There is no shortage of public speaking advice on the internet, in magazines and book stores today.
In fact, I have written over 300 articles myself for mindfulpresenter.com and other online publications.
I’d like to share some of my favourite public speaking advice from other respected authors in the field of communication skills.
Carmine Gallo is one of the first who springs to mind. He has written a great deal and made a major contribution to the world of public speaking.
Here are just a few of my favourites:
1. Branson, Buffett Agree: This Skill Is Your Ticket to Career Success
This isn’t one of those articles full of practical tips designed to make you a more powerful speaker.
It is however, an important and valuable one to start with. Many people are either very anxious about public speaking or simply don’t appreciate its significance. This article caught my attention because two of the most highly respected and successful entrepreneurs of recent times believe what I have been saying myself for many years.
Richard Branson said, “Communication is the most important skill any leader can possess,”
Warren Buffett said, “I was terrified of public speaking in high school and college. I couldn’t do it,” Carmine then goes on to explain that Buffett once told the BBC. “I don’t have my diploma from college or from graduate school, but I have my Dale Carnegie diploma there because it changed my life.”
The Most Important Skill in the World Today – Public Speaking
This is an article I wrote which explains why it’s not a skill reserved exclusively for the rich and famous.
Richard Branson is clearly an ambassador for the merits of public speaking, yet it’s not his gift.
That said, his words clearly demonstrate the value he places on the ability to communicate well.
2. The Mental Habit That Turns Everyday People into Extraordinary Speakers
This article begins with reference to a dialogue with one of my favourite speakers, Joel Osteen.
Mindful Presenter was created to help people communicate their ideas with greater awareness, purpose and impact.
Carmine quotes in his article: “Carmine, when I began preaching I was nervous and intimidated. I’m naturally quiet and reserved. I was bombarded by negative thoughts.”
3. The Tony Robbins Interview: How ‘Raw Communication’ Changed My Life
I remember flying all the way over to New York on my 40th birthday to hear the legendary Tony Robbins speak and to have him teach me how to do the ‘Fire walk’.
Carmine opens his article with a quote from Tony Robbins that, once again, I have been saying myself in my own words for many years, “The number one reason people are ineffective speakers is because they’re focused on themselves. If you’re focused on yourself, then you can’t possibly connect with the audience,”
In 2015 I wrote an article about what I had learned from Tony Robbins all those years ago to help me with my public speaking: ‘Presenting – 4 Tips you don’t hear about body language‘
4. Great Communicators from Steve Jobs to TED Speakers Are Made, Not Born
This is another great article by Carmine Gallo.
It highlights yet another very important point I have written about extensively: ‘A Presentation & Public Speaking Phenomenon – I feel terrible but you can’t see it’
He begins his article with:
‘First, the bad news. There are no shortcuts on the path to becoming an exceptional public-speaker. Now, the good news. Anyone who puts in the work can radically improve their communication skills.’
This is an article about the significance of preparation and rehearsal. This may sound like common sense, yet is the very essence of mindful presenting.
5. Three Keys to Telling Personal Stories That Move Hearts And Minds
If you give people a wealth of data and tell them a short, compelling story you can be certain that they will remember the story first.
This article opens with a story and then beautifully explains the power of storytelling sharing three keys to success:
1: Inciting incident
2: Personal transformation
3: Life lesson
At Mindful Presenter we believe that ‘A Presentation without Stories is a Lecture’.
6. 5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers
‘Make Eye Contact, Right From the Start’
‘Show Vulnerability’
‘Make ‘Em Laugh—But Not Squirm’
‘Park Your Ego’
‘Tell a Story’
If you are looking for more helpful public speaking advice:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
Image: Courtesy of Flickr.com
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