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To stop government tyranny, the
nation’s founders produced a Bill of Rights.
But how do we stop the tyranny of
lousy speakers?
I propose a Listeners’ Bill of Rights.
1. The right to a point of view.
Statements like this are all too common: “Well there
are two sides to the issue. I’m going to lay out both
sides so that you can make an informed decision.” No!
Give both sides if you must. But tell us what you
think. We’ll decide if we agree. Don’t be a wimp.
2. The right not to remain silent. “Question
Authority” may be a slogan from the 70s. But it’s come
even more alive in the age of blogs, talk radio, text
messages, and Twitter. Listeners today like to talk back
and kick the tires. Leave lots of time for Q&A.
3. The right to brevity. One study indicates that
after 17 minutes, no one is paying attention. Most
business presentations can be delivered in 15 minutes,
even if you leave half the time for Q&A.
4. The right to a story.
The more personal the better. I worked with a high
school senior from Brazil as he prepared to speak at his
baccalaureate service. He told of immigrating to the US
on his journey to become a journalist. Even the tough
guys in the audience cried. And the girls swooned.
5. The right to a solution.
Don’t just tell me the “Recent Developments in Labor and
Employment Law.” Tell me how I can be more successful
using the latest law to represent my clients. I don’t
come to speeches for information. I come for solutions
to my life’s key challenges.
6. The right to passion.
You don’t have to be like
Vince the ShamWow Guy. But do you have to be like one of
those ferns that adorn the lobby of your office?
Smile! Speak with the same passion that you use when
you’re talking about UGA football.
7. The right not to be read to.
If you’re going to read your speech, just send it to me
by email instead. I’ll have my iPhone read it to me
while I’m driving. That way I don’t have to feel my
life being sucked out of me in your lame meeting when
instead I could be doing something important, like
watching my daughter play lacrosse.
8.
The right to a simple message. Here’s a
recipe for one of the best speeches you’ll ever give.
Start by saying “There are three questions I’ll bet you
want to know about this topic.” Then list the three
questions and answer them. Then take questions.
9. The right to minimal slides.
“Power Corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely.” Those
are the words of Edward Tufte, the graphic designer who
claims that PowerPoint was partly responsible for the
2003 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster. Tufte claimed
that bullet-point laden PowerPoint slides confused a
critical technical issue. Whether you agree or not, too
many complex slides confuse the audience. Keep it
simple.
10. To right to be loved.
Great speakers understand that the only reason they
exist is to help their listeners. So they focus every
bit of energy on helping their audience with key issues
and delivering messages in a way that connects.
Joey Asher is President of Speechworks, a selling and
communication skills coaching company in Atlanta. He has
worked with hundreds of business people helping them
learn how to communicate in a way that connects with
clients. His new book 15 Minutes Including Q&A: a Plan
to Save the World from Lousy Presentations” is due out
in the fall. He is also the author three previous books
including “How to Win a Pitch: The Five Fundamentals
That Will Distinguish You from the Competition”,
“Selling and Communication Skills for Lawyers” and “Even
A Geek Can Speak.” He can be reached at 404-266-0888 or
joey@speechworks.net.
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