How to Become A Good Speaker,Kai-Fu Lee Corporate Vice President Microsoft Corporation,Why Be a Good Speaker?,“The man who can think and does not know how to express what he thinks is at the level of him who cannot think.” Pericles Not just “presentation”, but also “persuasion” Get peoples “mindshare” Influence a friend, colleague, or boss Tell people what you did, and why it matters,What Youll Learn Today:,First Topic: Learn Speaking Skills,“Without effective delivery, a speech of the highest mental capacity can be held in no esteem. With effective delivery, even one with moderate abilities may surpass those of the highest talent.” Cicero,Speaking Skills Are Important,What Are Speaking Skills?,Verbal (words spoken) Vocal (tone, range, appeal, credibility of voice) Visual (physical appearance, gestures, eye contact),7% 38% 55%,Delivery Skills,Most Important: Enthusiasm,“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 Dont accept a talk without enthusiasm Could be from interest, experience, environment Example: Martin Luther King I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up; live out the true meaning to its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. Not how loud, but how sincere,Verbal Skills Be Simple & Clear,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 Use simple words,Speaking is not like writing! Use simple words Dont use complex sentences Can you understand this: Text: The development of this frightful means of destruction was ardently demanded by the perils of the time and situation. Simultaneously, however, a new paradoxical situation has been. is upon us continually. One cannot defend oneself effectively any more. - Albert Einstein,Vocal Skills : Play your voice,Project ask what you can do for your country.” - John F. Kennedy “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 overdo it!,Vocal+Verbal : Words+Intonation,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.“,Visual Skills,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 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 Can improve hand gesturing!,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.”,Next Topic: Develop the talk,The Key Point: the Goal of the Talk,The ONE clear walk-away message. The answer to the question: “How was the talk?” The one thing people remember in 3 months,The Origin Point (Where the audience was),The Key Point (Where you took them),Persuasion,Must Have Audience Benefit,Put audience needs at heart “Whats in it for you?” Has to be their reason, not yours Must consider feeling, not just reaction Must have right “you” Good phrases to know: “This is important to you because” “Why am I telling you this? Because” “What does this mean for you? Let me tell you” Know your audience Experience, knowledge, attitude,Next Topic:,Organizing the Story,Youre the salesman First lesson for salesmen:,Tell them what youre going to say,Say it,Tell them what you said,Opening,Body,Ending,The Opening,You never get a second chance to make a first impression Jerry Weissman The opening A question Factoid Anecdote Quotation Analogy Joke (make it relevant!) Customize the opening Lead to the Key Point Give a (very short) outline/overview,The Body,Brainstorming into data dump Connect the ideas into “main themes” Connect the teams using one logic flow,Ready to write the slides?,DONT!,Data Dump,& Main Themes,The Flow,Possible flows: Convincing logic