I
had the opportunity to see an advance copy of the 20th anniversary
edition of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch
and Pizzazz by Diane DiResta. Morgan
James Publishing will release it in the fall.
Though her advice is for speakers of all situations, especially
business, much of what she writes about, based on decades of experience, is
directly applicable to authors.
Some
of the myths you should expect to overcome are as follows:
“I’m
not a public speaker.”
Oh,
but you are. Anytime you talk – at a
bookstore library, school, church, office – or just one on one – you use the
power of persuasion – from body language and voice, to energy and word choice.
“Look
over the heads of the audience when speaking.”
Why?
Look, instead, directly at specific people.
Connect with your eyes. Look at a
few people, one at a time. This creates
a feeling of a relationship.
“Memorize
Your Speech.”
Don’t
read a speech but don’t try to memorize it either. Let it flow naturally. Memorize certain, concepts or ideas – but not
whole sentences or specific words. Have some notes or outlines handy.
“Cover
all of your points in a speech.”
Rather
than trying to cram too much into one speech, where you feel rushed or
overwhelm the audience, focus on a few major points and let the speech serve as
a teaser for one to buy your book, go to your site, or take an action step.
DiResta
also cautioned speakers not to start with a joke, saying “You don’t have to be
funny to be effective.” I disagree
wholeheartedly. Lighten things up with
humor and wit – but make sure that what you say is truly funny. Test it.
Scrub it to make sure no one can misinterpret what you say. The last thing you want is a shit storm over
a perceived misstep. Leave sex, race,
religion, and politics out – unless the crowd you are in front of (and your
book) relates to a specific topic that’s relevant to one of them.
Of
course speakers need to properly prepare for a presentation, which includes
showing up early to make sure your equipment (if you use any) is set up. She cautions you should make sure that you:
·
Know
what type of audience you’re presenting to.
·
Don’t
speak in a monotone voice.
·
Present
in a focused manner.
·
Introduce
details further into your presentation.
·
Provide strong evidence or examples to back up your points/claims.
Authors
need to speak to sell books. They can
set up presentations for 10 people or 500+. Venues vary, but the speech may
remain relevant to all. The key is to
provide useful content, present yourself in a fun or inspiring manner, and to
find ways to connect with those you speak to.
Ask the audience questions and let them ask you questions, if
possible. Provide handouts or guide them
to a link for more information.
Authors
like to write, rather than speak. Some
are shy or insecure about their appearance or voice. Others stumble on their words and forget what
to say. But if you can practice and
prepare – and find friendly places to present – you’ll soon find that it’s
rewarding to speak.
Good
luck!
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