Now that we have the basics...

Over the past few weeks, we've learned all about the equation that equates to the seeds of a great speech ((KT + KA + KE) * Appropriate Techniques). We've learned how to develop a great speech by incorporating a litany of techniques (repetition, rule of 3s, audience participation, props, statistics, quotes, and many more). We've learned how to transition from memorizing speeches to giving media interviews using a handful of talking points. We've learned how to get over some of the huge fears we have of public speaking, how to tell a compelling story, and how to sell (almost) anything. We even learned how to make a PowerPoint presentation that doesn't suck.

Since this course was only the beginning of a new chapter in our public speaking lives, here's a list of ways we can continue to hone the skills we learned in our excellent (excellent) course:

• Give impromptu speeches when the situation calls for one.
• Join Toastmasters.
• Volunteer to present at work.
• Run for office (if you're so inclined).
• Volunteer for "docent" positions. Many are available at serve.gov and allforgood.org.
• Watch speeches online. A number of excellent ones are available at TED and even on C-SPAN.
• For effective visuals (especially for quantitative information), check our publications by Edward Tufte: http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/

Does anyone else have any other ideas? Maybe we could meet on a semi-regular basis and deliver impromptu speeches to each other and possible invite friends. Would anyone else be interested in this?

= = =

Finally, our instructor, Dana Dierkes, did an incredible job in creating a supportive environment that helped ALL of us become stronger speakers, regardless of what our starting point was. I'm sure I speak on the behalf of the rest of our class in saying that we wish you ALL the best in California, and we hope to continue to be in touch. If you're ever back in DC, please don't be a stranger. Thank you for organizing such a great course!

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture (Thoughts welcome!)

During our last session (June 3, 2010), we watched Randy Pausch's famous Last Lecture, or rather the abridged version of it that he presented on Oprah:

It's an incredibly powerful speech that packs a lot of punch for its short running running time, but I'd highly recommend viewing his Last Lecture in full. It has a few "ums" and "uhs" in it, but it's quite a bit more relaxed and conversational, rather than presentational in tone:

Spaghetti Sauce

TED features some of the most incredible, inspiring, informative, and innovative talks I've seen anywhere, and it's a treasure trove of some of the best speeches given over the past five years. I've seen a number of them already, but the first one I watched was by Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. As I'm sure you can agree, he's a pretty great story-teller, as he uses his stories to illustrate much larger points:

Obama on Race - March 18, 2008

This still resonates with me as one of the best and most eloquent speeches on race, socioeconomic disparities, and politics:

Rachel Maddow and Anthony Weiner (D-NY)

Rachel Maddow has few, if any, intellectual equals in the mainstream US news media. Unlike most of her colleagues, she's incredibly well-informed and shows a clear passion for the nuances of many stories. She's criticized by many on the other end of the political spectrum for being part of the "liberal media elite," but her reasoned approach to the health care bill that passed earlier this year makes it difficult to provide much of a counter-argument. What makes this story much more powerful is the passion with which Rep. Anthony Weiner presented his arguments for the bill in front of Congress. In the last iteration of his speech, notice how he changes the way he presents his case in order to get his message across:

An introduction

I created this blog as a companion to the Public Speaking course (SPCH1151E) I am currently taking at The Graduate School. Anecdotally, speaking in front of a group ranks as one of the biggest fears most people will have to face at some point in their lives. Little scientific or statistical evidence exists for this claim, but when was the last time you spoke in front of a group of strangers without feeling your heart beat a little more quickly?

At their best, speeches can inspire, emote, inform, and incite action; at their worst, they can bore, disappoint, irritate and lull the audience to sleep. As technology evolves, society's attention is increasingly divided and subdivided by so many competing messages delivered through a growing number of media. As a result, it's become more difficult than ever to keep an audience's attention. In all of human history, NOW is the most important time to strengthen one's communication and speaking abilities. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Like almost any other humanly pursuit, the only way to improve one's ability to communicate to various audiences is through critical practice. Practicing in front of a mirror is far from taking a critical approach to improvement. One could effectively read his or her whole speech without dedicating a second to evaluating delivery, eye contact, or body language. Instead, when you are made to watch your speech, in the form of a video recording or through the eyes of your peers, you force yourself to improve. We utilize both methods in our class, with added input from our incredible instructor, Dana Dierkes.

Another means by which to improve one's presentation style is by watching great speeches and incorporating effective techniques into your own speeches. While our current president has certainly set the bar quite high for the rest of us, the world is filled with powerful and effective communicators; hence, the purpose of this site. This site will link to a number of speeches and presentations that will help you (and me) understand WHAT makes a communicator effective and HOW different individuals use these techniques to advance their message or their cause.

I welcome you (and any of your feedback) to this humble site.

Best regards,

Vikash