October 2011 Newsletter
"If We Were Meant to Give Speeches, Wouldn't God Have Embedded Microphones on our Lapels?"
I have a friend who fears airplanes. Ask him why and he’ll say, “If we were meant to fly, God would have given us wings.”
When people ask me why people fear public speaking, I have a similar response. “If we were meant to give speeches, God would have embedded microphones on our lapels.”
Let me explain. There has been a great deal of research into the causes of “glossophobia”, the fear of public speaking. But none of the research has been particularly conclusive.
Keys to Being A Great Listener.
You can’t be a great speaker unless you’re also a great listener. That’s because the best speakers are always speaking directly to the needs of the audience. And often the only way to learn those needs is to ask and then listen.
We heard a story recently about Gerry Spence, the legendary trial lawyer who showed up to give a speech to a group. He had no notes. No PowerPoint. No handouts. Nothing.
The Handbone is Connected to the Memory Bone.
A study of the way children tell stories suggests that making bigger gestures could help you become a better speaker by helping you recall more of what you want to say.
The discovery is part of a study by researchers at the University of Alberta. The researchers observed bilingual children as they told stories.
The Perils of Saying "Great Question!"
One of our coaches was at a nice restaurant recently and when the first person at the table gave his order, the waiter said, “Very nice choice.” In fact, the waiter said, “very nice” or “good choice” to everyone at the table . . . except our coach!
“I ordered the fish,” the coach said. “He just nodded and walked away. I felt a little offended. He didn’t tell me I made a nice choice. The rest of the meal, I wondered if I had ordered poorly.”
Public Speaking Tip from Steve Jobs.
““And it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much.”
Those are the words of Steve Jobs, who died recently after an amazing career as a technological innovator.