Great ideas are worthless.
Okay, that's not totally true, but I find myself agreeing with more and more of the sentiment behind this.
Great ideas that are not effectively communicated to others are worthless.
The good news...
Anyone can train themselves to be a great public speaker.
Note that this should not be read; everyone is, and needs to be, a great public speaker. I know some amazing people who simply are not interested in doing it and others for whom the time is not quite right yet.
With that in mind, where do you start?
For me, it was watching lots of TED Talks and recorded speeches, then going to events and seeing them live, and then watching videos like the one shared here.
Then, I wrote talks and presented them to myself and a camera. I'd watch them back and try to spot issues I wanted to work on.
Ultimately, nothing beats getting out there and getting feedback. Terrifying but worth it every time.
The skills and techniques detailed in this video are foundational, regardless of how many talks you've given. Dr Michelle Dickinson and Dr James Whittaker are great examples of very different speakers, delivering value in very different ways, often using the same skills and techniques.
At The Learning Network, we always look for new speakers to join us at events. So, if you've been considering it, drop me a message, and let's make it happen!
What are your top tips for getting started with public speaking?
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