Public speaking – Adding Golf To Your Topic – even if you’re not a golfer

 

I'm not a golfer, but I can tell you one thing for sure.

Many people in your audiences are nuts over golf.

I've seen some speakers do their entire presentation using a golf metaphor. They would say things like, "In golf if your swing is off, you'll hit the ball into the woods . . . just like if your leadership technique is off you'll be in the "rough" .. .  and a lot more is at stake than just a bad scorecard." etc.

I've seen speakers carry their golf bag on stage and pull out some clubs just to have something to do with their hands.

I've seen speakers get audience members on stage to have a putting contest.

I've seen one speaker at a resort ride into his speech on a golf cart.

You don't even have to like golf to add a little bit about golf to your speeches.

I tease the golfers in the audience about all their crazy gadgets.

 

Tom Antion, Publisher "Great Speaking"  Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Unsplash

How to wow ’em like Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was the charismatic, driven CEO of Apple Computers and well known for his dynamic presentations.

 

Carmine Gallo has analysed Steve Job’s presentations in an article titled How to Wow 'Em Like Steve Jobs.

 

“Jobs,” he says, “learned a long time ago that a leader must be a company evangelist and brand spokesperson.”

He has distilled Job’s success into five tips, and I include here just the skeleton of what he wrote.

Sell the Benefit

Steve Jobs … sells an experience… “It's not about the technology, but what the technology can do for you.”

Practice, Practice, and Practice Some More

Jobs takes nothing for granted during product launches. He reviews and rehearses his material…. ‘Truth is, the sense of informality comes only after grueling hours of practice.’

Keep It Visual

… there are very few bullet points in a Jobs presentation. Each slide is highly visual. … Simple and visual. Take a cue from Jobs and help your listeners visualize the message.

Exude Passion, Energy, and Enthusiasm
Jobs has an infectious enthusiasm.

"And One More Thing..."
At the end of each presentation Jobs adds to the drama by saying, "and one more thing." He then adds a new product, new feature, or sometimes introduces a band. He approaches each presentation as an event, a production with a strong opening, product demonstrations in the middle, a strong conclusion, and an encore -- that "one more thing!"

It's Your Turn

Gallo is the author of  10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators. Visit him online at http://www.carminegallo.com/

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Speaking to ESL audiences

When speaking to an audience that includes people who speak English as a second language, you may notice that some people keep whispering to the person sitting next to them.

They're probably not being rude or inattentive.

Indeed, the whispering may be a compliment: it is likely that the whisperer is translating for the person next to him or her.

When several people start whispering at once, it's your cue to rephrase whatever you just said.

-- Resli Costabell(Resli@Costabell.com)

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash