21 Secrets to Becoming A Good Speaker,Kai-Fu Lee Managing Director Microsoft Research, China,We Present Every Day!,Not just conference talks. Product group meetings BillG / TAB meetings Preamble to a demo Convince a product group to be interested Present patent to a lawyer Present a group result at offsite “Elevator” talks,But Im not good at it.,Presentation skills can be acquired. Examples: Bill Gates Kai-Fu Lee,What Youll Learn Today:,Communication skills Preparing the Talk Delivering the Talk Handling Q&A 21 secrets to becoming a good speaker.,What is Communication Skills?,Verbal (words spoken) Vocal (tone, range, appeal, credibility of voice) Visual (physical appearance, clothing, gestures, eye contact),7% 38%55%,“Without effective delivery, a speech of the highest mental capacity can be held in no esteem. With effective delivery,even one with moderate abilities maysurpass those of the highest talent.”- Cicero“The man who can think and does not knowhow to express what he thinksis at the level of him who cannot think.”- Pericles,The Importance of Communication Skills,Communication Skills = Fake?,Most important factor is PASSION! If youre passionate, your vocal & visual skills will come naturally. Passion could come from subject, experience, or environment. “There is just one sure cure for bad speeches Get truly excited on the subject, and 99 percent of the faults of your speaking will disappear.”- Robert Montgomery,But there are skills to be learned. Like reading, writing, typing. Must learn this, if you want your work to be understood!,Verbal Skills,Be simple and clear! Dont ramble. Stop to think if you need to. Example one: Dan Quayle celebrates democracy: Example two: Dan Quayle trying to say “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”,Verbal Skills,Speaking is not like writing! Use simple words. Dont use complex sentences. Can you understand this: Dont use ambiguous words in speech.,Vocal Skills,Project & resonate your voice. No “UM”s and “ER”s. (Pause instead). Silence is a tool (To draw attention).,Vocal Skills,Play your voice with pitch and tempo. To amplify a point, slow down, speak loudly, exaggerate inotation, pause in the right places. “You are right. I am wrong” Stalin to Trotsky “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” - John F. Kennedy BAD EXAMPLE : “I welcome this kind of examination, because people have to know whether their president is a crook. Well, Im not a crook.” - Richard M. Nixon Dont use it everywhere!,Vocal Skills : Same message; many ways to deiver,John Kennedy: “You need to contribute to your country” “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”. Quayle vs. Benson Debate: Quayle: “I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency.“ Answer 1: “Jack Kennedy is better than you.” Answer 2: “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy.“,Vocal Skills : Enthusiasm,Passion & Enthusiasm! If youre not passionate, why should we care? Example: Martin Luther King I have a dream. That one day This nation will rise up Live up to the true meaning to its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident That all men are created equal.,Visual Skills,Visual Skills THE most important Appear trustworthy & respectful. US Election 1960 was won on visual skills. Components of Visual Skills Eyes Body Hands Face,Visual Skills Eyes,Look forward at audience (trust) Dont shift eyeballs; dont look in corner. Dont look too much at computer screen or your notes. Look at peoples faces (not eyes) 3-6 seconds per person. Shift randomly. Nod, smile, use facial expression.,Visual Skills Body,Stand up when talking. Walk around = informal. Dont: Rock, shake, lean too much.,Visual Skills Hands,Gesture complements talk. Should come naturally, without thinking. Make sure they match! Need to exaggerate a little Especially with large audience. Dont fidget or put in pocket. Videotape whole talk & watch.,Visual Skills Face,Show emotion! Most of the time: “I care a lot about this.” “I really believe in this.” “I love my work.” Sometimes (in response to questions). “This is the most outrageous thing Ive ever heard.” “I will have nothing to do with this.”,What Youll Learn Today:,Communication skills Preparing the Talk Delivering the Talk Handling Q&A 21 secrets to becoming a good speaker.,Preparing the Talk,Always OVERPREPARE! Preparation includes: Researching the background. Organizing the talk. Writing the slides. Rehearsing the talk. Last minute things.,Researching the Background,When youre invited, find out: How long is the talk? Whats the topic? (Say no if you dont care about the topic). Whos the audience. Once you say yes, you are COMMITTED to do a great job.,Organizing the Talk,Youre the salesman. First lesson for salesmen: “Tell them what youre going to say. Say it. Tell them what you said” Very similar to your paper!,