Archive for the ‘Delivery Strategies’ Category

Even the greatest content/message will be ruined by a poor delivery. So often speakers work diligantly on what they’re going to say but they fail to connect because of how they’re saying it. The following 10 Delivery Guidelines will help you use your delivery to deepen, rather than damage, your connection.

1. Don’t move all the time

If you are always moving then no movement will be meaningful. Your audience will never know what’s most important. Move with a purpose. When there is no reason to move, don’t.

 What’s the main purpose for moving during your speech?

It’s the action in your story. Let the action in your story prompt your movement on stage. If you have a story in which you move from the living room to the kitchen, show that movement on stage. That means you must have designated spots for the kitchen and for the living room on your stage. And those spots must stay there for the length of that particular story. Listen to what might happen if they don’t.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

2. Don’t forget about your face

Your facial expressions are more important than all your arm and hand movements combined. The eyes are indeed the windows to the soul. What you do with them can make or break your entire speech.

3. Use your character’s gestures

Keep in mind that speaking involves utilizing captivating stories to make your unforgettable points. Each story has its own characters and each character probably has his or her own way of gesturing. When you take on the role and persona of that character, you should use his or her gestures. While rehearsing your speech, consistently ask yourself, “How would this character say this?” In other words, every character should not look and act like you. Each character should act differently, because that will help us see those characters with greater clarity. So again, keep asking:

How would this character say this?

 

4. Let the emotions drive

The emotions in your story and in your point will drive your movements. If you are intoxicated with your emotions while telling your story or making your point, the appropriate gestures will come. It will be effortless. Think about it. When you’re really angry at someone or something, do you have to think about what gestures to use? No, they come automatically. If you build the emotion, the gestures will come.

5. Use Surround-Sense Gestures (360 Degrees)

Many speakers gesture in front of them and maybe on the side. The most effective speakers realize there is an entire area around them and they utilize it. Feel free to gesture down for the lower dimension. For example, when I speak about a swamp tour my wife and I took, I talk about the alligators that surrounded the boat. At that point I gesture downwards with the open hand while looking at where the water is designated on stage. Then I describe the trees that were hanging down as if they were trying to grab onto us. At that point I gesture upwards to the upper dimension using my hands to emulate how the trees hung and swayed. At times I point behind me to the back of the stage or in front of me out into the audience. I might point to my right to signify the past and point to my left to signify the future as I use the stage as a timeline. The key is to go up, down, back, forth, and side to side in order to paint a whole (surround-sense) scene for your audience in order to invite them into it.

6. Don’t use the same gesture over and over again

This is evidence of a habit and most likely distracts from your presentation. Ask me how I know this!

7. Watch out for your resting position

This is the position your hands fall to when you’re not using a gesture. For example, my hands used to fall together in front of me with my fingers interlocking. In time it became distracting. Definitely film your speeches every now and then to see if you’re falling into this habit. It helps to turn off the sound and then fast-forward the video because if you’re using a resting point, it will become very evident.

8. Use an open hand

It’s better to point to your audience with an open hand rather than an index finger. It’s less threatening and more inviting. The open hand is also effective when calling back to spots on the floor as you revisit the points, characters, and stories you previously used. A body language expert recently told me that palms up are much more welcoming than palms down as you deliver your message and especially when you point to someone in your audience. Apparently palms down can have a condescending effect.

9. Use bigger gestures for bigger audiences

Don’t mismatch the size of your audience with the size of your gestures. If you’re speaking at a Commencement Ceremony to 4,000 people and you give the same sized gestures that you do in front of a Toastmasters Club, chances are your audience won’t see them. When the audience gets bigger, you must get bigger.

 Also, make sure you match their energy at first. For example, if you have a laid back audience, you can’t come out screaming and excited, because they’ll be looking for the nearest exit. Instead, meet them on their energy level and then, once you connect with them there, they will follow you to your natural energy level. It’s called Pacing and Leading. You must intially meet them where they are, not where you are.

10. Smile

Often the first thing to go when a speaker gets on stage is his or her smile. That’s unfortunate because the smile can connect you with your audience before you even say one word. So smile…when appropriate!

Have you ever heard the following advice?

As a speaker you should take your audience on an emotional rollercoaster

Do you know why people dispense that advice? Because it’s true! You absolutely should take your audience on that ride. But how do you do it? One way is by using what I like to call energy shifts. In the following audio lesson, you’ll see exactly how to use them.

Warning: This audio is 16 minutes long, so listen to it when you have time. I promise that your return on investment will be worth the time.

Note: If you want to rewind or fast-forward the audio, click in the box and drag it backwards or forwards (left or right).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 

Takeaway Tools for the Energy Shifts

Extending your pause, which helps to keep your audience curious  (make them wait to see what happens next)

Twisting the story (which provides a drop or a rise)

Letting your reactions show us how you feel (so we can feel it too)

Taking something from your story, putting it into your audiences lives, and making them reflect on it

Changing your stress, rate, pitch, and volume

Using that Ron Arden inner dialog when you move from your story to your message by saying to yourself “But seriously this is what I came to tell you…”

 

 

One of the best ways to stay connected and deepen your connection with your audience is to let them beat you to the punch. What does this mean?  Let’s use some examples to clarify this delivery strategy.

Example #1

Listen to this quick audio and think about what happens after I say, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998, got my CTM in March of 1999…” However, I know something very important about my audience. They already know I am the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking. This means they are figuring out in their minds, “Whoa, it only took him one year to win it?” My job as a speaker is to slow down and let them figure this out so they can beat me to the punch. In other words, instead of me saying it, I let them think it first. Their thoughts beat my words to the punch. Then and only then do I finish what I’m going to say, but guess what? My audience is already there! That’s why they laughed and became vocal immediately after I said, “I joined Toastmasters in March of 1998.”

Example #2

Let’s listen to another short example from a different story and experience what happens after I say the words, “Okay daddy.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “‘Okay daddy.’ I got home the next day and where was he?” However, I decided to slow down and let my audience beat me to the punch. I paused, gave them a look that expressed a sarcastic, “Yeah, right” and let my audience think, “Oh, I’m sure Ace climbed up there again.” Then and only then do I confirm what my audience thought by letting them know he climbed up there again.

Partnering Deepens the Connection

If you really listen closely to the audio, you’ll find something very interesting. I NEVER even actually had to say he climbed back up there. I let my audience say it! In a way, they filled in that part of the story without me having to actually say it. Then I simply picked up my story at the point where I asked, “Ace what are you doing up there?”

This is what I love about speaking. I learned from Bill Gove that speaking should be a dialogue and not a monologue. People buy into what they help create. Letting your audience beat you to the punch at strategic times during your speech makes them feel like they’re creating part of your speech, which deepens their involvement.

 Example #3

Let’s listen to one more quick example of me letting my audience beat me to the punch. Experience what happens after I say the words, “Get lucky?”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

I could have simply kept going on with my speech by saying, “Do you want to get lucky? Then stay ready.” However, I decided to slow down and let my audience beat me to the punch. I looked one audience member in the eyes when I said, “Do you want to get lucky?” In this case, this person happened to be dressed in a costume (complete with a wig and a Marilyn Monroe-type outfit) for an event later that night. I let my audience beat me to the punch before I confirmed their thoughts by saying, “I’m looking at the wrong person…” This audience member got a real kick out of it and so did the audience. Make no mistake about it, my audience beat me to the punch with their thoughts and then I confirmed it with my words. 

How can you apply this “Let them beat you to the punch” strategy?

First

You’ll have to come to an understanding of where in your speech you can use this strategy. You don’t choose the place; your audience does. Over time you’ll see where they are already starting to beat you to the punch because you’ll be able to hear them wanting to chime in and be vocal. But here’s the problem. You’ll never know where these places in your speeches are unless you record all of your speeches. You can’t monitor yourself on the spot, but you can certainly monitor yourself afterwards IF you’ve recorded your speech. That’s why I always say

What gets recorded gets rewarded

Whenever you begin to see where your audience is anticipating your next words, those are some of the times you want to let them beat you to the punch.

Next

The one thing you heard me do in every audio clip was to pause and let it happen. You must give space to let your audience think and beat you to the punch. At times it takes an extra cue from you and you can accomplish this with a facial expression like I described with my son’s story. The audience will take that  cue and chime in.

Final thoughts:

Is it critical that you use this strategy? No. Will it deepen your connection when you do? Absolutely. When you partner like this with your audience throughout your entire presentation, you’ll find yourself connected at the core with them, time will fly by, and everyone will have a blast. So let them beat you to…

 Recently I have received many questions from speakers regarding rehearsal. They say, “Craig, how do you rehearse? It seems like you really feed off the audience but you must rehearse, right?”

The answer is yes. I rehearse. In fact, the main reason why I rehearse is so I can feed off my audience while still staying on track with my message.

So instead of just explaining what I do to rehearse, I came up with another idea. I figured, “Why don’t I simply invite you to a behind-the-scenes peak at my rehearsal?”

So here’s what I did. Recently I had an upcoming speech scheduled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and I decided to record my rehearsal. Instead of sharing the entire rehearsal with you, you’ll hear two quick 90-second segments. So here’s the layout of this post:

1. First you’ll hear a quick 90-second rehearsal of a piece of one of my stories
2. Then you’ll hear that same 90-second clip of me live in South Dakota doing that same part of the story
3. Then you’ll hear another 90-second rehearsal clip of another piece of that same story
4. Finally you’ll hear another 90-second clip of me live in South Dakota doing that same part of the story

When you listen to the clips, you’ll undoubtedly hear some differences. However, the message will be the same and the differences you hear will be me reacting, responding, and feeding off of my audience. Click the play buttons below to hear the clips. Afterwards you’ll see 5 Guidelines you should consider following when it comes to rehearsing your speech for remarkable results.

Rehearsal:  

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Live performance:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Now I am fast-forwarding to another part of this story. Again, below you’ll find audio of the rehearsal and then audio of the live performance of the same part of the speech.

Rehearsal:  

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Live performance:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

5 Guidelines for Rehearsing to get Remarkable Results with Your Speech

Important note: Everyone has a different way of rehearsing. These are just my ways  and opinions so please don’t feel you have to follow them to a tee. They’re simply what work for me time and time again and what I believe can work for you too.   

1. Do not look into a mirror. Why? Because your speech is not about you. You wouldn’t look into a mirror when you’re actually speaking to your audience, would you? Then you shouldn’t do it during rehearsal. Rehearsal should mimic the actual performance, so make it as similar as possible. If you want to see what you look like, then record yourself on video (perhaps with a flip video camera) and watch it once you finish.

2. Imagine your audience is in front of you. It’s not enough to just practice knowing your words. It’s important to really see your audience. What are they doing? How are they reacting? How are you responding to their reactions? Who are you looking at and when? Where are you moving and when? This is what I call speaking your way into speaking. Believe it or not, some speakers think rehearsal is sitting down, reading, and memorizing their speech! My belief is that you should not sit down and memorize; you should stand up and internalize. You do that by rehearsing as if your audience is really there.

3. Do at least one mental rehearsal. This, more than any other practice, has been the most effective and meaningful to me. Here’s what I do. I close my eyes and go through the entire presentation in my mind. I see my audience and feel them around me. I mouth the words and make it as realistic as possible. This process is so powerful for one major reason: Once you arrive on stage, you’ll feel like you’re at home. Why? Because you’ve been there before.

4. Don’t look for perfection; look for connection. If you stumble over words or do something that’s not 100% correct, don’t worry about it. It’s not about perfection, it’s about connection. Just keep moving on. Chances are you’re the only one who will notice anyway. This Guideline goes for rehearsal and for the real speech.

5. Exaggerate the things you need to work on. For example, if you don’t pause long enough after making important statements or asking questions, then really exaggerate an extra long pause in rehearsal. Or if you constantly speak at the same energy level (or pace or volume, etc.), exaggerate your contrasts during rehearsal. If you exaggerate it in rehearsal, even though the adrenaline of the live performance will tend to make you revert to your old ways, you’ll be sufficiently stretched enough to fix the flaw. Eventually this new habit will become second nature.

 

Final thoughts on Rehearsing for Remarkable Results:

I have no doubt you heard some differences between my rehearsal sessions and my live speech. They probably included a different energy, pace, and even slightly different content. This is because nothing can replace the live speech. And although your live speech can and should be somewhat different than what you’ve rehearsed (because of feeding off the audience), you should try as hard as you can to rehearse with your audience in sight and in mind. That means, during rehearsal, pretend you really are with your audience. That way, once they do finally show up, they won’t have to pretend they really are with you.

Obviously content and structure are important for uncovering humor. However, so is delivery. Here are 2 delivery tools you can use to make your speeches more humorous.

Humorous Delivery Tool #1: The Look before the Line

As you probably know, you should never add humor to a speech, you should uncover humor within it. It’s already there. Where? It’s in your story. More specifically it’s in your characters’ dialogue with each other. However, here’s what can turn a chuckle into a full-blown laugh.

Many speakers spend so much time trying to create humorous content when, in reality, a change in delivery can make their already-existing content funny. Here’s an example of The Look before the Line.

I have a story where I go to a KFC drive-through and place an order. I say the following:

I drove up to the intercom and the lady said, “Welcome to KFC, may I help you?” I said, “Yes, I would like to order three thighs.” She said, “Small or large?” Right here is where I pause and look confused. Why? Think about it. If she said this to you, what would you be thinking? Well, whatever you are thinking, show it before you say it.

In this case, I was thinking, “What? Is there a difference in the sizes of chicken thighs?” The look I show on my face is what creates the humor at this point. Then, after I give the look, I say the following: And before I could even comprehend what she said I unfortunately blurted out, “Do you have large thighs?” Now, once I say this line and realize how crude of a question that can be, what do you think I was thinking? “Uh oh” is right! However, instead of saying “Uh oh,” I show it with my face. So it’s the look before the line and the look after the line that makes the line more humorous.

Unfortunately far too often speakers just give the lines. They give one line of dialogue and then the other character responds with another line of dialogue. The secret to the effectiveness of the dialogue is the look between those lines.

The Key to tool #1

The key to tool #1 is to always ask yourself, “What am I thinking or feeling after that line of dialogue?” Then, once you know the answer, show it on your face before you say it from your lips. And, if you are truly under the influence of your character’s emotions, the look should automatically come.

Humorous Delivery Tool #2: Stop on a Dime

So much is said during a speech and it’s easy for the audience to tune some of it out. However, delivery gives us a way to make sure some of our content jumps out to be remembered. This tool helps add to the twist we make in some of our content. For example, I used to say the following in my speeches:

Write down your perfect day. Everything I wrote down years ago has come to pass. I said I wanted to be a professional speaker; I’m a professional speaker. I said I wanted to own my own business; I own my own business. I said I wanted a white Mercedes Benz Convertible; I have a white Honda Accord…I’m getting there!”

In the past, the content itself carried the laugh. However, overtime I realized a delivery tool that can help. Anytime you have a twist in your content, you can use this tool. As I go through all the things I wrote down in my perfect day, I walk continously in one direction. Then, when I get to the twist in the content (i.e. White Honda Accord), I physically stop and look back in the direction from whence I just came. The physical stop along with the twist in content makes the twist more dramatic and more humorous. What was the result? The laughs got louder.

This Stop on a Dime tool works great with drama as well as humor. For example, I have a story where I go to visit a bookstore to try to find a lady who encouraged me many years beforehand. I say the following:

I walked out of my car just as I did years ago, walked up to the…

It’s at that moment that I stop on a dime. Guess what my audience knows based on that delivery move? They know that the bookstore is gone. In fact, I can literally hear them say it as soon as I stop. It’s not the content that tells them, it’s the delivery. The Stop on a Dime tool is awesome for making the humorous more funny and the dramatic more heartfelt. Use it.

The Key to Using the Stop on a Dime Tool

Figure out what content you have that gives any kind of twist. Then, when you get to the twist part, physically stop as you give your twist line.

These tools will help you uncover the humor in your speeches.

In this lesson, you will pick up 3 tools to keep your audiences on the edge of their seats using the fine, and sometimes scary, art of audience interaction. As a result, you will be able to interact in ways that will keep the energy high no matter how long your presentation lasts. The 3 tools are:

1. Options for answers
2. Discuss and debrief
3. Audience Dialog

1. Options for Answers

You can best utilize this tool when you want to ask your audience a question that needs an actual (not rhetorical) response. Instead of asking everyone, you can walk out to one person, ask him the question, and then wait for his response. However, the key is to anticipate his response so that you will be ready with a handy comeback. Here’s an example from one of my speeches:

“Raise your hand if you have ever been an athlete [pause]. Raise your hand if you thought you were [pause for laughter].” [I walk out and address a single person in my audience] “What sport did you play?” If he says, “I played soccer,” I look at my entire audience and say, “Did anyone play any real sports?” This draws a huge laugh (especially from the person who gave the answer).

Then I say, “Don’t worry, whatever your response was, I was going to say that. So seriously let me ask you, did you ever visualize yourself on the field before you got out there?” If he says, “No,” I immediately say, “See, that’s why you’re no longer playing.” That draws a laugh. If he say “Yes,” which they normally do, I say, “And what did it do for you?” He goes on to describe the positive psychological effects that visualization had on his game. Afterwards, I can easily transition into my point about using that same visualization process to bring success into business, relationships, and life.

The key to the Options for Answers method of audience interaction is to anticipate what their answers will be and have a few options ready in response to those answers. For example, regardless of what sport they say they play, I have an option to use as a comeback. Then, regardless of whether they say yes or no to visualization, I have an option ready for the comeback. Anticipate their answers and plan responses. This gets much easier over time when you get more and more responses from your various audiences around the globe. You will rarely be caught off-guard.

Why Does It Work?

This works extremely well for me and it will for you too. Why is it worth doing and why will it do wonders for your speech? These 3 reasons are just the tip of the iceberg.

a.                   Even though you physically walk out into the audience, the audience mentally comes to you. This is because they temporarily live vicariously through this one person. Therefore, even though you talk to a singular audience member, the rest of the audience thinks about what their own responses would be if they were asked. This way, you continue to draw them in.

b.                  It raises their energy due to the group dynamics of you going into the audience combined with the laughter that occurs with the back and forth conversation you have with your audience member.

c.                   It makes someone else the star of your speech.

Be careful How You Do This

However, it is very important to build enough trust with your audience so they know you are on their side and you are only kidding around with your responses. Therefore, this is not something you should do towards the beginning of your speech. Wait until later.

Another key is to only choose people who seem to be good sports. Usually you can tell because they are the first to raise their hands and offer themselves up as volunteers. Then, it is in good taste to offer them something as a reward for diving into the unknown with you. I usually give an audio CD or something else that is valuable. Again, be playful but not cruel. There is a fine line between having fun and making fun of someone. As long as it is playful, it will work wonders and the person you chose will really appreciate you for giving them that experience.

Using the Options for Answers tool is great if you are not afraid to stray from a fixed script and you are courageous enough to physically go out into the middle of your audience. I strongly suggest that you use this tool somewhere within any speeches you give that exceed 30 minutes.

Your preparation for the Options for Answers is four-fold

1.                  Think about what questions you can step out into your audience and ask to one individual

2.                  Write down the answers you are likely to get

3.                  Write down what your response will be for each of those answers

4.                  Scope out people who look like they want to be involved in your speech. They are usually pretty easy to find but it does require you to watch your watchers.

2. Discuss and Debrief

If you want to quickly raise the energy of your audience, get them to remember and buy into your message, and break the monotony of you simply standing there speaking, use the Discuss and Debrief method. Most speakers ask their entire audience questions like, “What are some important factors to successfully undergoing change in your organization?” Chances are the audience will initially struggle to respond and the speaker will face an awkward silence.

The solution is to give them oil by loosening up their minds in the following way: “For 45 seconds, I want you to turn and talk to two neighbors of yours and discuss what you feel are some of the most important factors to undergo a successful change in your organization. You have 45 seconds. Ready? Go.” This is the Discuss part of the Discuss and Debrief method.

Immediately the energy rises as bodies move and people start communicating. The modality changes from you speaking to them speaking, thinking, and listening to each other. Remember, your audience wants to be heard too and this is a great way to accomplish that. Finally, after the 45 seconds are up, you say something like the following: “Okay, please turn back around up front. Let’s hear what you had to say. What are some of the most important factors for having a successful change?”

At that point, it might even surprise you how rapidly and effortlessly they shoot out responses. This is because they have loosened up their minds. They have gone from listening mode (when they listened to you) to thinking mode and their responses will most likely align with your point. Therein lies the genius of this method. If you get them to say it, rather than simply saying it yourself, they end up buying into your message much more fully and quickly. Plus, they have fun doing so. This is the Debrief part of the Discuss and Debrief method.

Why Does this Work? These are 4 Reasons to use This Method

1. It loosens up their minds so they can easily give answers during the Debrief section
2. It breaks up the speech and changes the modality
3. It facilitates movement into a more kinesthetic experience, which is how some people learn best
4. It raises their energy

3. Giving Your Audience Dialog

Now that you have the Options for Answers and the Discuss and Debrief tools, it is time to pick up one of my all-time favorites. Many speakers do not usually think of this next tool as interaction but it absolutely is because you actually interact with the audience members’ minds and you cannot get much closer to them than that. I call it giving the audience dialog.

You might have heard me say that the heart of a story is dialog, because dialog pumps life into it. However, have you ever thought of the following point?

Your audience is a character

That is correct, your audience is a character in your story.  Therefore, from time to time, you should give them dialog. Here is an example of how I do this in the middle of an activity:

I say to my entire audience, “I want you right now to stand up and change 12 things about your own appearance.” Then I walk over to one person and say, “Janet, you are looking at me as if to say, ‘But Craig, I don’t have 12 things on! I did not know it was that kind of workshop.’” That gets a big laugh.

Remember, she does not physically say it; I give her the dialog. In other words, I say it as if she is saying it to me. Here are some other lines I use when giving the audience dialog:

• “Your looking at me like, ‘Come on Craig, what do you know about stepping on a scale; you’re built like a greek statue.’”
• “At what point did you get intrigued by that story? [I then look at one person]. You’ve got that look like, ‘Who said I was intrigued?’”

Here is the key that you absolutely must remember in order to make this work:

If they think it, you say it.

I usually give my audience dialog at least 4 times during a 45-minute speech. Here are 3 steps to making this work:

Step 1: Anticipate what the audience is thinking

Step 2: Tell the audience what they are thinking

Step 3: Feel free to exaggerate what they are thinking (i.e. “I didn’t know it was that kind of workshop!”)

Three things will happen when you tell your audience what they think and use their own dialog to do it.

1.                  You will make them laugh

2.                  You will make them think

3.                  You will deepen your connection with them. Why? Because they will think, “Wow, he is reading my mind!” That gets you closer and closer to them and it feels great.

Final Thoughts

You just picked up 3 tools for greater interaction for a greater connection. Options for Answers; Discuss and Debrief; and Audience dialog. Now, speaking of audience dialog, I will give you the last word. Hopefully you are saying, “Craig, I can use these tools in my very next speech!”