Some of the best presentation advice Peter George ever received didn't come from a speaking coach, a book, or a seminar. It came from his mother. In this QuickBites episode, Peter reveals how the guidance his mom gave him about interacting with others maps almost perfectly onto the core principles of audience engagement. What seemed like ordinary life lessons turn out to be a surprisingly complete toolkit for public speakers.
From making eye contact to standing up straight, slowing down to showing your hands, Peter counts down all ten lessons — with the number one piece of advice being the simplest and most overlooked tool in any speaker's arsenal. It's a lesson that costs nothing, requires no rehearsal, and can immediately change the way an audience responds to you.Welcome to QuickBites, public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less. Here's your host, Peter George.
When I started coaching, I realized that many of the things my mother taught me about interacting with others were spot on. She couldn't have known she was also teaching me about one of the most valuable aspects of presentation skills: engagement. Here are the top ten things my mom taught me about public speaking.
The Countdown
Number 10: Look People in the Eye. Making eye contact helps you bond with your audience and expresses confidence on your part. But eye contact is a two-way street — as much as your listeners can glean meaning from your eyes, you can get valuable feedback from theirs.
Number 9: Take Your Hands Out of Your Pockets. Your hands support and foster your message. They also help you connect with your listeners. Having your hands in your pockets — or under a desk or table — robs you of the benefits they provide. Show your hands.
Number 8: Don't Fold Your Arms. Whether it reads as defensive or disinterested, folded arms don't serve a presenter. Either way, it's not a good look — and your audience notices.
Number 7: Speak Up. People will strain to hear you for only so long. After that, they're done trying. If you want any shot at keeping your audience engaged, speak at the appropriate volume.
Number 6: Speak Clearly. Being heard is one thing. Being heard clearly so your listeners can actually process your message is another. Be sure to enunciate.
Number 5: Slow Down. My mother probably never thought of it in terms of pausing — but that's precisely what she was suggesting. Whether you're speaking too fast or not pausing at the right moments, this advice applies to you.
Number 4: Don't Interrupt People When They're Speaking. In a presentation context, you interrupt your audience's thinking when you keep talking immediately after asking a question or making a point they need a moment to sit with. Respect their processing time.
Number 3: Listen More Than You Talk. You can't literally talk less than your audience during a presentation. But you can honor the spirit of it — by keeping your focus on your listeners and showing, through your message and its choices, that you care about them.
Number 2: Stand Up Straight. Good posture demonstrates confidence and engagement — two essential attributes for any public speaker.
And the number one thing my mom taught me about public speaking: Smile. Or as she would have said, it's just as easy to smile as it is to frown. And she was right.
Beyond that, think about everything a smile can do: engage, attract, soothe, disarm, connect, agree, bond, support, confirm, and encourage — just to name a few. Most often, a soft smile that creates a twinkle in your eyes is all that's necessary. Thanks, Mom. You'll never know how much your advice — although I considered it nagging at the time — has helped me and subsequently my clients.
Thank you for devouring another episode of QuickBites. Tune in Monday when you'll hear another episode of Public Speaking with Peter George, and again Thursday for your next episode of QuickBites. Until then, remember — when it comes to speaking in public, you've got this. I'll see you next time.
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