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.

How will I know if my speech “worked?”

Your Marketing director: “We will videotape the speech and conduct focus group surveys with housewives in a mall. In six week and $35,000 we will have an answer for you.”

Your speech coach: “Public speaking has a magical, elusive quality. You will know it when you feel it.”

You: “Who knows when my speeches work? It’s just a combination of luck, the mood of the audience and if I am feeling “on” that day.”

***

Your audience: “If you want to know if your speech is working, just ask us. We will tell you. Chances are that some of us will come up to you after your speech and tell you that you were great (we might mean it, we might not). This is your chance. Just asked us specifically what we remembered and took away from your speech. If you had compelling stories, memorable stories and slides that stuck in our brain, we will tell you. Then, you know your speech “worked.” If we simply say “Everything about your speech was great” that means nothing you said was memorable and your speech was a complete failure as a communications exercise.”

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the son of Benazir Bhutto, vividly demonstratives that you don’t have to be experienced, old and wizened to be a confident and compelling public speaker. Zardari is all of 19 years old; he’s just seen his mother’s brains splattered across his TV set, and yet at his introductory press conference (watch here) he comes across as poised, confident, and as a strong leader. I’m not suggesting that one good press conference appearance is enough to make him the next Prime Minister of Pakistan, but his initial performance in front of the camera will do much to solidify a positive image for him in his country and around the world. If you watch the first 30 seconds of this video, please note the volume and energy in his voice are powerful, his quoting of his own mother is memorable, and the emotion and absoluteness of his comments guarantee great sound bites. Something tells me he has a bright future ahead.