Public Speaking: Ed Wohlmuth Method

All of us at one time or another are asked to "get up and share a few words." For me, this has always been such a nightmare! Fortunately, over time, it is not so much the "getting up" as it is the "sharing a few [worthy and insightful] words." We can really mess things up by not being in the moment!

I came across this overnight guide to public speaking and really enjoyed its practical and timely advice. It is worth saving for future reference. 

Six Signals Every Audience Wants to Hear

1. I Will Not Waste Your Time
2. I Know Who You Are
3. I Am Well Organized
4. I Know My Subject
5. Here Is My Most Important Point
6. I Am Finished

Ten Sure-Fire Ways to Give a Lousy Speech

1. Come Ill-Prepared (Make sure you spend time thinking about the purpose and content of the message.)
2. Waste Everyone's Time (Remember even the first 30 seconds of the speech make a difference in impression and value.)
3. Talk to Yourself (Does the message impress you alone, or does it bring value to the audience?)
4. Talk to Your Boss (Are you only aiming the message to one person or group? That insults the rest of the crowd.)
5. Use Opinions Instead of Facts (Citing fancy names or opinions of others and not focusing on the product. This has no value to the audience.)
6. Ramble Away From Your Subject (Telling stories or jokes that have nothing to do with the topic and have probably already been told by other people in the crowd!)
7. Forget Your Objective (You love the sound of your voice, but your metaphors mean your message is lost and so is your audience.)
8. Ignore the Setting (Be courteous to the audience and others on the agenda by keeping your message brief, on-point, and in doing so, win over the crowd, other speakers, and the host.)
9. Ignore the Clock (Know when to quit talking!)
10. Conclude Inconclusively (Don't ever say, "Well, I guess that's all I have to say..." Know when you are finished with your point and say so by wrapping it up decisively.)

This book is available online although it was last published in 1993, so some of the references to technology and entertainment are really outdated. The basic ideas on communication and valuing time and having an important message are still relevant. 

In my opinion, the Six Signals (above) should be on an index card or electronic device to refer to before every public speaking opportunity.

The ten ways to give a speech are also clues to a speaker's personality and character. It seems like etiquette has really declined over the last few decades and the rules for how we treat others are in danger of extinction. Just as technology evolves, so do forms of communication, but the basic elements of communication are the same.

Ultimately, it is just as much how the speaker makes a person feel as what the message is or the delivery.

In conclusion, a speaker must have an important message and make the audience feel important and valued. Once these two goals are understood, it is time to begin speaking!

Maya Angelou - American poet and inspirational writer
(1928-2014)