10 Public Speaking Hacks I Learned From My TED Talk | Entrepreneur - Deepstash

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1. Don't overload your slides

1. Don't overload your slides

  • Speakers often use their slides to drive attention away from themselves to ease the pressure. Don't do that.
  • Visual aids make the talk more engaging, but people come to watch you, not your Canva slides.
  • You should only include what is necessary to make the audience follow what you're saying.
  • Don't include sentences
  • Use graphics to enhance the experience, make it visually appealing, and
  • Do not write paragraphs!

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2. The more is NOT the merrier

2. The more is NOT the merrier

  • As a speaker, it's natural to want to include as much as possible in your talk to increase its value.However, this is a terrible mistake.
  • With each section, imagine if you could only use one sentence to convey the point; focus on that and eliminate the rest.
  • You would only get the audience's attention for a short while, so you should cut to the chase.

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3. Don't eat your words at the end of a sentence

3. Don't eat your words at the end of a sentence

  • The start of a sentence is arguably the hardest part. Raising your voice after a pause that felt like an eternity is no joke.
  • However, we all know that you should start your sentences with a strong tone to engage the audience.
  • What many ignore is how they finish their sentences.
  • Ending your sentences with a firm tone will make your talk considerably more memorable.

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4. Power pause

4. Power pause

  • I understand how long one-second pauses can feel on stage; however, maintaining a slow pace and pausing at the right moments can significantly enhance your talk.
  • Another speaker that night even had a habit of counting to five in her head before she begins her next sentence.
  • Retaining information while listening to someone is not easy, especially given the declining attention spans among younger generations.
  • You must give your audience a chance to process your statements before you move on.

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5. Talk about personal experiences

5. Talk about personal experiences

  • We live in a time where it is easier than ever to find information on any topic you desire.
  • Your audience will not want to listen to you for 10 minutes to save them the hassle of a Google search.
  • Base your talk on your personal experiences and provide a unique angle.

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6. Perfect your body language

6. Perfect your body language

  • You may be the speaker, but your body language does the talking for you as a person.
  • Learn the art of engaging your audience with gestures, movements and facial expressions.
  • For example, slouching, having crossed arms, negative facial expressions and avoiding eye contact can hurt the audience and lower your credibility in their eyes.

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7. Avoid "umm's" and "uhh's".

7. Avoid "umm's" and "uhh's".

  • Although this is a hard habit to break, avoid using "filler" words when you speak.
  • Train yourself to be comfortable with pausing when necessary.
  • It will make you appear more competent and comfortable, which makes it more likely for your audience to pay attention.

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8. Don't memorize your talk, understand it

8. Don't memorize your talk, understand it

  • You shouldn't read off anything during your talk, even small flash cards.
  • It lowers the quality of your talk. There is just a different feel when a speaker genuinely understands his talk and delivers it as if it's a regular conversation.
  • You have to structure your talk in a way where each sentence reminds you of the one after, so that even if you were to talk without preparation, you would still follow the same order.

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9. Be likable.

9. Be likable.

  • I don't mean to alarm you, but in my experience, audiences tend to be more alert to a speaker's flaws than their strengths.
  • If you come across as boring or arrogant, the audience will likely discard your talk immediately, even if it's actually good.
  • Be humble, friendly and engaging.
  • If the audience can relate to you, they will be far more inclined to listen to you.

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10. Use strong statements

10. Use strong statements

  • People have narrow attention spans. They will probably not remember much of your talk.
  • So, use strong statements that provide a takeaway from your talk, even if the supporting sentences aren't present.
  • For instance, I structured my TED talk around ten principles I implement daily to give myself direction.
  • Even if people spent the duration of my talk on their phones, likely, they would still remember the one-liners I used for each principle.

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Conclusion

Conclusion

  • I concluded my talk with a story that led to a quote, "Life is good."
  • The audience might not remember my story, but they will definitely remember how it ended!
  • Remember, a great speaker embraces imperfections and performs regardless.
  • Practice, get comfortable and never lose sight of the purpose of your talk.

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CURATED BY

dymphna

Lawyer turned Artist Visionary Curator & Gallerist. Empowering self-love and joy through art & words. www.innerjoyart.com πŸ’ Instagram : dymphna.art

CURATOR'S NOTE

Important tips to be mindful of when delivering a public talk

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