 | #95 Professional Speaking - choose your words carefullyposted by Justin Barry, Group AdministratorFriday, October 7th 2011 @ 10:14 PM |
Your words are the instruments of your persuasion and your message to the audience, so please choose them carefully and sparingly! One piece of advice that stuck with me throughout the years is the saying "where less is more", and that is true when we speak......
Often a person says too much instead of too little and it is worth membering that in a variety of communication situations, less is better.
As an example, lets take a PowerPoint presentation. The golden rule is not to put more than 30 words on a slide because you don't need to put your speech script up there! The slides are where you put your key message points which you expand on in your talk. In some cases only graphic or visual images are more effective as it allows the audience to reflect much easier on the speaker's message.
If you are speaking of the cuff, don't say too much. A couple of minutes is probably enough to give your opinion. The longer you speak the more likely your message will be lost, which you will come to regret. Secondly, the longer you speak the more likely you will start to ramble.
When introducing a speaker, keep your thoughts under two minutes. Remember that the audience came to hear the person you are introducing, not you. Tell the subject of the presentation, why the audience should listen, and what qualifies the speaker on that particular topic for that audience. Finally, give the speaker's name with enthusiasm and sit down.
Fewer words to say should rest easier with the speaker. Often it is not the length, but the conciseness with which you speak that makes the message have meaning.
