Should I read my speech in order to not make any mistakes?
The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audience”. Consistently, the worst advice speakers and presenters get, comes from everyone who is NOT your audience. The following gives examples of some of the WORST advice people are often given. It is followed by the advice of your audience. Listen to them. They are your true judge and jury.
Should I read my speech in order to not make any mistakes?
Your Marketing Director: “Yes, this way you won’t get off message and we will be guaranteed that our message will be transmitted.”
Your Corporate Lawyer: “Yes, this will be the best way to mitigate risk.”
You: “I know I probably shouldn’t read, but I didn’t really have time to rehearse or memorize my speech and I want to gt it just right. The stakes are too high for me to make a mistake. OK, just this once, I will read my speech word-for-word.”
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Your Audience: “What did we ever do to you to deserve this torture? Why are you picking on us? We weren’t the ones who through you in the dumpster behind the lunch room in Middle School. If you are going to read a speech to us then you might as well come out on stage wearing a sandwich board that reads ‘I HATE MY AUDIENCE AND I WANT TO BORE THEM TO DEATH…PREPARE FOR PAIN!’”
April 11th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
One of the worst pieces of presentation advise was told to me by a speaking student. Her manager told her she was a poor presenter? Why? Because the manager said great presenters never move their arms or hands during the presentation. Needless to say, the student was demoralized with this advise and went to seek help.