5 Public Speaking Tips for the Sweaty-Palmed Student

Last week, I had the opportunity to host AIESEC SFU‘s General Assembly, where I gave a presentation on Public Speaking. Here are the five main points from the presentation.

1. Your body speaks to your audience, even before you open your mouth. Every twitch, scratch, and crack of a knuckle sends a message to your audience. These little things lets them know how self-assured you are. Even when you feel confident in yourself, your body may signal otherwise. You’ve worked hard in preparing your speech, and want to show this. Convey your confidence by standing straight, centering your weight and facing your audience. Also, avoid crossing your arms, leaning on objects and putting hands in pockets, as this can be mistaken for disinterest.

2. Don’t let visual aids, tools and others steal your spotlight. People came to hear you speak, and shouldn’t be reading off a Powerpoint slide. Encourage your audience to listen to you by only including the main points on your slide. This way, they will have to pay attention to you and your words, instead of the screen. Doing a group presentation? Don’t stand behind your co-presenters when it’s your turn to speak.

3. Speak about your interests. Zero interest in your topic? Speak like you do. When you are passionate about a topic, your tone, volume and pitch naturally changes. Enthusiasm is contagious, and others become drawn to you. I once had a professor who taught Management Information Systems (MIS) which I had no interest in. However, he had great passion for his work and this showed in his voice. Though he spoke about databases and systems, which normally would have been synonymous for a sleeping pill, his interest and love for MIS kept me awake for a whole semester.

4. Rehearse, without being rehearsed. Practice your speech to familiarize yourself with your content, flow and transitions. However, do not memorize a speech or read it line by line.

5. Grab every opportunity to speak in front of an audience. Make a speech at a family reunion. Videotape yourself speaking. Ask someone to listen and analyze your delivery. Join an organization, such as AIESEC, which provides you the opportunity to improve your public speaking skills. Look up your closest Toastmasters chapter, and start practicing. Toastmasters gave me my first taste of public speaking, and has helped me improve.

I’m still guilty of fidgety hands. However, the first step to making a change is self-awareness. Become aware of your body, volume, tone and eye contact. With these tips in mind, I know you and I can both become better communicators.

How do you prepare yourself for a speech?

One Hundred and One

A few weeks ago, I shot a gun for the very first time. The seconds that lead to the moment I pulled the trigger was nerve-wracking. In my head, I was thinking about the different ways shooting a gun, or even just being at a shooting range, can go horribly wrong. There was obviously no backing out now. I closed my eyes, imagined I was playing Counter Strike, and pulled the trigger. BANG! That first shot I fired at the target was amazing. The exhilarating feeling of power that rushes through your body. All that tension escaping with the fired bullet. Just amazing.

The Day Zero Project

My intention is not to promote violence. In my head, I carry a mental checklist of things and experiences to do before life ends. I can finally cross off firing a gun from that list! Unfortunately, I am a forgetful person and usually need lists to help me keep track of things. I recently stumbled upon a challenge called the Day Zero Project. Simply said, it is a website that allows you to create a list of 101 things you want to do in the next 1001 days. The project’s creator, Michael Green expands on the Day Zero Project a little bit more:

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple challenges such as New Year’s resolutions or a ‘Bucket List‘. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

Last night, I created my own Day Zero Project. Here are a few of the things I want to do before July 31st, 2013.

• Study abroad
• Get my driver’s license
• Cook a three course meal
• Improve my Bahasa Indonesia
• Buy my own domain
• Complete 3 pull-ups
• …and the list goes on

One additional rule that I am setting for myself is that once I have completed my list (I am currently at 50 goals), I will not allow myself to edit or delete any of the entries. The lesson from this challenge will be to see how many of my goals I have accomplished, or failed.

Join me with this challenge. Create your own list at Day Zero Project, and then share your list.

False Needs

I recently wrote an essay about commodity fetishism and false needs. A point that stood out was “people in all societies produce useful goods—but not all these goods are commodities.” This statement raised a few questions in my mind. If there are all these useful goods being produced, why aren’t they all becoming commodities? Which ones become more in-demand, and why? Why does one product, which may be virtually the same thing as another product, sell for a higher price? These questions can be answered from many different point of views, depending if you are an economist, a businessman, a sociologist, a psychologist, and the list goes on.

During my research, I began a self-reflection. Which three factors made me decide to purchase the pair of jeans that I am wearing today? What differentiates my Uniqlo jeggings from all other pairs?

1. “This is the only Uniqlo store location in North America. I must buy something from here, or else I will miss the opportunity!”: Ironically, I had never heard of this store before arriving in New York City. My cousin had been telling us about his favourite store and brought us to Uniqlo. What had convinced me to spend my money in a store I had never heard of? Did Uniqlo purposely establish only one location in North America to create a demand for their products? Looks like it was the exclusivity that attracted me to those jeggings.
2. “These jeans are less than $50. What a steal!”: The inner cheapskate in me does not make very frequent appearances, but I squealed upon seeing the price tag. Nothing can compare to discovering cheap finds.
3. “The chick over there looks amazing in her jeggings…”: You simply cannot argue with looking good… or can you? Who do I plan to impress when I get dressed? Leaning more towards those Sociologists, how are the social norms in terms of style created?

My self-reflection is far from over, and hardly answers any of the questions I raised in the first paragraph. Will I be spending less money on branded goods and services? Probably not, but I am slightly more aware of my false needs. I would like to encourage you to spend a little bit of time reflecting on your own habits as well. What factors influence your choices? Is it status? Do you relate to a brand’s identity more? Does it affect your lifestyle?

For further reading on false needs in our lives, take a look at this article by Leo Babauta, “Letting go of fake needs”

This ends my quick little blurb. Hope to return to this topic at a later time, but for now, I am off to write another paper. Good night.

New York Withdrawal

Here I am in Toronto, and all I can think about is going back to New York. I won’t deny it… I love the chaos, extreme weather, and even the huge lines at tourist attractions. I miss New York.

Central Park

From the Empire State Building

Paddling a boat at Central Park's pond

Fire Island, NY

Statue of Liberty