Comments on: Review: You’ve Got to Be Believed to Be Heard

By: Treva

Treva — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:51:08 +0000

I’ve been giving speeches for my company for the past 9 years. What has helped me most is knowing my material. I think a lot of people get nervous because they don’t know what to say or how to say it. I also really enjoy audience participation. I encourage them to ask questions and I ask them questions so that as whole we can relate to each other. I try to think of it as a conversation happening en masse and to which I act as the guide. Finally, I dress for my audience. If I’m speaking to a group who works the 3rd shift at the local bottling company, I go dressed in jeans, flats, and a button down. If I’m going to speak to a group of CPAs, I wear a suit with modest heels. If you’re audience can’t relate to you, they will shut down and you will lose them.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:59:35 +0000

Former Toastmaster here — the feedback you get from a wide variety of people is what makes Toastmasters valuable. Also, it is by FAR the most cost-effective way to learn and polish public speaking skills.

Watching other speakers in action is fine, but it does not help you find your own personal style. I have had people tell me that something I did as a speaker was particularly effective, and I wouldn’t have know that without the feedback.

People who say they don’t have time for Toastmasters are missing the entire point. Read all you want, present all you want, but without skilled and honest feedback, you are spinning your wheels. What does it take to become a good speaker? TIME!!!!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:19:44 +0000

So, Trent -

Do you participate in Toastmasters?

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:12:19 +0000

@Cookie wrote

>Anyway,I still believe that public speaking >success has a lot to do with personal charisma – >some people are born with it and some will never >get it no matter how much they prepare and >practice.

I have to disagree- I’m been involved with Toastmasters for four years now and I have seen some dramatic improvements from the people that put in the effort. You can’t expect ability to come immediately, but bit by bit it does come.
It may be that the world class speakers have certain natural talents- but I believe anyone that can talk could be a very competent public speaker.

I’ve given over 30 prepared speeches, along with a ton of impromptu speeches and evaluations. I STILL benefit from practice and I’m still improving my skills… The improvements just come at a slower pace these days!

-Rick Francis

By: Jamison

Jamison — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:24:49 +0000

I read this book in the early 90s and simply loved it. It opened my eyes to the world of public speaking. It convinced me to buy a video camera – the best investment for public speaking that I got yet.

By: Clair Schwan of Frugal Living Freedom

Clair Schwan of Frugal Living Freedom — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:22:20 +0000

Being a good and comfortable public speaker takes experience. I don’t think anyone is good right out of the chute. Here are what I believe to be keys to success:

- preparation and practice
- knowledge of the material
- speak instead of read
- know your audience
- become comfortable with your audience before you face them
- be sincere and to the point
- video tape yourself and learn from it

I stumbled around a bit when I first started public speaking, but I paid attention and sought out feedback from others. It takes a while, but if you have something worthwhile to say, and you say it with passion, you’ll do just fine.

Clair

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:59:57 +0000

I wonder what the difference is between speaking publically and performing publically? I played basketball in front of 10,000 to 15,000 people regularly and never had any anxiety problems. However, I’ve never been able to effectively speak in front of a group, large or small, without feeling a tad nervous. Perhaps preparation?

By: Sacha Chua

Sacha Chua — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:37:27 +0000

Thanks for the book review! Requesting this from my library… =)

By: Aman@BullsBattleBears

Aman@BullsBattleBears — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:53:45 +0000

great recommendation on the book and its good that you mentioned being near the computer while reading the book (so to see the YouTube vids). Thanks.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:42:18 +0000

I’d like to suggest ted.com – a site with hundreds of conference presentations – as a good source of examples of public speaking. My biggest gripe about poor public speakers is an over-reliance on powerpoint. Use it to illustrate your points, but don’t put everything on there, your audience should be paying attention to you.

By: cookie

cookie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:57:59 +0000

A lot of Decker’s points are covered in the Toastmasters program and are thus nothing new. However, books like these can still be useful – not everyone has the time for Toastmasters. Anyway,I still believe that public speaking success has a lot to do with personal charisma – some people are born with it and some will never get it no matter how much they prepare and practice.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:35:06 +0000

Trent-

You, personally, should take the Decker class (generally offered in San Francisco). They video tape you, and provide a lot of very useful pointers!! I took it over a decade ago, and now speak professionally – Decker was a big factor in building my self-confidence. Well worth the time and cost…

By: Vee

Vee — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:30:26 +0000

Who are Bill Walsh, Dick Vitale, Mark McGwire and John Madden?

By: Melinda Guravich

Melinda Guravich — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:24:46 +0000

Toastmasters can’t be beat for hands-on training in speaking mechanics and conquering public speaking fears. The regular evaulation of your progress within a Toastmasters club helps members improve and get rid of habits and mannerisms that detract from your credibility and message. Club members tell you the truth with kindess and provide feedback on your continual improvement and effectiveness. Melinda G., Past-President, Mary Kay Toastmasters Club, Dallas, Texas.

By: Kevin WIlson

Kevin WIlson — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:33:56 +0000

As a Toastmaster, I can tell you that what you get from TM is quite different from what it’s possible to get from any book about public speaking. It’s like cooking vs reading recipe books: you can get a lot of really great information, ideas and inspiration from the books, but they simply cannot teach you to do the thing. You have to get up and do it.

Toastmasters meetings give you “stage time” in a safe space where you can practice and make your mistakes without it affecting your speaking out in the real world, as well as constructive feedback from multiple viewers with different attitudes and levels of experience. In fact, the feedback aspect is right up there in importance with stage time – it’s like having a whole gang of coaches helping you.

Kevin
VP Education, Sunshine Speakers Toastmasters, Powell River BC