3 common public-speaking blunders—and how to overcome them
Too many presenters focus on themselves—and showing off how much they know—rather than on the audience’s interests. Others tell stories chronologically, which can be a major snooze.
Why is so much public speaking—especially in the business world—so awful?
More important: How can we raise the bar, which is set so distressingly low?
Here are three thoughts:
1. Most speakers don’t organize a speech for the audience’s benefit.
New speakers make these same mistakes over and over:
Caution can take over when you have to voice your opinion to several hundred or several thousand people. Today, though, we have become impatient with the standard answer, the safe position, the comfortable truth. Unless you tell me something deeply authentic, probably shocking and most certainly unique, it isn’t worth my while. Give me something I can’t get in a few bullet points on Facebook, LinkedIn or a website. Make our time together count.
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