My Top Ten Speaking Tips

My public speaking tips were developed by doing, watching and teaching.

Public Speaking Training

I love public speaking. I began doing it during my 20 years as an executive in Japan. Early on, I took advantage of participating in Toast Masters at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). That was for public speaking in English. I threw myself into an intensive series called Hanishikata Kyoshitsu (Way of Speaking Classroom) where 500 Japanese and one blond woman practiced making speeches in front of each other in Japanese. The leader did a great job of pounding into us to be specific rather than the using the vague references that come so naturally with the deferential Japanese language. I also want to acknowledge an amazing course with Werner Erhard that I took in the late 80’s called Presentation, Negotiation and Enrollment. My key take-away from Werner was to “be with the people.” My Courage Group partner Ray Gordon was a presentation skills trainer for the American Management Association and received certification to train GE personnel, so I was able to learn a lot from him as well.

I enjoy attending conferences and absorbing knowledge from experts in their fields. I also learn about how to moderate and present by watching what makes other presentations effective. Through my company, The Courage Group, I teach a course on presentation skills that utilizes video feedback in both English and Japanese.

Top Ten Public Speaking Tips

1. Never moderate a panel or speak in public without preparing
2. Create a map of important points you want to cover
3. Never read a speech nor an introduction
4. Use a computer screen to glance at your slides so that you are looking towards your audience
5. Tell stories that allow the audience to visualize what you are talking about
6. Use slides that appeal to the “right brain” of your audience
7. Be with your audience, check their faces – are they getting it?
8. Breathe
9.Time your presentation. Allow no less than 15 minutes for questions
10.Take advantage of attending the conference you are speaking at

How to Moderate a Dynamic Panel

1. To gauge who is in the audience, allow the panel to participate in deciding what questions to ask
2. Interview each panelist separately, to understand their strengths so that you can make each shine
3. During interviews, create maps of important points and questions to cover and share with the panel
4. Make sure each panelist commits to meeting as a group before the panel, preferably in person
5. Listen. Be ready to lead where the discussion is going
6. Ensure that the panel is delivering concrete, actionable information

Linda Sherman Speaking Engagements

This has been an enjoyable month for being on stage. I started off May 5th moderating a panel called the Facebook Factor for Digital Hollywood at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Los Angeles.

May 21st I spoke twice at SheCon, a new conference hosted by Julie Wohlberg in Miami. I spoke by myself for a session called Interactive Social Media Audit, and I participated in a panel on PR.

May 24th I spoke at BlogWorld Expo in New York City on How to Write for and Engage the 50+ Online Marketplace.

Women In Business Radio Interview with Michele Price

Michele Price will interview me on her radio show Women In Business Radio on Monday June 6th at 2PM ET. There will be an archive of the show but you can participate live by sending your questions on Twitter. The hash tag for the show is #WIBRadio. Michele Price’s Twitter handle is @ProsperityGal. Mine is @LindaSherman. You can listen on your computer or on your mobile phone at 347-857-4551.

Women in Business Radio spotlights women in business each week, discussing what has brought them to where they are today for their business VS just what they do IN their business.

Public speaking is likely to come up in our discussion.

Speak Chat on Twitter Mondays 9PM ET

Michele hosts a Twitter chat called Speak Chat on Mondays at 9PM EST.
Michele’s vision for Speak Chat is to create a community of individuals and companies who revolve around the professional speaking industry including speakers, authors, event planners, PR professionals, speaker bureaus, publishers, conferences,  vendors of the industry i.e. video, sound, product productions.

Michele and I met on Twitter and have most recently been interacting on a small private Facebook group for women who are recognized as public speakers.

Do you have any additional speaking tips to share?