How to Become A Good

Speaker
Kai-Fu Lee
Corporate Vice President
Microsoft Corporation

Why Be a Good Speaker?

The man who can think and does not know how to express
what he thinks is at the level of him who cannot think.
Pericles

Not just presentation, but also

persuasion
Get peoples mindshare
Influence a friend, colleague, or boss
Tell people what you did, and why it

What Youll Learn Today:

Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

First Topic: Learn Speaking

Skills
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

What Are Speaking Skills?

7%

Verbal

(words spoken)

38% Vocal

(tone, range, appeal, credibility of

55% Visual

(physical appearance, gestures, eye

voice)

contact)

Delivery Skills
Can be learned

Most Important:
There is just one sure cure for bad speeches Get truly
Enthusiasm
excited on the subject, and 99 percent of the faults of your
speaking will disappear.

Robert Montgomery

Dont accept a talk without enthusiasm

Could be from interest, experience,
environment
Example: Martin Luther King
I have a dream
that one day this nation will rise up;
live out the true meaning to its creed.
We hold these truths to be self-evident
that all men are created equal.

Verbal Skills Be Simple &

Clear
Be simple and clear!

Dont ramble
Stop to think if you need to
Example one: Dan Quayle celebrates
democracy
Example two: Dan Quayle trying to say
A mind is a terrible thing to waste

Verbal Skills Use simple

words
Speaking is not like writing!!!
Use simple words
Dont use complex sentences
Can you understand this:

Text:
The development of this frightful means of
destruction was ardently demanded by the perils of
the time and situation. Simultaneously, however, a
new paradoxical situation has been. is upon us
continually. One cannot defend oneself effectively
any more.
-- Albert Einstein

Vocal Skills : Play your

Project & resonate your voice
voice

No UMs and ERs. (Pause instead)

Tools: silence, loudness, intonation,
speed
You are right. I am wrong.
Stalin to Trotsky
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask
what you can do for your country.
-- John F. Kennedy
I welcome this kind of examination, because
people have to know whether their president is a
crook. Well, Im not a crook.
-- Richard M. Nixon

Vocal+Verbal :
Words+Intonation
John Kennedy:
You need to contribute to your country
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what
you can do for your country.

Quayle vs. Benson Debate:

Quayle: "I have as much experience in the Congress
as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."
Answer 1: Jack Kennedy is better than you.
Answer 2: "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy.
I knew Jack Kennedy.
Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine.
Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

Visual Skills
US Election 1960 was won on visual
skills

Components of Visual Skills:

Eyes
Body
Hands

Visual Skills Eyes

Look forward at audience (trust)
Dont shift eyeballs; dont look in corner

Dont look too much at computer screen or

notes

Look at peoples faces (not eyes)

3-6 seconds per person
Shift randomly
Nod, smile, use facial expression

Visual Skills Body

Stand up when talking
Walk around = informal
Dont:
Rock, shake
Lean too much

Visual Skills Hands

Gesture complements talk
Should come naturally, without thinking
Make sure they match!

Need to exaggerate a little

Especially with large audience

Dont fidget or put in pocket

Videotape whole talk & watch
Can improve hand gesturing!

Visual Skills Face

Show emotion!
Most of the time:
I care a lot about this.
I really believe in this.
I love my work.

Sometimes (in response to questions).

This is the most outrageous thing Ive ever

heard.
I will have nothing to do with this.

Next Topic: Develop the

talk
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

The Key Point: the Goal of the

Talk
The ONE clear walk-away message.

The answer to the question: How was the

talk?
The one thing people remember in 3
months
The Origin Point Persuasion The Key Point

Where the audience was)

(Where

(Where you took them)

Must Have Audience

Benefit
Put audience needs at heart
Whats in it for you?

Has to be their reason, not yours

Must consider feeling, not just reaction
Must have right you

Good phrases to know:

This is important to you because
Why am I telling you this? Because
What does this mean for you? Let me tell
you

Know your audience

Experience, knowledge, attitude

Next Topic:
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

Organizing the Story

Youre the salesman
First lesson for salesmen:
Tell
Tell them
them what
what youre
youre going
going
to
to say
say

Say
Say itit

Tell
Tell them
them what
what you
you said
said

Opening
Body
Ending

The Opening
You never get a second chance to make a first impression
Jerry Weissman

The opening

A question
Factoid
Anecdote
Quotation
Analogy
Joke (make it relevant!)

Customize the opening

Lead to the Key Point
Give a (very short) outline/overview

The Body
DONT!!!
Ready to write the slides?
Brainstorming into data dump
Connect the ideas into main
themes
Connect the teams using one logic
flow

& Main Themes

Data Dump
Remember in 3 months
Key point

Whats in it for you?

Audience benefit

brainstorming

Research background

3-step salesman
Data dump

Relevant
Transitions

Connect to main themes

Analogy

main themes

Quote

Joke

Right you

Everything a good idea

How was the talk?

Opening

Good phrases to use

Audience feeling

Repeat KP
Ending

Issue / Action

Flow

Problem / Solution
Opportunity / Leverage

Clusters
Form / Function

Chronological
Feature Benefit

The Flow
Possible flows:
Compare / Contrast
Problem / Solution

Spatial
Numerical

Feature / Benefit

Chronologic
(See Presenting to Win by al
Jerry Weissman for more examples)

Convincing logic & order

Smooth transitions
Keep repeating the Key Point!

The Ending
End with a BANG!
Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger
and called to defend freedom. Our grief has
turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether
we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to
our enemies, justice will be served.
George W. Bush

Repeat the Key Point

If you remember only one thing from this talk,
then you should remember XXX

Say thank you

Review of Organizing Your

Key Point
Story TellOpening
them what youre going to say
Body (Repeat Key Point)
Say it

Data Dump

Main
Themes

Flow Main
Themes
Theme 1
Issue
Action

Theme 2
Issue
Action

Closing Key Point

Tell them what you said

Next Topic:
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

Design Graphics
PowerPoint only supports your talk
Spend more time on organization &
delivery!

Design principles
Keep it simple
Apply psychology
Make it easy to follow
Make it attractive
Your titles should tell your story

Why Keep It Simple?

Aim to develop a consistent style, using the
standard stylesheet whenever possible.
One concept per slide.
The font that is being used should be very large
24 point or larger.

I will now use smaller fonts to prove to you that it is a major

strain to your eyes to read small fonts.

The color of the font and the background should be in

sharp contrast. If one is light, then the other should be
dark. Otherwise it will be very hard to read.

The use of bullets should be simple. Too many

bullets distracts the user from listening to you.

3 big sub-ideas (or bullets) is the most you should have.

The entire slide should have fewer than 8 bullets and
sub-bullets.
I will add a few more bullets to show this is not a good idea
And one more
And one more

Keep the language used simple, so that the user

doesnt have to think to understand your point.

Each bullet should fit in one line , because the idea of

a bullet is to convey idea, headline, and server as a
reminder (or cue) for you to describe and amplify.
Parallel wording means the bullets are roughly parallel,
and contain similar grammatical constructs. This can

Keep It Simple
Consistent look
One concept per slide
Readable
>20 point
Avoid abbreviation
Use shadow outline fonts
Contrast font & background

Dont leave too much blank space

Keep It Simple : Bullets

Headline, not sentence
Reminder for you

Concise
<4 top-level bullets
<10 total bullets & sub-bullets

Simple language
One line per bullet
Parallel wording

Whats wrong with this?

A good speech
Clear point
Understands what audience wants
Organization based on logic
Powerful opening
Ending that people remember

Instead, do this.
A good speech
Clear point
Appealing audience benefit
Logical flow
Powerful opening
Strong close

Apply Psychology to
Design

Dont fight natural eye movements

Move left to right
Return to upper left corner
Sweep to lower right corner

Subliminal hints
Graphics to match your key point
Anticipation
Requirement
Fast speed
Low cost
Easy to use

Our
Solution

Apply Psychology to
Design

Dont fight natural eye movements

Move left to right
Return to upper left corner
Sweep to lower right corner

Subliminal hints
Graphics to match your key point
Anticipation
Avoid bad signs

Whats Wrong With This?

Great financial results
-- Revenue reached $1,000,000
-- Growth passed 20%
-- Profit exceeded $200,000

Instead, do this
Great financial results
Revenue reached $1,000,000
Growth passed 20%
Profit exceeded $200,000

Whats Wrong With This?

Revenue

Instead, do this

Revenue

Make it Easy to Follow

Use outline
Highlight upcoming section

Use builds
Remind where you are

General goal:
Dont make the audience think
(Other than what youre saying)

Make It Attractive
20 hours on preparation
10 hours on practice
Why not spend 1 hour on attractive
design?

Instead of doing this

Cost
Satisfaction
Productivity
Revenue

Why not do this

Instead of doing this

Bill Gates
Brilliant Technologist

Steve Ballmer
Powerful Salesman

Steve Jobs
Passionate Evangelist

Lou Gerstner
Logical Businessman

Why not do this

Bill Gates

Brilliant technologist

Steve
Ballmer
Steve Jobs

Powerful salesman

Lou Gerstner

Passionate
evangelist
Logical Businessman

Your Titles Should Tell the

Story

Apply psychology to
Conclusion
Body & hands
design
Eyes
Keep it simple Giving a good answer
Visual skills PowerPoint only supports
Opportunity to
talk
amplify
Words +
Design graphics
Q&A
intonation
Review of organizing story
Play your
Be yourself
voice
The ending
Enthusiasm
Audience
participation
Vocal skills:
The flow
Humor
Data dump & main
Overcoming
Simple & Clear
themes
nervousness
Overcoming language
Use simple words
The body
barrier
The opening
Verbal skills
Confidence &
passion
What are speaking
Organizing the
Delivery
skills?
story

Speaking skills are

Must have audience Rehearsing your delivery
important
benefit
Learn speaking skills Key point = Goal of the
Practice your talk
talk

What youll learn today

hy be a good speaker?
The man who can think and
does not know how to express
what he thinks is at the level of
him who cannot think.
Pericles
Not just presentation, but
persuasion
Influence a friend, colleague, or
boss.
Tell people what you did, and why
it matters.

Develop Key Point

Make it attractive
Face
Make it easy to follow

Show emotion!
Most of the time:
I care a lot about this.
I really believe in this.
I love my work.
Sometimes (in response to
questions).
This is the most outrageous thing
Ive ever heard.
I will have nothing to do with this.

Use outline
Highlight upcoming section
Use builds
Remind where you are
General goal:
Dont make the audience think
(Other than what youre saying)

Next Topic:
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

Rehearsing Your Content

Prepare, prepare, prepare
Customize the talk
Within-talk references
Repeat key point
Repeat main themes
Repeat your company (university) name

Practice to use same word(s) per

concept
Practice transitions between slides

Rehearsing Your Delivery

Record & listen to every talk at least
twice!
Best : PowerPoint features
OK : Tape recorder

Get the timing right

Running out of time is a disaster

Practice to an audience or record

video
Ask experienced speaker to critique
Record video for critique

Next Topic:
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

Delivering the Talk

Confidence & passion
Overcoming language barrier
Overcoming nervousness
Humor
Audience participation
Be yourself

Confidence & Passion

Make sure youre not too tired:
Get enough sleep the previous night

Drink (up to) 3 cups of coffee!

No milk

Stand on left side of screen

Confidence & Passion

Make sure youre not too tired:
Get enough sleep the previous night

Drink (up to) 3 cups of coffee!

No milk

Stand on left side of screen

During your talk, do not apologize
Sorry Im behind on time
Sorry this slide is so hard to read

Overcoming Language
Barrier
Know your limitations

Dont use fancy words, complex

sentences
Dont take any chance of looking silly

Prepare an outline/script
Rehearse before the talk
Dont have to use it

Not OK to read your bullets

But OK to read or memorize your
speech
Practice still required

Overcoming Nervousness
Do the thing you fear
and the death of fear is certain.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is possible to hide nervousness!
Dont let the shaking show!
Make a fist; hold the lectern
Speak loudly
Take a deep breath

Dont have to look at audiences eyes

Look at a friendly face
Look above peoples heads

Humor
Good humor:
Relevant
Respectful
Short

How to tell a joke?

Prepare audience
Pause after punch line
Move on naturally if no reaction!

Plan your humor:

Remember what worked
Use it again!

Audience Participation
I hear and I forget;
I see and I remember;
I do and I understand.
Ask audience a question
Anticipate their answer(s)!
Respond with something interesting AND
relevant

Also OK to ask before talk & include in

talk

Be Yourself
Dont copy others styles
Many styles could be effective

You must be yourself to be credible

Adapt your style, but stay within comfort
zone
Ideal role
Comfort zone
Bill Gates
Steve
Ballmer
Steve Jobs

Brilliant
technologist
Powerful salesman
Passionate
evangelist

Great strategist
Trustworthy CEO
Technology
visionary

Last Topic:
Q&A
Delivery
Practice Talk
Design Graphics
Organize Story
Develop Key Point
Learn Speaking Skills

Q&A: Opportunity to
Amplify
Q&A is your last chance to:

Amplify your points (particularly the Key

Point)
Increase your credibility

If people are too shy, you start!

Hard questions
No need to answer directly
But dont hide!

Narrow questions
Take offline

Q&A Giving A Good

Answer
Respect the listener

Dont argue or dismiss a question

Right body language

Answer to the entire audience

Repeat the question
Complete if people cannot hear
Paraphrase to help amplify your point

Conclusion
Anyone can become a good
speaker;
It just takes :
a little skill,
and a lot of practice!