Looking forward to this series. Particularly like your tip about with your energy about 5% above that of the audience and then stepping up another 5% as they warm up.

Olivia

Great stuff, as usual.

I love phrasing it as turn it all into a “sincere recommendation.” That answers in one effort the two questions I always ask my clients to address: 1) what do I want the audience to do? and 2) why would they want to do it?

I also like your recommendation to plan to speak for half the time. Even after all these years of speaking, I still prepare way too much. (I have, at least, learned better than to try to present all I’ve prepared.)

Keep it coming.

Chris

I’m looking forward to your upcoming efforts. There is a lot of good stuff just in the trailer here.

One of my favorites:

“People with status take their time.”

I have heard a few very good (and highly paid) speakers say, “I know, I talk fast. I’m not going to slow down. Get over it.” They weren’t talking unintelligibly fast, but it was easy to miss a few words here and there. These were not what I would consider technical presentations, but I still think an audience is better served by fewer, well-chosen words.

I have also heard that there is a generational difference in pacing preference. Baby boomers (and to some extent Gen-Xers) prefer a slower-paced presentation. The Gen-Y and Millenials tend to want more information more quickly. Any comments?

For the record, I tend to speak more slowly, and I don’t plan on changing that.

Great blog!

Todd