Speaking events
Public speaking is one of the biggest fears we have as Britons. I’m unfortunately part of that scared majority. That hasn’t stopped me though because practice makes perfect as someone stupidly said. Anyway, this week I have to give a 45 min speech at Open University on ‘Religion, integration and political participation’, and on Saturday I have to give a talk at the annual NUJ Black Members Conference on diversity in the media. Oh jesus. Any tips? Ideas? Isn’t the wisdom of crowds supposed to generate results?
Saying that though, the last time I asked ideas about ‘changing the world’ at the Fabian conference, all you folks came up with was some idealistic airy-fairy ideas! (Yes, I’m looking at you Desi Italiana).
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I know you don’t like my ideas but hey!
‘Religion, integration and political participation’
Why not outline the fact that most people don’t actually realise that different religions have been part of the UK for over 1,000 years. Different faiths have contributed to safeguarding these Isles in WW1 and WW2.
Thus multi-faith isn’t new.
It is the integration and participation which is new.
Integration is about understanding and isn’t about the policy of sensartionalism which many of the anti-lefties are pushing.
How can you integrate people and ask them to partake in the political process if you don’t know what they are about.
There are bigger problems in Europe because they have chosen confrontation rather than integration.
“diversity in the media”
Not with Murdoch around. The media don’t do diversity they do sensationalist attacks on immigrants.
I’ve done it a few times; been on public speaking training courses too but rarely enjoy the experience.
One thing I have realised is the speed your speak at gets faster the more nervous you are. Speak slowly and remember to breath. Don’t be afraid to stop and pause to gather your thoughts for the next section, the audience are very patient and will wait for you.
Sunny
I was once told by someone who is a regular speaker. that try to concentrate at one person at a time. It makes you feel that you are speaking to just a single being!
Make sure it is not an attractive woman, or it may have the reverse effect.
Good Luck.
speak within a lower frequency range.
Sunny:
From personal experience, treat public speaking how you would tell a story, perhaps a funny one (being Punjabi that should come naturally!)to a group of people. When we do this, we usually take our time, have the pauses, pick up pace and deliver the punch lines with precision…this really maximises the effect…which is what you’re looking for. Key thing is, take your time with the audience – remember you are in control, not they, so enjoy it.
The occasional mistakes in speech do sometimes occur; however no one really cares about this as long as you tell your ’story’ in an interesting way.
Best of Luck…
p.s. how did the City Circle event go?
Make jokes (“some of my best friends are white”, that sort of thing).
Get some backing dancers, in traditional Punjabi dress, and give your lecture in song (complete with obligatory attractive Indian female looking coyly at you).
why are middle class educated types so bad at Presentations. Is it too much time spent head in books. Not living life and learning life skills
You know the old saying about imagining your audience is naked……….
well don’t. It will only distract you.
The key is to pace yourself, make the points that you want them to remember closer to the end than the begining and make sure you know where the exits are.
Timing. Forty-five minutes? Damn, just make sure you don’t gabble in the middle and end up with eight minutes of examining your fingernails and humming.
Not that that will happen.
I don’t know about imagining the audience naked, but definitely avoid imagining yourself naked. Don’t let that thought cross your mind.
You’ll be fine.
Hi Mate,
Even though it is called public speaking most of it is to do with how confident you feel and look on the day.
You are right practice,,practice,, practice. make sure you present you speach to a group of friends that can constructivly critise you.
Another really important thing that I have learnt from public speak is to gain eye contact with as many of the audience as you can, make them feel like you are talking specifically to them.
Being a professional magician and interacting with large groups on a daily basis I find the best way to present yourself is naturally.
I wish you all the best mate,, hope all goes well.
Raks
If you’re reading from notes, only write on the top half of the page, that way you don’t end up looking down too far (if you’re using a lectern/podium) and the audience won’t get dazzled by your shiny scalp…..
Don’t fidget too much, and don’t do the Tony Blair hand gesture stuff – looks too fake.
Just relax and enjoy yourself.
The speaking slowly thing is good advice. Here is my Top Tip for speaking in public:
1. Try not to consciously slow down. Instead, make sure you pronounce the end of every single word. You’ll find that you naturally slow down to the point where you still sound as if you’re speaking naturally, but everyone in the room will be able to keep up and hear every word you say.
2. Have a glass of water handy. If you lose your train of thought in the middle of a sentence, take a sip of water. That brief second is usually enough for your brain to heave itself back onto the rails.
Good luck, dude. You will kick ass.
OK that was two top tips. WHATEVER.
I am a middle-class educated type, nobody’s hero, and I’m an accomplished public speaker. I have grace, poise, confidence, clear elocution and authority.
I just never have anything worth saying.
Sunny I’m sure they’ll all be mesmerised by your unusual accent and shiny head. Oh you want ideas about the subject matter? No. None.
Actually, I remember a lecture I recently gave about some thrilling subject like fluid balance and I put over 50% of the class of 40-odd to sleep. It was Friday afternoon, but I was still very proud of this marvellous achievement. Some insomniacs have requested recordings of my seminars. I’m in great demand with new parents and baby product makers.
Sunny,
I don’t know how easy this is to do. But if you let your enthusiasm for your subject into your voice, then you are there!
Having heard you from early Sunny to now, you are getting a lot better. Just slow it down a bit. Consider the spoken word as the jewels you write here.
But really, Sunny, you have a point of view, and frankly a better pov than whatever you are likely to face. You know that. You have argued about it here and elsewhere.
OK, that was OTT, but it is a matter of confidence, and I think we should all be saying, go Sunny go!
You are not alone up there, you represent a lot of folk here particularily. Do not be hesitant, tell them the truth as we see it. That is a worthwhile cause, is it not?
And we are all rooting for you.
wow, thanks everyone. Fantastic suggestions there.
Saqib – it went well! City circle talks are always easy. It wasn’t like I was going to annoy the audience or anything!
Make jokes (”some of my best friends are white”, that sort of thing).
but… but… but..!
the backing bhangra dancers are a good idea. They’ll take the heat off me.
Sunny:
“Saying that though, the last time I asked ideas about ‘changing the world’ at the Fabian conference, all you folks came up with was some idealistic airy-fairy ideas! (Yes, I’m looking at you Desi Italiana).”
Oh foo-foo. My ideas were NOT “airy-fairy,” they were quite realistic, just that they fly in the face of hawkish realpolitiking! Just because it’s outside of the mainstream doesn’t mean it’s idealistic.
Now, I suggest you breathe. It’s such a simple suggestion, but it honestly does wonders to actually pause and breathe. This not only slows down anxiety, but also, it gives you time to make sure your words are not garbled and that you don’t ramble.
Please do not pick your ears as you talk, which is what Tariq Aliji has a tendency to do.
Also, pretend you are having a conversation. DO NOT go unprepared.
Rohin:
“I just never have anything worth saying.”
That is because you are too busy stealing my kidneys!
I am not middle class type, but I am a wonderful public speaker. I’m charming and informative.
I am nothing like my blogging persona. Nothing.
Sunny, please do not engage in embarressing habits as a way to diffuse your anxiety.
This includes cutting the cheese, running your tongue over your teeth, picking your teeth, shuffling your feet, picking your earwax, pulling out your murphs, slipping into Punjabi, scratching your beard, cleaning out your nose, etc.
Read (or listen- can buy on i-tunes) Anthony Robbins book, awaken the giant within. He interestingly points explores the concepts of false-neuro associations and how to reverse this into something positive. personally, i get the buzz after doing a speech when people come up to you wanting to meet you. that’s my positive outcome. the first speech i done was to a audience of 200+ at deutsche bank on CSR- shit scared when i was delivering the speech but what a buzz after!
you could try picking on the audience half way through…oi you in the third row in the dodgy wig…so what’s the last thing i said?
Sunny – you were great when you spoke at the Cambridge Union
rubbish, sunny you’ll be fine and you know it
are you asking for ideas on content..? again i think you have plenty – to say, restricting it might be the problem, heh..
rumbold’s got a good suggestion..
rohin, you are funny..!
anyway such speech-y things are usually rubbishly artificial i always find, just say any old thing and the real natter happens when the drinking/tea sipping starts..
this should be up your street sunny – are you going?
A debate about the definition of ‘Britishness’
Speakers: Professor Anne Phillips, professor of Political and Gender Theory at LSE, and Professor Sir Bernard Crick, emeritus professor of Birkbeck College
On: Tuesday 11 March at 6.30-8pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building LSE
I like your top tips Katy! I always speak so fast, and i have real trouble slowing down..
Whatever you do, don’t break wind during your talk.
Er … ahem.
Allow 2 weeks to prepare a 45 minute speech?
30 minutes and 15 minutes questions?
Seriously (some of these don’t work if you are tied down by a microphone lead or autocue or if it’s really formal).
* Take *everything* out of your pockets. Jingling does not help.
* Decide on the quiescent position of your hands – i.e., whether you are going to put them on the lectern (do you have a lectern?), behind you etc. when not waving them around. Stick to it.
* Use your hands to wave around, point at things etc. to keep people interested – but not all the time.
* Put your notes on the DESK so they don’t shake. Don’t try and read them surrepticiously – stop and look.
* Have a plant in the audience to wave at you at 30 minutes. If you haven’t got one, grab one.
* Talk at the person at the back. Arrive 15 minutes early and do a test.
My top tip:
* Move around. Get out from behind your lectern. Perch on the desk like a C5 newsreader. Walk up a gangway and sit on a desk half way up if it is a lecture theatre. Keep ‘em watching you and surprised. If anyone is getting sleepy, walk over and speak for a bit from near them.
MW
Have a shot of tequila before you start.
Actually, plum wine helps. I had some before a phone interview, and huzzah–!! I nailed it!
Most important of all is to know your subject; and where there is uncertainty be open with your audience.
What is the subject?
As for the NUJ, I do hope you take up the subject of the dangers of a compliant media. And the importance of proper sourcing of material.
How about juxtaposing a free but compliant media with state controlled media? Are they the one and the same in outcome?
Or how about how the media may (or may not) change if and when Obama is in the Whitehouse?
Just some thoughts.
NUJ?
How bloggers are the new fact checkers.
See
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2008/01/07/columnists-and-reporters-are-the-new-bloggers/
Matt
man, this was the funniest post yet
these tips are genius
S, will you post the talks you gave in the end?