Ten Top Tips for Tip Top Talks

Presented at the 2005 ALA Conference & Exposition
Presented by Susan Swope, DTM & Joseph Madley, DTM
Summarized by Cheri Meier
June 2005

1. Speak about what you know and care about.

• Determine what you want your speech to do; inform, persuade or gather information.

• Research your topic: what do you already know, what information do you still need and where can you get it.

2. Know your audience.

• Figure out who your audience will be; occupations, economic status, education levels, cultural status, age, sex, etc.

• How many will be in attendance?

• What does the audience already know about your topic?

• Where will you be giving your speech, how will the room be set up and what events precede and follow your talk.

3. Keep it digestible.

• Decide on points you want to make but don’t include everything.

• Put the points in a logical order and support the point with specifics, quotes, stories, humor, and statistics.

• simplify language

• avoid sexist language, alternate male and female examples

4. Use appropriate humor.

• Make sure the joke makes a point and is short and uncomplicated.

• Make sure the joke is fresh.

• Let the audience laugh and never use profanity.

5. Familiarize, don’t memorize your speech.

• Practice your speech at least 4 times.

• Work on your rate and rhythm.

• Discover the power of pauses.

• Avoid fillers such as ums and you knows.

• Move around with a purpose.

• Eye contact is the most powerful tool to connect with audience.

• Don’t read word by word, learn the ideas but don’t memorize.

6. Know and be yourself.

• If you want to be believed, be real. Audience knows when someone is faking it.

• Be sincere.

• Say what you mean and mean what you say.

7. Set the stage.

• Check out the room arrangements making adjustments before the session including: electric, sound system, a/v setup, lighting, seating and temperature.

• Make sure you have a glass and pitcher of water.

• Avoid clothes that distract.

8. Use Your nervousness.

• Nervousness is energy. Use it!

• Take your time getting set at the lectern; set notes in place, just lectern and mike, stand up straight, make visual contact with audience and breathe.

9. Connect with your audience.

• Don’t ask the audience to move closer to you; you move to them.

• Talk with, not at, your audience.

• Listen carefully and repeat the question from audience.

• Support your opinions with evidence.

• If you don’t know, say so.

10. Engage your gut!

• Have and expend energy – It’s contagious!

• Show that you know and care about your message.

**REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED!