Communication Skills Delivering Great Public Remarks

1. Communication Skills Delivering Great Public Remarks Mark Webster, Manager of Strategic Communications Emerson Human Capital Consulting

2. MW Agenda • Recap (5 minutes) • In our last session, you created a message. • You then used your message in a 30 seconds elevator speech. • This session will focus on improving how you deliver public remarks. • Preparing to Give Remarks (10 minutes) • Exercise (10 minutes) • Using Appropriate Gestures (5 minutes) • Exercise (15 minutes) • Understanding Your Voice (5 minutes) • Putting it All Together • Exercise (30 minutes) • Wrap up (5 minutes)

3. Public Speaking – Before You Start • Know your audience. • Understand what their demographics are, how much they support you and what their level of education is. • Know the occasion, including the venue or time of day. • Know the room if you can. • Play to the audience and room, as long as it fits you and your message. • Decide whether or not you will use visual aids and then use them with caution. • Always write, but seldom read a speech.

4. Writing Remarks • Use lots of white space, big borders and double space. • End each page with a complete thought. • Underline, bold and highlight key thoughts. • Use short sentences, short words and then mix in long ones. • Watch out for alliteration and plosive words. • Sound out difficult to pronounce names of people and places. • Put remarks in an outline or notes, sprinkled with message. • Start by telling people what you are going to say, then tell them; close by re-telling them.

5. Tips On Public Speaking • Write for the ear, deliver for the eye. • Paint a picture & tell a story. • Use active voice and avoid passive language. • Use themes & imagery and then repeat them. • Keep it simple & on-message. • Use humor, but with caution. • Use facts, but sparingly – the ones from your message! • Involve your audience. • Use quotes to open or close. • How you begin/end is key. • Prepare for difficulty (technical glitches, unfair questions).

6. Exercise #1 - Preparing • Take an index card. • Draft an outline of your speech. • Choose to write one paragraph – either an introduction, conclusion. • Describe your organization, your candidacy or your passion. • Use your message. • Highlight a few key points or things you want to stress. • Spend 10 minutes on this exercise.

7. Non-Verbal Tips • Your Gestures are vital • Practice in front of a mirror. • Point out you/me • Discuss the past/future • Highlight 2/3 points • Being stiff is bad, conducting an orchestra or landing a plan is silly. • Good Posture is important • Stand tall - keep feet shoulder length apart. • Do not rock. • Watch out for distracting habits. • Make controlled eye contact • 2 or 3 seconds per person. • Bring your audience to you.

8. More speaking tips • Your speech begins the moment you arrive, you are already the audience focus. • Watch your listeners, they will tell you how you are doing, whether you need to hurry up, slow down or quit. • Ask for audience feedback and solicit questions. • Always include someone to recognize in the crowd in your speech. • All of these impact your gestures & eye contact.

9. Exercise #2 - Gestures • Pick out a gesture and get ready to silently share it with the class. Choose one I just shared or use one of your own. • Take 2 minutes to practice. • Look at your index card. What are the parts of your remarks that lend themselves to a gesture? • Past & future ? • You and me ? • X number of something? • Share with the class – silently.

10. Your Voice • Your voice is the best tool you have. • Listeners like enthusiasm & energy, but not too much. • Articulate carefully & slow down to control your nervousness. • Audiences also like lower pitched voices, not high pitched ones. • Vary delivery rate • Mix long & short sentences. • Vary tone/volume • Slow down, pause. • Don’t be afraid to be silent.

11. Using Your Voice • Remember your remarks and to mix long and short sentences. • Speak at a low, even pitch. • Then vary your delivery rate. • Avoid going to fast or slow. • The eyes have it! • Use gestures. • Incorporate other tips. • Recognize someone. • Solicit questions. • Ask for feedback. • Use third-party validation. • Open or close with a quote.

12. Before speaking • Rehearse – with friends or tape yourself if you have time. • Control the noise & temp. of the room if possible. • Dress for the occasion. • Appropriate • Comfortable • Bring a copy of your remarks. • Eat/drink with caution. • Have water handy. • Breath deeply, try to relax. • Understand that stage fright is normal. • Control and prepare for nervousness.

13. Exercise #3 – Speaking • Review your index card. • Remember your gesture. • Prepare to give a short speech – your introduction, your conclusion or one story. • Take 5 minutes to prepare. • Give us a one minute speech putting everything you learned today together.

14. Wrap Up “ The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw • Recognize that voters, the media, donors and others have much on their plate. They are not paying attention. • Understand your job is to get their attention. Run a scientific campaign, that is still from your heart. • Tell your story. • Figure out your target audience. • Find the right message. • Insert that message in everything you communicate. • Give public remarks that are brief, personal and warm.

15. Appendix

16. Media Interviews • Like public speaking, on a smaller scale, adjust accordingly. • Think of the viewer/listener/reader. • Newspaper interview: • Never go off the record. • Have your quotes read back. • Avoid cell phones if you can. • Radio interview: • Never from cell phone. • Never while distracted. • Try to repeat the question. • Answer questions with message.

17. TV Interviews • Think of the viewer/listener. • Where are they? What time is it? Relate to them. • How you dress is vital. • Get out of your office. Location, location, location. • Suggest an on message visual. • Use short sentences for clips. • Avoid jargon. • Answer questions with your message. • Smile moderately • Articulate carefully and be slightly energetic.