OratorsOracle

The "Give-me-some-time-to-think-question"

Ok, so yes. You may go blank or just forget a little part of your next line of argument. You need time to regroup. To find back to that great way, you used to say the next... what was it?

And while you are up there thinking, the audience is waiting, right? So you don't allow yourself time to think. You rush on, letting go of that great line, you used to know, and just try to survive the next five minutes. Right?

Don't. By having a question ready for your audience, that you can activate at any time, you can buy yourself a moment to let the words form in your mind.

So what could it be? Maybe something like: "I'd like you to briefly turn to the person next to you and try to answer the question together - how does this impact us? I'll just give a moment." Or: "I'd like to invite you to reflect for a brief moment on what you expect from today", if it is early in the presentation - "Now, let's take a short minute to reflect about the points, I have just made. Is there anything missing?".

Or you can go more topic-relevant, like: "Reflecting on next year's budget, what do you consider the single most important thing to change/follow up on/discuss?" - depending of course on what your presentation is about.

When you have found your feet again, taken a breath and let the words reconnect in your mind, at some point, it's always nice to follow up on the question - either by addressing it yourself: "I consider the single most important budget line to discuss..." or by asking an audience member, if the format allows for that. That will make your first question appear very planned and prepared.

Buy yourself time - activate your audience! Questions are only one way of doing it - more on that later...

Time for the last and maybe most over-looked way to complete destroy an otherwise perfectly surviable presentation:

"Bear no gifts"

You don’t really have anything to say.

Nothing to really bring to the table, you don’t exactly come bearing gifts. So there really is no reason for you to be standing there, and yet, here you are.

The worst presentations are the giftless ones – when you have nothing you really want to share with other people, nothing you are
proud of teaching others, nothing to really give, it makes for a spectacular defeat.

But don’t worry, no one will remember, they would all have been busy looking at their phones or planning the rest of their day. It is Christmas, after all, lots to do…

Image: The Telegraph

One of our favorites is the 20th of the 24 ways to destroy an otherwise fine speech:

"Rehearsals are for amateurs"

Sure you can do it without rehearsing it.

You know everything there is to know, you will drive home your points efficiently, time your effects perfectly, and be inspirational, ‘authentic’ and informative at the same time. With time for questions.

It’s just a management meeting. Rehearsals are for amateurs!

Painting: Edgar Degas: The rehearsal, ca. 1873?