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Headliners
Dale Carnegie, in his book The Quick & Easy Way to Effective Speaking, offers communication techniques to help individuals sharpen their public-speaking skills. Here are a few tips outlined in his book:
- Prepare thoroughly.
- Immediately grab your audience's attention. "I once asked Dr. Lynn Harold Hough, formerly president of Northwestern University, what was the most important fact his long experience as a speaker has taught him. After pondering a moment, he replied, 'To get an arresting opening, something that will seize favorable attention immediately.'"
- Begin by citing an incident or giving an example. "I know of no more compelling method of opening a talk than by the use of a story."
- Arouse suspense. "Here is how I try to arouse suspense in my lecture on 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.' I begin like this: 'In the spring of 1871, a young man who was destined to become a world-famous physician, William Osler, picked up a book and read 21 words that had a profound effect upon his future.' What were those 21 words? And how did these words affect his future? These are the questions your listeners will want answered."
- State an arresting fact and dive into your story. "If you want to interest your listeners, don't begin with an introduction. Begin by leaping right into the heart of your story."
- Ask for a show of hands. "The technique of asking for a show of hands gets a priceless reaction known as 'audience participation.' When you use it, your talk is no longer a one-sided affair."
- Use statistics judiciously because they can be boring.
- Promise to tell your audience how it can get something it wants. "All too often speakers neglect to tie their topics to the vital interests of their hearers. Instead of opening the door to attention, they slam it shut with dull openings that trace the history of the subject matter or laboriously dwell upon the background necessary to an understanding of the topic."
- Summarize your speech.
- End with a call to action. "Ask them to do something specific. Don't say, 'Help the Red Cross.' That's too general. Say, instead, 'Send your enrollment fee of $1 tonight to the American Red Cross, 125 Smith Street, in this city.'"
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