Quick tips for impressive Public Speaking - Speak with confidence

Summary

Charlie from Charisma on Command shares essential presentation tips inspired by the 2015 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. He emphasizes the importance of capturing attention within the first 10 seconds using props, impeccable timing, and audience interaction. The script highlights the power of storytelling and humor to engage audiences, and the significance of impactful language to convey messages effectively. It concludes with the advice to end presentations with a strong takeaway, often returning to an opening metaphor for a memorable close.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Start with a Captivating Hook: Use a prop or an engaging story to capture the audience's attention within the first 10 seconds.
• 🕒 Importance of Timing: Command the stage with deliberate and slow movements to maintain audience focus.
• 🤝 Engage Audience Early: Initiate audience interaction within the first minute to keep them involved and interested.
• 🔍 Use Provocative Questions: Ask questions that challenge the audience's preconceptions to pique their curiosity.
• 😂 Incorporate Humor: Include jokes in the opening to make the presentation more enjoyable and memorable.
• 📈 Tell Stories: Utilize personal anecdotes to connect with the audience on an emotional level, as the human brain is more persuaded by stories than statistics.
• 📚 Word Choice Matters: The way you phrase your message can significantly affect how it is received by the audience.
• 🎭 Embody Characters: When telling stories, physically embody the characters to make the narrative more vivid and impactful.
• 🔚 End with a Powerful Conclusion: Conclude the presentation by reinforcing the key message or moral that you want the audience to remember.
• 🔄 Come Full Circle: Start with a metaphor or prop and return to it at the end of the presentation for a cohesive and memorable finish.
• 🌟 Harness the Power of Words: Recognize that words can change lives and inspire action, and strive to use them effectively in your presentations.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the presentation tips and tricks provided by Charlie?

The main focus is on how to captivate the audience's attention during a presentation, using techniques such as props, impeccable timing, audience interaction, humor, and storytelling.

Why is it crucial to capture the audience's attention within the first 10 seconds of a speech?

Capturing attention within the first 10 seconds is crucial because if not done, the audience may tune out completely, making it difficult for the speaker to engage them for the rest of the presentation.

What role does a prop play in a presentation according to the script?

A prop plays a significant role in capturing the audience's attention by introducing an element of surprise or curiosity, which can be especially effective in the opening moments of a presentation.

How does the speaker in the script use a provocative question to engage the audience?

The speaker asks, 'All of you think smoking kills?' This provocative question piques the audience's interest, making them more likely to listen and engage with the rest of the speech.

Why is audience interaction important within the first minute of a presentation?

Audience interaction within the first minute is important because it helps to break the ice, get the audience moving and responding, and sets the stage for a more engaged and interactive session.

What is the significance of using humor in the opening minute of a presentation?

Using humor in the opening minute helps to create a positive atmosphere, makes the audience more receptive, and can lead to a more relaxed and enjoyable presentation experience.

How does the speaker in the script use storytelling to connect with the audience?

The speaker tells a personal story about a friend named Nasser, which helps to create an emotional connection with the audience. This storytelling approach makes the presentation more relatable and persuasive.

What is the importance of choosing the right words when delivering a message?

The choice of words can significantly impact the acceptance or rejection of a message. The right words can make a message more persuasive and impactful, while the wrong words can cause the message to be lost or misunderstood.

Why is it recommended to move away from the lectern when telling stories during a presentation?

Moving away from the lectern allows the speaker to physically embody the characters and make the story more vivid and real. This helps to take the audience into the present tense of the story, making it more powerful and engaging.

What technique does the speaker use to conclude his presentation effectively?

The speaker uses a technique of coming full circle with the prop, by reintroducing the cigarette and crushing it at the end. This technique reinforces the message and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

What is the final message or 'nugget' that the speaker wants the audience to take away from his presentation?

The final message is the power of words and their potential to change lives, inspire nations, and make the world a better place. The speaker encourages the audience to use their words wisely and for good.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Capturing Attention with Presentation Techniques

The paragraph introduces Charlie from Charisma on Command, who discusses tips for effective presentations, drawing insights from the 2015 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. Key points include the importance of capturing the audience's attention within the first 10 seconds using props, impeccable timing, and audience interaction. The speaker uses a provocative question about smoking to engage the audience and emphasizes the need for humor and storytelling to connect with the audience on an emotional level.

05:07

📚 Storytelling and the Power of Words in Presentations

This paragraph delves into the art of storytelling within presentations, using the example of Nasser and his father to illustrate the point. It highlights the importance of performance, such as moving away from the lectern and embodying characters, to make stories more vivid and impactful. The summary underscores the power of words to change lives and inspire action, suggesting that the end of a presentation is an opportune moment to convey key insights or morals, as the audience is more receptive after being emotionally engaged through stories.

Keywords

💡Presentation

A presentation is a form of communication where information is shared with an audience, often in a structured and persuasive manner. In the context of the video, the theme revolves around the art of giving an effective presentation, with tips and tricks drawn from the Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking. The script emphasizes the importance of captivating the audience's attention from the start, which is a key aspect of any successful presentation.

💡Captivate

To captivate means to attract and hold someone's interest or attention. The video script stresses the importance of capturing the audience's attention within the first few seconds of a speech. It is a fundamental concept in the video, as the presenter discusses various techniques such as using props and asking provocative questions to achieve this.

💡Prop

A prop in the context of a presentation is a physical object used to aid in storytelling or to make a point. The script mentions the use of props as a method to capture the audience's attention at the beginning of a speech. It serves as a visual aid that can help to illustrate a concept or create intrigue.

💡Timing

Timing in a presentation refers to the pace and rhythm at which the presenter delivers their speech. The script highlights the importance of impeccable timing, with the presenter using deliberate and slow speech to command the stage and maintain the audience's attention.

💡Audience Interaction

Audience interaction is the engagement of the audience in the presentation, often through questions, responses, or activities. The video script suggests that getting audience interaction within the first minute is crucial for keeping them interested and involved in the presentation.

💡Provocative Question

A provocative question is one that is designed to challenge assumptions or elicit a strong response from the audience. In the script, the presenter uses such a question, 'All of you think smoking kills?', to pique the audience's curiosity and engage them in the topic of the presentation.

💡Humor

Humor is the use of wit or amusing content to provoke laughter or amusement. The script notes the inclusion of humor in the first minute of the presentation as a technique to engage the audience and make the content more enjoyable and memorable.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is the art of narrating stories to engage an audience and convey a message or moral. The video emphasizes the power of storytelling in presentations, as it allows the audience to connect emotionally with individual anecdotes rather than just processing abstract statistics or concepts.

💡Anecdote

An anecdote is a short, interesting or amusing story about a specific incident or event. The script uses the example of Nasser and his father to illustrate the power of personal stories in a presentation, showing how anecdotes can make a point more relatable and impactful.

💡Word Choice

Word choice refers to the selection of words and phrases used to convey a message. The video script discusses the importance of choosing the right words in a presentation to ensure that the audience accepts and understands the message being communicated.

💡Insight

Insight is a deep understanding or the ability to discern subtle truths from a situation or information. In the context of the video, the presenter aims to provide the audience with an insight or key takeaway at the end of the presentation, which is more readily accepted after they have been emotionally engaged through storytelling.

💡Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things to suggest a similarity. The script mentions the use of a metaphor at the beginning and end of the presentation to create a full circle effect, which can be a powerful narrative technique to reinforce the main message.

Highlights

The importance of capturing attention within the first 10 seconds of a presentation.

Use of a prop to captivate the audience's attention at the start of a speech.

The significance of impeccable timing and deliberate pacing in commanding the stage.

The necessity of audience interaction within the first minute to keep them engaged.

The use of a provocative question to hook the audience's interest.

Incorporating humor in the first minute to connect with the audience.

The power of storytelling to make an emotional connection with the audience.

The impact of word choice on the acceptance of a message.

The technique of bouncing between a general point and a story for emphasis.

The importance of embodying characters and acting out stories for a vivid presentation.

The goal of presentations to evoke change in the audience's behavior.

The use of a personal anecdote to demonstrate the power of words.

The strategy of wrapping up a presentation with a moral or insight for the audience to take away.

The technique of coming full circle with a prop or metaphor to conclude a speech.

The potential cliche nature of certain presentation techniques and the importance of adapting them to the context.

The call to action for the audience to use words as a power for positive change.

Encouragement for viewers to subscribe for more content on the channel.

Invitation for viewers to suggest topics or speakers for future breakdowns.

Transcripts

This is Charlie from Charisma on Command and today I'm going to be giving you some presentation

tips and tricks. Now, the guide that we are working off of today is actually the Toastmasters

2015 World Champion of Public Speaking. This does, though, apply to a presentation that

you would give in any setting, whether it's in work, or elsewhere, because when you stand

in front of a group of people, whether you're talking about macroeconomics, or the forecasted

revenue, or you're telling a story, like this guy, you must captivate their attention first.

And that's one of the things that we're going to focus on today. So let's get started.

What?

So, this is so huge. How does he start off this speech? There are two big things going

on here. One, he starts with a prop, and sometimes I can feel hokey and you're like, "Well, how

do I do that in a business setting?" The truth is, anything that is a physical object that people do not

understand why you're doing it, whether you're holding some sort of piece of fruit as a metaphor,

I've seen people do that, whatever it is, if you have a physical object, that helps

to capture people's attention, and you're going to see that this is the most critical

thing at the start of a speech. He does it in multiple ways, because when you get up

there and start to speak in front of people, you have about 10 seconds to capture their

attention and captivate them before they tune out completely, so you must do something interesting.

Secondly, impeccable timing. This guy is so deliberate, so slow, he commands the stage.

That's just something to look out for for the rest of this video.

All of you think smoking kills?

So, another quick thing, and I'm going to play this back, again, just so you can see

it altogether. You need to get audience interaction absolutely within the first minute. You see

a lot of speakers do this. It can feel hackneyed, but they ask people that, you know, "Show

a hand, whose seen this before?" "Show a hand, who's heard of something." You must get the audience moving

and speaking and responding to you if you want them to listen and to engage with what

you are saying. He does it very cleverly by asking a provocative question. So, I'm just

going to go back and play that all over again so we can see it together.

What?

All of you think smoking kills?

So, now, they're interested, and hooked, and he can begin his-- he can begin to get into it.

Let me tell you something. Do you know that there are many people dying from diabetes

as three times as many people dying from smoking? Yet, if I pulled a Snicker bar, nobody will say anything.

Again, two more great examples. He's dedicating, basically, the first minute of his speech

to engaging with the audience, and he does that a number of ways we've covered, but,

also, humor. He makes sure that there are jokes in that first minute. So he's got another

belly laugh here, and then, that provocative question that he's asking you, "You think

this? Well, guess what?" And, now, he's going to reveal something else.

Do you know that the leading cause of lung cancer is not actually a cigarette.

Prop again, captivates attention

It's your DNA. You could smoke for years and nothing will ever happen to you. This whole

war against smoking is just to restrict the farming of tobacco. Mr. _, _ and guests, I

use these arguments even though I just made them up

So, you see, this is kind of an abbreviated version of this talk. But, right now, we're

going to go to the body of the talk. So that's how you need to and must. The first part of

whatever your presentation you're giving, has to captivate attention. You've got humor.

You've got provocative questions. You've got props; lots of ways to do that, but the first

minute, do not get right into what you're saying. Don't tell them what you're going

to talk about. Capture their attention.

So, here, now we're more in the body of his speech, and the body of his presentation,

and one thing that you're going to want to have, no matter how dry the subject that you're

talking about, is stories, because, people, the human brain did not evolve to digest and

connect with statistics, right? You can talk about global warming, or world hunger, and

how many millions and billions, and hundreds of thousands, but the human brain is not persuaded

by that. What is persuasive is individual anecdotes, and even though it's a logical

fallacy, if you want to move people emotionally, you need to tell the stories of individuals,

and this is what he does right here.

Choice of word can make a difference between someone accepting or denying your message.

You can have a very beautiful thing to say, but say it in the wrong words and it's gone.

So, here, he makes his point, and now he's about to launch into a story. That's a great

way, bounce back and forth between a general point demonstrating a story, or even start

with demonstrating a story, what's the point?

My friend, Nasser, he loved his father, idealized his father. He would do anything to make him happy.

But his father was the kind of person who's not easy to impress, and year after

year, Nasser tried, and his father was like, "Nyah."

First year in college, Nasser got

straight A's, and he thought to himself, "This is it. This will finally make my dad proud."

He picked up the phone

So notice this. This is very critical. When you are telling stories, again, even in dry

enviroments, you have to realize that when you're in front of a group of people, you

are performing, so you need to get out from behind the lectern. You need to move your

body, but you also need to embody characters. If you can take people into the present tense

of any story, any moment, that is going to be far more powerful than summarizing it.

And if you can go beyond the present tense, and act it out, make it vivid and real play

character, that is going to be something that people can connect with much more, and will

ultimately be moved to act upon, because, really, when you get in front of people, your

goal is not just to say some words, your goal is for them to walk away, having had something

inside them change, so that they behave differently. And this is just a great example of how you

can do that. So, see what he does here.

He called his dad, "Dad, I got straight A's, are you proud? Please, tell me you're proud, father.

"Yeah, listen, son, I have to call you back, I'm busy."

So, you see, this is actually abbreviated in the end. I highly, highly recommend watching

the whole thing. It's much to get. It's much better in its whole piece, but I wanted to

pull out some of the most fascinating pieces. So, moving on, now, towards the end of the

speech, he sort of wraps it up. What you want to do when you get to the end of any presentation.

In the middle, you know, you'll have told your stories, your anecdotes. At the beginning,

you'll have captured attention. It's the end when people are wide open from being sucked

into your stories, from you hooking their attention, that you can drop whatever insight

or nugget that you want them to take away, because if you captivate people with stories,

the truth is, they're wide open to you telling them the moral, and this is kind of what he does here.

Words have power. Words are power. Words could be your power. You can change a life, inspire

a nation, and make this world a beautiful place. Isn't that what we all wanted? Isn't

that why we are all in this world? Your mouth can spit venom or it can mend a broken soul.

Ladies and gentlemen, let that be our goal.

So, you see there, at the end, he goes back full circle with the prop. He pulls out the

cigarette and crushes it at the end. This is something that is very, very, very popular.

I personally find it a little bit cliche, in this case, but what a lot of people like

to do is come full circle, or start with a metaphor, and then, come back to it at the

end. Again, very, very popular thing. You don't need to force it as I felt is the case

in this speech, but something that you can do.

If you want to see more on this channel, go ahead

and subscribe. And, of course, if there's anybody that you'd like to see me break down, any

topics that you would like to see me do, feel free to go ahead and put those in the comments.

I hope that you've liked this and I will see you on the next video.