynamism

You know Martin Luther King...

 

...right?

 

I'm going to assume so.

 

There was something INCREDIBLY powerful about his speaking style. (Many things, actually... but for now I'll talk about one of them).

 

In other words:

 

When he said "I have a dream," the way he said it accomplished two AMAZING things:

 

  1. He portrayed a steely, intense, explosive inner fire that came from the very depths of his soul.

  2. He transmitted and replicated this inner fire in his audience members, inspiring them to beat overwhelming odds.

 

There is no better example of the power of intensity and dynamism...

 

...than Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.

 

Here are some of the intensity and dynamism techniques taught in the book:

 

  • Speak louder than typical voice projection.

  • Speak somewhat fast.

  • Use strong physical gestures.

  • Use the "inflective pitch escalation" strategy.

  • Repeatedly raise your pitch over several sentences.

  • Get faster, louder, and more intense, and then become very calm and quiet. Repeat this.

 

Conviction

A timeless piece of public speaking wisdom:

 

If your audience sees that you believe yourself, they will start to believe you.

 

Great! But...

 

...on the contrary:

 

If your audience sees even an ounce of self-disbelieve, they will completely discredit you.

 

Don't worry:

 

I know exactly how to avoid this. And I'll teach you how.

 

By using the methods for speaking with conviction, which are taught in the book, you will make every single audience believe you.

 

How?

 

By showing them that you believe yourself.

 

Here's how to speak with conviction:

 

  • Make use of very strong breaking rapport tonality.

  • Ask a rhetorical question with question tonality, and provide the answer with strong breaking rapport tonality.

  • Frame the question as something you are often asked.

  • Speak in absolutes.

  • Emphasize the absolutes.

  • Gesture decisively to emphasize the absolutes.

  • Use "because," "since," "so that," etc.

  • Assert in the past, present, and future.

 

Do these techniques seem vague?

 

Abstract, even?

 

Don't worry.

 

They are all extremely concrete. They are all tangible, physical techniques that you use. They are not at all abstract.

 

Are you confused on how to use these techniques?

 

Don't worry; the book shows you how.

​

Past, Present, and Future

I just mentioned it in the previous section:

 

"Assert in the past, present, and future."

 

It probably made you wonder...

 

...what the hell is this guy talking about?

 

And understandably so. The advice probably seems very vague. But it is so powerful and concrete that it deserves its own section.

 

First, some crucial background. Here's 3 common reasons why people might object to your ideas:

 

  1. They don't believe the idea worked in the past.

  2. They don't believe the idea works now.

  3. They don't believe the idea will work in the future.

 

And yet... so many speakers make one vital mistake:

 

Only addressing objection number 2 (that the idea doesn't work in the present).

 

Everyone always talks about why their idea is the best in the present.

 

In other words, they only assert their ideas in one dimension of time...

 

...when there are 3 dimensions of time.

 

Now... the book shows you examples and gives you detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use this technique. For now, I'll give you a template:

 

"This was the solution when [insert a time when this would have solved a past problem]. This is the solution now because [reason why this is the solution now]. Most importantly, this will continue to be the best solution because [reason why the value of this solution will not diminish with time]."

 

It's that simple.

 

Focus mainly on the present, yes...

 

...but don't forget about the past and the future.

 

Why?
 

Because the best idea in the present is the one with a proven track record in the past, and the one that will last long into the future.

​

Podium or No Podium

I'll keep this section (and the following X or no X ones) very brief for you.

 

Pros of a podium:

 

  • Bonus authority.

  • Air of officiality.

  • Place to put notes or a manuscript.

  • Physical comfort.

  • More confidence.

 

Cons of a podium:

 

  • Degrades physical presence.

  • Makes gesturing harder.

  • Gives you something to lean on.

  • Prevents full use of body language.

​

Mic or No Mic

Can you project your voice throughout an entire room?

 

Can you do it without yelling or straining yourself?

 

If so, it's almost always better not to use a microphone.

 

It evokes power when you make yourself effortlessly heard throughout an entire room without a microphone.

 

However:

 

If you have even the slightest doubt that you can be heard...

 

...bring the microphone out.

 

You don't have to use it. Just keep it there, in case you need to.

 

It's better to have the microphone and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

Powerpoint or No Powerpoint

If you can't do PowerPoint right, don't do it at all.

 

A poorly performed PowerPoint is a disaster.

 

However:

 

If you can use PowerPoint (or any slide software, for that matter) correctly, here are the advantages:

 

  • You gain an instant sense of authority.

  • You feel more in control.

  • You can use the PowerPoint as a reminder of the structure and idea-flow of your speech.

  • You instantly remove the impression of being unprepared.

  • You add visual and textual support to your voice, words, and body language.

 

Props or No Props

People who say props don't work are wrong.

 

Poorly done props don't work.

 

But that's true of anything.

 

The truth is this:

 

Props, done correctly, are good for your speech.

 

Here's why:

 

  • They give the audience a visual focal point.

  • They allow for visual metaphors.

  • They establish visual unity.

 

It's simple. If you don't overdo it, props work. For example, a writer giving a speech can absolutely find a clever way to weave a pen as a prop into his speech.

 

Reading the Audience

Guess what:

 

Public speaking is not one-way communication.

 

It's not just you communicating to your audience.

 

Not at all.

 

On the contrary:

 

Public speaking is two-way communication. You communicate to your audience, and your audience communicates back to you.

 

If you want to master public speaking, you must understand this concept.

 

Here are some of the infinite ways your audience communicates with you (hint...you want to observe and react to these when speaking):

 

  • They can sit forward.

  • They can lean back.

  • They can look directly at you.

  • They can look to one of your sides.

  • They can fidget.

  • They can be completely still.

  • They can murmur to each other.

  • They can be completely silent.

  • They can sigh.

  • They can check their watches.

  • They can be responsive to your humor.

  • They can show varying facial expressions.

  • The list goes on...

 

And here's a final crucial point:

 

It's not only important that you notice these signs. You must also react to them.

​

Reading the Occasion

These four questions must be answered before you give a speech:

 

  1. What purpose is the occasion for?

  2. Do I know none, a small number, most, or all of the people in the audience?

  3. How large is my audience, how fancy is my venue, and am I getting paid to give the speech?

  4. Am I similar to my audience members or am I an authority on a given subject?

 

They absolutely must be answered.

 

Why? Because they each give you deep insight into the best approach.

 

This subject is far too complex for me to explain here. It's about 10 pages long in the book. And not only is it complex, but important:

 

Important because you must fulfill the purpose of the occasion.

 

Important because being familiar with your audience can be used in your speech.

 

Important because venue size, payment, and officiality all demand a specific approach.

 

Important because your authority (or lack of it) determines your style.

 

Audience Interaction

YOU MUST DO THIS.

 

I can't think of a single public speaking situation in which audience interaction won't help you.

 

Here's what audience interaction does:

 

  • Builds rapport.

  • Fosters likeability.

  • Strengthens the speaker to audience connection.

  • Grabs and holds attention.

  • Engages the audience.

 

But it's not that simple.

 

There are specific ways in which you must interact with the audience. Like reading the occasion, this topic is too huge. You'll learn more about it in the book.

 

Now you know it all.

 

You’ve officially learned just about everything there is to learn about public speaking with power, influence, and persuasion.

 

The last thing left for you to do is to take the knowledge of these skills and to put them into practice.

 

Anton Chekhov once said: “Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”

 

You’re ready. You’ve read the most comprehensive resource on public speaking available. Time to put it to work in as many ways as you possibly can.

​

Other Chapters

Aspects of Delivery Conclusion

Conviction
Time Assertions
Podium
Mic
PowerPoint
Props
Reading the Audience
Occasion
Interaction
Conclusion
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