Get Silly to Improve Public Speaking
Get silly to improve your public speaking…but maybe don't pick your nose
When you think about improving your public speaking, getting silly, acting goofy and doing whacky stuff is not necessarily what you had in mind, right? Public speaking is SERIOUS business, but it doesn't mean that improving your speaking can't be a blast.
Today's The Speech Doctor is in question comes from reader, friend and editor of this blog, Sharon. During a presentation, Sharon was told she was way too serious and professorial in her speaking. She asks:
Someone told me I come across like a teacher. Ah ye-ah! I was one for a bunch of years. I want to share information. How do I do that without sounding pedantic?
Sharon, it's time to get silly with it (Think Will Smith and Getting Jiggy With It and you're on your way).
There are lots of ways to get silly with your speaking so that you can experiment with your style.
Go, Dog. Go! your way to better speaking
Ummm…Michelle, isn't Go, Dog. Go! a children's book? Why yes…yes it is.
It doesn't have to be Go Dog. Go!. It can be Green Eggs and Ham, or Go the F*&k Asleep. Any children's book that is lots of fun to read. Pull it off your shelf and read it out loud.
However, I want you to do all the voices, act it out, exaggerate your gestures and make your neigbors wonder who the crazy woman is reading Hop on Pop at full volume.
Reading chilren's stories allows a speaker to be free. The content is fun, but still shares ideas and has a message.
After finsing your story, go back and do your speech. Try to incorporate the whimsy of reading a child's story into your speech. Are there parts where you can have more fun? Play with your voice more? Gesture more. Then give it a try.
Practicing a speech is experimentation. Have fun and play a bit with it.
Yes and…
Take an improv class. Where the #1 rule is that you must say “yes and…” to every question asked of you.
Improv not only teaches you to create on-the-spot, it also allows you loosen up with your on-stage delivery skills. It's playful. It's meant to be fun and entertaining. You can do anything, create any character you want.
If you want to throw out the apple and chalkboard of your teacher persona, you can experiment all you want. Have fun.
The fine art of exaggeration
Take an aspect of your presentation and exaggerate the heck out of it. Maybe read it super fast or super slow. Make your gestures bigger than life. Give your speech with an English accent or better yet the voice of the guy who does all the movie previews.”In a world where…”
The point is to mix it up and see what works to shake up your normal tone. You might even discover some delivery nuances that can be used in your speech by playing and exagerating.
The bottom line: practicing a speech is experimentation. Play, create, be goofy and most importantly have fun!
Want help having fun while improving your delivery? Click here to find out about my Audacious Delivery coaching.
PLAY!! Have fun! I love it. We’re not only sharing info but connecting with people. Nobody wants to connect with someone that’s as playful and fun as a wall. Great suggestion on reading the children’s book and mirroring it in your speech as you get comfortable with silly. Definitely will be pulling that one out soon!!
Thank you Alli! The children’s book can be incredibly awkward but super fun. It takes my clients a little bit to get comfortable with it, but when they do, it’s awesome. They start to have fun and the best of their personality shines through.
Great advice! I teach a college course for non-native speakers (ESL) and use an assignment like this BEFORE we begin the public speaking unit of the course. It’s always a blast! One of the added benefits you didn’t mention is that I believe this helps with speaker anxiety as well, as it’s hard to be nervous when you’re having fun. Wonderful post Michelle!
You’re so right about the fun aspect! It’s hard to be nervous when you’re having a good time. Great point, Dan.