Learn to give a speech without a podium, without a script, without a teleprompter.
Two nights ago I had the privilege of listening to General Colin Powell address 1600 people in a packed hall at Boston’s Convention Center. Granted Powell has become a professional speech giver. He’s got a talk that’s he probably given dozens of times and to justify a fee in excess of $100,000 an hour you’d better be good. Still, there’s a lot any of us who have to stand up in front of a crowd can learn from watching masters like Colin Powell. Here’s my take on listening to and watching the General help Boston’s Chamber of Commerce celebrate its 100th anniversary.
1. Get rid of the script
Easier said than done for some, but incredibly liberating. No one wants to hear you read, they want to hear you talk to them. The difference between Powell and the other presenters was significant.
2. Come out from behind the podium
Even those thin-legged podiums with nothing but a platform create a barrier between you and the audience. They say, “I am up here speaking and you are down there listening.” The simple elimination of a physical structure between you and an audience brings you closer together.
3. Tell stories (they’re easy to remember)
This is how you lose the script. Plot out a series of stories to tell. If they’re your stories they’re easy to remember. Powell told the following stories: what it felt like to go from being Secretary of State to an ordinary citizen; how his many meetings with world leaders reinforced his belief that the world still looks to the United States for leadership; how an immigrant hotdog vendor on Fifth Avenue in New York City refused payment for a hotdog, claiming “America has given me enough already.”
4. Be self-deprecating
Show a little vulnerability. It makes you feel human and guarantees to make you more likeable. Powell talked about meeting his wife and the unlikelihood of her falling for a soldier.
5. Ad-lib
Everyone knows your speech is canned, even if you don’t have a teleprompter. But pick up something from the evening, the event, or other guests. Modify or customize one of your stories or examples to make it feel localized and of the moment. It shows you’re listening and paying attention to those around you.
6. Know the points you want to make
Powell’s story of Gorbachev telling him he’d have to get used to Russia no longer being an enemy was a way to talk about embracing change. His story about the hotdog vendor made the point that even if we criticize our own country and its policies, America remains the last great hope for much of the world.
I listened to everything Colin Powell had to say. And I was impressed with his message of hope, charity and the ability to come together to support one another. But I was equally impressed with how he delivered it. It’s stuff that works whether you’re doing a new business pitch, making a speech at an industry convention, or simply selling yourself to three clients across the table.
Heard any good speeches lately? Learned anything from them?
Comments
10 Responses to “Learn to give a speech without a podium, without a script, without a teleprompter.”
Leave a Reply
#1A Ditch PowerPoint!
Edward,
As a person who’s just getting into public speaking more and more, this is a great post with some fantastic insight. I found myself saying either, “awesome, I do that,” or “what a great idea, I should do that” to all of your points. I don’t command the $100,000/hr rate that General Colin Powell does, but hopefully someday people may think about paying something to hear me speak!
Looking forward to your next post.
Mariano’s last blog post..Disaster Recovery and Your Online Presence: Why you Need a Plan
All six of your points speak to the fact that Powell actually wants to communicate with his audience. Toni Louw reminds us that once we get used to being looked at and begin to care more about the audience than ourselves, we are free to engage at an entirely new level.
Leo Bottary’s last blog post..Communication Planning And Bridging The Gap
Leo,
Great comment. And thanks for turning me onto Toni Louw. I can say that I learned something new today. Thanks.
Great post, Edward. All the things you point to are about a speaker not making excuses for real worth.
Not hiding behind a PowerPoint.
Not hiding behind a podium or a script.
Not hiding behind abstract words that someone else wrote.
Not relying on language that is self-important and self-centered.
What you witnessed was a speaker who was comfortable in his own skin, and whose powerplant didn’t radiate from the projector but from within.
As Emerson said of a man. of power: he needs no books, no colleges, no friends, no religion. He IS power. That’s the speaker you want to bring to the front of the of the hall.
This is all great advice and when you see a really famous, experienced and talented speaker in action, it’s so memorable. Being famous and having famous friends, or being involved in fascinating world events certainly adds to their value as a speaker. Good luck to Colin Powell.
Good comments all. Though we can’t all be famous or powerful in the way of Colin Powell. But we can all be good speakers if we practice some of the techniques we see from the masters. Another good source is Ted.com. You learn who’s good and who’s bad. Just because you’re brilliant at something doesn’t make you a good speaker and vice versa. Take a look at Sir Ken Robinson on Ted.com. Another really good one. Why? Story telling.
Edward,
Leo shared his post of your incredibly spot on comments regarding Mr. Powell.
After 30 years of teaching public speaking of all kinds, even with current “remote” presenting of work – the client has already seen – it seems to still come down to those wonderful basics.
Care
Share
Dare
Care more for your audience than you do for yourself
Share don’t pitch
Dare to suggest a difference that will make one for the audience.
Toni
Toni:
Great synopsis of how to give a speech. Took me an entire post. Your have it reduced to three words. Hope everyone reads your comments. Thanks for the thought.
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!