Speaking Advice from Twitter
Just now, I asked Twitter for three quick tips for speakers. Within thirty minutes, I had the following information to give to YOU, especially if you’re a speaker or will be speaking in the next little while. This is worth look at, so please scroll down and browse through the advice of the crowds of Twitter.
Here was the question: “Quick: Give me YOUR 3 things you wish speakers would do better, or not do at all!”
(The format is the person’s Identity Name, then twitter name, then the message. Kinda down and dirty.)
- aaron post theonetogoto — show passion - have conversation not presentation
- calistyle calistyle In response to your reque1. be more engaging 2. add an element fo FUN to the presentation (esp if subject is dry) 3. Talk to me not at me
- Jeffrey Schwartz Blephen -: know your audience. be humble, be fun, be honest, informative, not advertorial. leave lots of time for q & a.
- Brian Attitude - Poor speakers hide behind facts, podiums, and accomplishments 10
- davefleet davefleet - - in addition to @danyork - people are there to listen, not read. Cut down on slide clutter. 11
- Brian Attitude - Good speakers establish genuine rapport in the first few minutes, make points through story not text, and finish early. 11
- davefleet davefleet - - followed the running tragedy at the weekend - some running friends were in NY for the marathon. Huge loss to running. 12
- Marc Nathan marc1919 - 1) lead with most relavant point 2) be engaged with that specific audience - don’t memorize 3)open up follow on conversations 13
- Justin Kownacki JustinKownacki -: 1) Give a speech I already saw you give on YouTube. 2) Include the phrase “join the conversation” ad nauseaum. 3) No pants. 14
- Lauren Vargas vargasl - Re Speaker Q: Give me the Why factor! 15
- Banana Lee Fishbones verso -: 1) DON’T READ ME YOUR SLIDES! 2) Care about what you’re saying. Or pretend to. 3) Know your audience at least a little. 16
- SuzyMiller SuzyMiller - 3.Don’t wear ties with horrible patterns and mismatched colours 16 Icon_red_lock
- SuzyMiller SuzyMiller - 1.Not dumb down their presentation but challenge us instead 2.Look like they are enjoying being there even if nervous 17 Icon_red_lock
- capecodjewel capecodjewel - #3 Don’t bring me down at the end (emotionally) to make a serious point… especially if you’ve been up-beat and funny unti … … 18
- Phillip Zannini phillymac - Don’t try to be someone you’re not. don’t be stiff as a door nail - . DO end when you’re supposed to! 18 twitterrific
- Kelley Burrus kelleyburrus - they should frame the speech better to lessen tangents 19
- Aslin Kirkpatrick aslinkirkpatric - agree with mediajoltz, no PP pls, ENGAGE, INTERACT, INFORM and lastly USE RICH MEDIA APPLICATION - show some YouTUBEs! :D 19
- Nicholas Butler loudmouthman - 1) No more Bulletpoints 2) Dont read the script 3) Do involve the conversation and the community 20
- chelpixie chelpixie - Mr. Brogan is that advice? I’d really rather not. :P 20
- Marina Martin MarinaMartin - Not bitter. I always enjoy listening to @guykawasaki brush those Q&A ?s off. He looks like he enjoys it. I sure would ;) 20
- capecodjewel capecodjewel - #2 Don’t talk soft and slow, like we won’t get it unless you do. 21
- Jeff jeffl - wake up 21 minutes ago from in reply to chrisbrogan Icon_star_empty
- Douglas E. Welch dewelch - NOT give long, detailed biographies that I could have read in the program. Get on with the talk! 21
- Troy Turner troyturner - - dont read from slides - dont use humor if you cant or havent practiced - dont give talks on things ur not passionate about 22
- capecodjewel capecodjewel - #1 Stop telling us how wonderful something is, and how excited you are… get to the meat and potatoes. 22
- Jeff O’Hara zemote - 1. Engage the audience more 2. Better media in slides. 3. Stop reading the slides 22
- mghernandez mghernandez - Actually give useful information! 23
- Dan York danyork - - 1. DON’T READ YOUR #$@#% SLIDES! 2. DON’T READ YOUR #%#$# SLIDES! 3. DON’T READ YOUR #$#$% SLIDES! 23
- Clintus McGintus Clintus -: I second everything @stevegarfield just said. Exactly. 23
- chrisramsey chrisramsey - - 1. Anchor on 3 or less very clear points, 2. Convey messages for these points via interesting and engaing stories 23 im
- Jason Jarrett jasonjarrett - three things I want a speaker to be better at, engage with the audience, forget the slides, mesmorise me 24 twitterrific
- Brian Solis briansolis -, connect before the party tonight? 24
- Jim jimkirks -: -stay away from powerpoint. - no rambling - ask questions and involve the audience. 24
- Brad Grier bgrier -: Not read Powerpoints verbatum, Not tell lame ‘icebreakers’, and ‘Stay on Target’. 25
- Steven Lubetkin stevelubetkin -: not use Powerpoint slides as notecards. Not start by saying they won’t talk too long…tell more stories less theories 25
- Erica OGrady ericaogrady - - I wish speakers would 1) Make Presentations FUN, 2) Speak Clearly, 3) Have Great - CLEAR - Takeaways 25 im
- Trula Trula -: smile, engage the audience, be simple & clear w/points. like don’t assume the audience knows current catch-phrases 25
- Rachel calistyle - 1. be more engaging 2. add an element fo FUN to the presentation (esp if subject is dry) 3. Talk to me not at me 25
- Podcast Junky UK podcastjunky_uk - 1 Be passionate about what they’re talking about 2 Not use lousy powerpoint presentations 3 Engage the audience 25
- Dayngr Dayngr - Not chew gum. It is very distracting 26 im
- Steve Garfield stevegarfield - Speakers should NOT: 1. Read long text slides to me 2. Make me hold my question until the end 3. Run out of time 25 minutes ago from in reply to chrisbrogan Icon_star_empty
- Jack Daniel jack_daniel - Speakers do better/more: practice, relax, listen (not necessarily in that order) 26
- walkinggal walkinggal - 1. manage time better, 2. use visuals, 3. not give a lecture, engage people instead. 26
- Daphne Abernathy DaphneA -:Not read the presentation slide to me, Allow time for questions, Talk to the whole room not just the front row. 27 Icon_red_lock
- Steve Garfield stevegarfield - Speakers should: 1. Meet the people in the room 2. Allow participation from the start 3. Show pretty pictures 27
- Susanna King superflippy - - only 2 things I wish speakers did better: use diagrams, use handouts. 27 twitterrific
- Shawn Zehnder Lea shawnz - Tell stories, show statistics, keep my mind energized 27
- Christine Cavalier PurpleCar - speakers should spend less than one whole sentence on their own credentials. I didn’t pay to hear a resume. 28
- Lorri Randle MediaJoltz - I wish presenters wouldn’t read off powerpoint. I wish they would give me more than PP as their handout and not go over time 28
- etherius etherius -: Eliminate the following words from their vocabulary: 1. Resource (referring to people). 2. Monetize. 3. Leverage. 28
- Annika annika - : 1) provoke me! 2) be confident 3) bannish bullet points 28 twitterrific
- Bill wblennan - - 1) assume the audience is intelligent, 2) less text, more action, 3) tell me why you are the best 28
- Chris Webb chriswebb - 1)dont read the slides 2)provide practical application 3)Tell me how *I* can use it/do it 28
- Jake McKee sink - actually answer questions with real info, not high level, been-said-a-million times, fast responses. 28
- Graydancer Graydancer - Don’t hide behind a podium. Learn to use your voice. And follow presentationZen. 29
- Clay Newton tastybit - 1) extend past the preso; 2) give a deliverable; 3) inspire. 30
- Jamie Phelps jxpx777 - Only one. Don’t read off the fscking slide. That is all. 30 twitterrific
- Jon Swanson jnswanson - create metaphors; relate to the audience in the room; add humor. 31
- Brian Hogg dotboom - Not repeat speeches, have great take-home notes, be genuinely engaging.
Thanks, Twitter!
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Comments
You’re welcome, @chrisbrogan!
Though, to make sense of some of the tips it helps to know the original wording of the question: “Quick: Give me YOUR 3 things you wish speakers would do better, or not do at all!”
Chris-My background in Corporate Communication compels me add this: Play to your strengths! If you are a funny person-use humor. If you aren’t-don’t. A good speaker is one who leverages their best qualities, because that is what an audience will remember in the long run.
Don’t acknowledge the fact that your have been speaking for a long time, and then continue to speak for a good bit longer.
Don’t dwell on points that I already know, use those to get to your real point and then leave them.
Engage your audience. Make it a conversation, not a lecture.
[…] Advice from Twitter chrisbrogan created an interesting post today on Speaking Advice from TwitterHere’s a short outlineBrogan […]
[…] Advice from Twitter chrisbrogan placed an observative post today on Speaking Advice from TwitterHere’s a quick excerptBrogan […]
I twittered this after youd posted but I think the best advice to any speaker is to keep the public timeline for twitter open in your field of vision. You may spot he bored people quicker !
Great post though , thanks.
Chris, great collection of tips! And a fun little exercise to do.
One note… is the order in which you received the tweets reversed? I.e. are the oldest ones at the bottom and the newer ones on top?
I ask because Clintus McGintus is saying he seconds everything Steve Garfield said… but it’s below him in the listing. Likewise there are several people who reference my tweet.
Not that I suggest you flip them all around, but you might want to note at the top that they are in reverse chronological order and so people might want to start reading from the bottom.
In any event, it’s a great list.
Thanks,
Dan
Talk about using the tools in hand on the fly to help with a presentation you are getting ready to roll with…good stuff, Brogan! As always, walking the walk in common sense, “look folks it’s this easy” fashion. Thank yoU!
[…] Brogan conducted a quick and informal survey [which I found via Bronwyn Ritchie… thanks!] asking the question: Quick: Give me YOUR 3 […]
[…] Brogan conducted a quick and informal survey [which I found via Bronwyn Ritchie… thanks!] asking the question: Quick: Give me YOUR 3 […]
“Chris b chrisb - 1)dont read the slides 2)provide practical application 3)Tell me how *I* can use it/do it 28″
Actually that one was mine - Chris Webb chriswebb :)
My first shot at some Chris Brogan love and I didn’t get credit!
Just kidding, Chris.