We reported in our last post on Area Governor Donald Knowles’ experiences of watching Ryan Avery the youngest world champion of public speaking in history.
In addition to listening to Ryan’s speech, Donald also attended a workshop given by this exceptional speaker.
Here’s Donald’s notes for your information:
Lecture Notes.
3 things to know
A) – Make It Simple
B) – Impactful
C) – Relatable
A) – MAKE IT SIMPLE
Outline
Intro and Conclusion must tie together
If it is in the Intro then it is in the Conclusion
Body –
3 stories, not points
Match same theme in each story.
i.e. Trust Is a Must
Repetition – 3 times
1) Someone has to teach you to be the hero in your own story
You cannot be the hero in your own story
In speech, Mom teaches you that trust is a must
Grandma teaches you to push past it (mentioned 16 times)
Constant objects show up in all stores,
Bunny slippers and friend named Shane
Paragraph format is too hard to memorise and develop breathing and pausing spots
Use poem form as work is spread out 1 thought or sentence per line
Poem form is not the rhyming of the words but the way that the material is placed upon the page.
Breath or pause takes you to a new line
2) Engage audience by the senses; smell (#1), taste (#2), hearing, sight, touch.
When writing speech use a different coloured marker to denote each sense,
For instance; smell is green, taste is blue, etc.
The question at the end of your presentation is; can you smell your speech?
“Does your speech stink?”
Speak in 3D, use the 6 emotions, and show them.
3) Drop The Prop.
You want the audience to visualise their memories, not yours
If describing a basketball their basketball will come to mind, not a physical prop.
This engages their memories and their senses associated with memory.
Props are a distraction. When you put the prop down the audience is still looking at it.
This forces audience to work on OUR story, not your story or their story.
4) Use the Active Voice
The active voice describes situations that are happening NOW, for instance;
John engages the audience with a story
The passive voice describes situations in the PAST, for instance;
The audience was engaged by John.
NOW has more punch than THEN
B) – IMPACTFUL
Stop with the excuses and start looking at the opportunities. Push Past It.
What is the 1 message that you would walk across the Grand Canyon to give to 1 person.
Target your message to the targeted speaker. The Grand Canyon is 26 miles wide.
No fluff. Be specific and direct.
No more speeches. From now on you will only send MESSAGES from the HEART.
Reference given to author Simon Sinick; 3 questions – WHAT, HOW, WHY.
HOW will you get it (whatever) done?
WHAT will it give the world?
Understand WHY.
Do not have a WHAT mentality – What can I do. Need to have a WHY mentality
Why it works, why it is needed.
Reference made to Jim Rohn;
You do not have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great
You must make an impact upon yourself before you can make an impact upon others
Think like a champion, train like a champion, become a champion
C) – RELATEABLE
Do not tell jokes, but share a personal failure with a lesson.
To be relatable use the family, we all have one.
Dress to relate NOT to impress.
Practice at game speed – how you practice is how you play.
Make it real and treat it that way otherwise your practice will present a lame performance.
Use self-deprecating humour; do not make fun of other people at their expense.
The preceding is as much material as could be noted and still take time to understand the context. The 2 hours was a whirlwind of ideas and material. The material was 2 hours taken out of a 3 day conference.
