Public Speaking for Technical Communicators

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Public Speaking for Technical Communicators

• Matthew SternPrincipal Technical WriterBest
  Software, Inc.

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What will be covered

• Overcoming nervousness
• Preparing your talk
• Developing a good stage presence
• Table topics Your chance to practice
• Resources for further development

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Tips for overcoming nervousness

• Know its natural Its a sign that you want to
  do well
• Practice
• Know that the audience is on your side
• Bring moral support, like a friend or coworker
• Picking out audience members and speaking to them
  one on one

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Preparing your talk

• Know your audience
• Organize your talk
• Use humor correctly
• Select the correct visual aids and use them
  correctly

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Know your audience

• Do your homework
• Watch the audiences reaction during your
  presentation
• Learn from Trent Lott

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How to organize a speech

• Opening Introduce the theme of the talk and the
  points you are covering
• Body Present your points and provide supporting
  subpoints
• Closing Recap your points and end with the main
  thing you want the audience to remember

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Use humor correctly

• Only use humor when it fits your speech
• Choose humor that is appropriate to your audience
• Use humor to make your point
• Draw upon personal experience
• Deliver humor with confidence
• Find your own humor

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Select the correct visual aids and use them
correctly

• When to use them
• As a roadmap for long presentations
• To capture ideas the audience gives in a talk
• For handouts and audience notetaking
• For demonstrations
• Considerations
• Consider room and audience size
• Design for visibility
• Have backup aids ready

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Using computer presentations

• Always have backup equipment and software
• Turn off screen savers and automatic timeouts
• Download necessary Web pages to your local drive
• Lower screen resolution (1024 x 768 or 800 x
  600)
• Develop scripts and practice
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors

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Using PowerPoint

• Design for readability
• High-contrast colors
• Simple, non-distracting backgrounds
• Large fonts
• Ample white space
• Highlight points as you present them
• Avoid distracting noises and screen animations
• Watch out for typos!

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Developing a good stage presence

• Eye contact
• Appearance
• Body language
• Vocal clarity, projection, and variety
• Pauses
• Ahs, ums, and filler words

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Table topics

• Pick a number 112 to get your question
• Answer the question directly
• Organize your talk with an opening, body, and
  closing
• Stay within time (at least one minute, no more
  than two and a half)
• Have fun!

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Recap

• Its OK to be nervous.
• Know your audience
• Organize your talk so that it is easy for you to
  deliver and the audience to follow
• Use humor and visual aids only when they support
  your talk
• Polish your delivery, but focus on giving quality
  content

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Resources for further development

• Toastmasters International For a meeting near
  you www.toastmasters.org
• Nightingale Conant For audio and video programs
  on public speaking www.nightingaleconant.com
• My Web page For tips on public speaking,
  speeches, books, and linkswww.matthewarnoldstern
  .com

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Questions?