Speak Clear Blog

Let’s take a look at TED’s WikiLeaks Q and A from a public speaking standpoint. What steps are necessary in order to successfully navigate a Q and A session? Listening to the question is essential, as is defining terms, giving your opinion when asked, backing up your opinion with facts, and acknowledging what you don’t know. Given that 80% of our impression of a speaker has to do with their non-verbal communication, open gestures, alignment, and a resonant voice matter a great deal too.

With these points in mind, how successful was this Q and A? My first thought was “My God what is up with the cell phones?!” Julian Assange’s phone goes off at 1:53, in the middle of the Q and A, and he has to turn it off in front of the audience. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not a good start to a Q and A. Uttering “God Damn” afterward did not help his case. The interviewer did a nice job of staying in the moment, and makes a quip which helps alleviate the situation. So no biggie, things happen in a speech.

But wait a minute, hold on, is that the interviewer holding a cell phone and using it like a conductor would a baton throughout the interview?? Why, yes it is! It seems that both interviewer and interviewee are so obsessed with their electronic gadgets that they can’t part with them for any reason, even when they are on television.

Non-verbal analysis aside, the content of the Q and A fares better. Mr. Assange defends Wiki Leaks in a cogent manner, and has details and facts to back himself up. The interviewer does a fair job of asking the tough questions of this controversial guest, when he’s not waving his cell phone around in the air.

I think Mr. Assange’s most impressive moment comes at the end of the Q and A when he is asked about what motivates his work. He says: “Capable, generous men do not create victims, they nurture victims”. Obviously Mr. Assagne had anticipated he might be asked this question, and he prepared an answer, one that is thoughtful and illuminating.

What do you think of the Q and A?

Jeffrey Davis is the owner of Speak Clear Communications. He is an executive public speaking coach and accent reduction coach in New York City.

Sir Ken Robinson gives a wonderful and hilarious speech on the need for education reform. He has a delivery to die for, and a comedian’s timing, which can’t be taught. What can be taught is how to say something with your speech. Here the thrust is crystal clear; the educational system kills creativity rather than nurturing it, and it’s time for reform. From this profound and bold statement, we get a myriad of wonderful personal stories, quips, and jokes. My personal favorite is his bit about what it must have been like to teach Shakespeare. What’s your favorite part of the speech?

Jeffrey Davis is the owner of Speak Clear Communications. He is an executive public speaking coach and accent reduction coach in New York City.

I think this is one of the best commencement speeches I have ever seen. I was skeptical at first. Mr. Jobs starts the speech unconventionally, he tells a story about dropping out of college, not the best choice for a commencement address. My initial reaction was that he hadn’t analyzed his audience or the occasion thoroughly enough. A brilliant speech, however, is often unconventional, and I was soon won over.

His craft is impeccable. He starts the speech with a simple premise, and gives the speech a simple structure. He will tell three stories. Done.

Each story illustrates the main theme of his speech, which is that death is lurking for all of us, and we must chase after our dreams with the limited time we have. Each story Mr Jobs tells is chock full of details, and each one builds in intensity and personal revelation, from his decision to drop out of college, to finding out he was fired from Apple, to being diagnosed with cancer. He punctuates the speech with witty, touching quotes. These quotes illustrate his main theme, and make you laugh, even as the lump is building in your throat.

This speech is a great example of what speech making at it’s finest can accomplish; it can remind us of our shared humanity, and propel us to identify with our highest potential.

Jeffrey Davis is the owner of Speak Clear Communications.  He is an executive public speaking coach and accent reduction coach in New York City.