Ask HN: Best speaking tips?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1686539

by lukeqsee • 16 years ago

1 2 16 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I love public speaking -- whether it's a presentation or a speech.

I'm also always looking to get better.

What are your tips concerning public speaking? Do you have any specific tips concerning specific situational speaking, e.g., a presentation at a conference, or a sales presentation)?

The most helpful idea for me: Always remember you are only trying to communicate X to Y people. It stops you from rambling, and also allows you to explain X really well for Y group of people, a.k.a, laser focus.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

_b8r0• 16 years ago

Don't read the slides. Your slide bulletins should act as an aide memoire for the things you're trying to get across.

rhasson• 16 years ago

I gave a presentation to in Japan (I don't speak Japanese) to about 200 people through a interpreter. The challenge there is that you must be able to speak slowly, clearly and use non-complicated and less technical words. Since my presentation was technical it was difficult to stay away from technical terms and I later found out that the interpreters did a poor job translating my presentation and many people didn't really get a lot of the detail I discussed. My suggestion is to keep things simple, find interesting ways to explain your technology,product,ideas,etc in a non-technical way (as you were explaining it to your mother). This is obvious, but it becomes that much more important when your presenting to an international audience especially when you are going through an interpreter.

Roy

Ask HN: Best speaking tips?

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