Do your words shake the world? The 60 Metrics of a world class speaker
Grade yourself as follows
1 Point
Never
2 Points
Rarely
3 Points
Sometimes
4 Points
Often
5 Points
Always
Getting Started
I love to speak in public.
I look forward to being in front of an audience to be able to share things that I am "authentically passionate" about.
I get myself "in the zone" before I speak by exercising, breathing, centering, warming up so that I am loose and ready to go as I walk up to the front of the room.
I look in the eyes of the person who introduces me and thank them in a conversational way.
I acknowledge the person who introduces me and thank him or her.
I acknowledge the audience and thank them for inviting me, etc.
I ask the audience actual questions, either at the very beginning or at various times during the presentation to get them fully engaged.
I ask the audience rhetorical questions, either at the very beginning or at various times during the presentation to get them fully engaged.
Secret #1
I tell stories or case histories to illustrate my message, my product, service or brand.
I tell stories in the PRESENT tense.
I tell stories with lots of dialogue.
I use easy to understand, user-friendly language that anyone can understand, no matter how complicated the content is.
If I use jargon or acronyms or challenging terms, I define them in a way that everyone can understand.
Secret #2
I understand that the impact of my presentation is generated even more by the tone of my voice than by the specific words I use and I do whatever I can to make my voice tone and body language interesting and engaging.
I vary my voice tone.
I vary the volume of my voice tone. Sometimes louder, sometimes softer.
I vary the pace of my voice tone. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower.
I vary the "pitch" of my voice tone. Sometimes higher, sometimes lower.
I punctuate the most important words in my sentences.
I punctuate at least one word in every paragraph I speak.
To really drive the point, I punctuate each syllable in a multi-syllable word like very, always, never.
The resonance of my voice is full enough to add gravitas and authority to my message.
23. I pause to allow the audience to digest and to build a sense of engagement and drama.
Secret #3
I understand that the impact of my presentation is generated even more by my body language than by the specific words I use and I do whatever I can to make body language interesting and engaging.
I "read the room" and tune into the audience’s body language to see how engaged they are.
I stand up straight with my shoulders up.
When I want to make an authoritative point, I gesture downwards.
When I want to make an authoritative point, I gesture downwards within "The Power Zone", that is, between my shoulders.
Instead of looking over the heads of the audience, I make a point to make eye contact with as many people as I can, as if I was having a conversation with them.
In a small audience I make direct eye contact with everyone, at least once.
In large audiences, I make sure to make eye contact with at least one person in each area of the audience.
I notice when audience members are distracted by their cell phones or otherwise disconnecting, or disconnected from me and the presentation and I immediately adjust my presentation to re-engage them.
When it is possible to leave the podium I move around the stage/room in a relaxed, conversational way.
I am physically balanced when I stand and move and "present" and mentally centered and balanced when I speak, i.e. clear and non-flustered.
I fill the room with my energy so that the people in the very last row can hear me easily and can also feel my presence, almost as if I was standing right in front of them.
Secret #4
Instead of just throwing out every fact and point like a bowl of spaghetti and hoping that some of them stick to the wall, I summarize all of them into a "Lasered, Compelling Message", a provocative headline that captures the essential message of my entire presentation.
Instead of "inductively" building my case (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1) I "deductively" start with the headline/lasered, compelling message ("5!") and then go into the details.
When deciding on what my message will be I focus on what is a) unique about my product, service, cause, initiative, brand, etc. and b) how that uniqueness specifically benefits my particular audience.
I develop my message based, not on what I "should" say about the subject but on what I am authentically passionate about with respect to that subject.
If I am not delivering a scripted, word for word, speech, I can translate the content of my speech into a simple, bullet point outline that is no more than 1 page.
My PowerPoint presentations have one main point per slide and simple messages or graphs designed so as not to distract the audience from my speaking.
Secret #5
Even when I have to read prepared text I do so in a way that is highly conversational and engaging.
When I do read prepared text I liberally add conversation fillers like "as you know" or "now this is really important", repeat certain words or phrases for emphasis or otherwise customize and personalize the text.
I look at my speaking opportunities not as performances at an audience, or presentations to an audience, but rather as conversations WITH my audience. (Triple Score)
I understand that, even though the audience is not speaking with their voices, that they are loudly speaking and communicating with every body language motion they make (or don’t make) and I therefore am fully aware that we are - at every moment - having a "conversation".
I see mistakes, stumbles, interruptions and unexpected things that happen during a presentation as great opportunities to be myself and forge a deeper, more personal bond with the audience ("Utilization").
Secret #6
I include energy and excitement in my presentations.
I include feeling and passion in my presentations.
There is an easy to follow narrative or storyline to my presentations.
I include data, facts, perspectives and/or nuanced analysis in my presentations to provide a solid foundation for my message.
I pick up the pace and slow down the pace throughout the presentation.
I focus on what "excites" me in my presentations.
I focus on what "fascinates" me in my presentations.
I focus on the specifics, the details of what fascinates me.
I focus on what touches me, what moves me, what I feel passionate about in my presentations.
Secret #7
I ask myself what, to me, is "So Fricken Cool" about my subject so that I can come from a deep and authentic passion about whatever I am speaking about.
I see my speaking as an opportunity to make a contribution to the world.
I love sharing about the things in my life and work about which I am profoundly and "Authentically Passionate"
What was your score?
1.) Add up all the numbers.
2.) Including the Triple Score, (#44), there is a total of 300 points available: (60 x 5).
3.) Divide your total by 60 to arrive at your Speaker Average.
2.50 - 3.00 Points
Emerging Speaker
3.00 - 3.50 Points
Good Speaker
3.50 - 4.00 Points
Highly Competent Speaker
4.00 - 4.25 Points
Excellent Speaker
4.25 - 4.50 Points
Expert Speaker
4.50 - 4.75 Points
World Class Speaker
4.75 - 5.0 Points
Shake The World Master Speaker
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