Public Speaking? Anytime! As Daniel Pink put it, "We're all in sales now". From the 30-second elevator pitch to the 30-minute persuasive speech, we're always speaking in public, even in the not-for-profit world, giving (mini) presentations in front of diverse audiences of 1 or 1 million. Be prepared- with my 10 guiding questions- and shine! Follow the links for resources from some of the field's experts, and explore all the web has to offer, such as amazing public speaking/presentations examples in TED Talks! Hope you find this tool useful. Please do let me know about your learning and successes henceforth. Thanks in advance!

1. PUBLIC SPEAKING -
ANYTIME
Created by Silvana Valentone – December 2014
silvana_valentone@yahoo.com
@Silvana_Happy5

2. “WE’RE ALL IN SALES NOW”
• “Some of you, no doubt, are selling in the
literal sense -- convincing existing
customers and fresh prospects to buy
casualty insurance or consulting services
or homemade pies at a farmers' market.
But all of you are likely spending more
time than you realize selling in a broader
sense -- pitching colleagues, persuading
funders, cajoling kids. Like it or not, we're
all in sales now.”
 Daniel H. Pink, author of
 To Sell Is Human

3. YOU ARE IN SALES, TOO…
…every time you:
 Give an elevator pitch to get the local baker to donate
pastry for your weekly activities
 Promote an Information Session for new community
members in your diverse city
 Deliver a keynote speech at a corporate event to recruit
volunteers for your program
 Seek financial support for your newcomer youth Summer
Camp in front of potential donors
 Lead an intergenerational workshop for Kindergarten
children and Adult Day Program seniors

4. A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…
Toastmasters’ PREP
 Point: state your point
 Reason: support your point
 Example: add anecdotes,
stories
 Point: re-state your point
http://www.toastmasters.org/
http://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Public-Speaking-Tips

5. A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…
http://heathbrothers.com/download/mts-made-to-stick-model.pdf

6. Nancy Duarte’s
STAR moment
 Something
 They’ll
 Always
 Remember
http://resonate.duarte.com/#!
page174
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…
http://www.duarte.com/portfolio/something-theyll-always-remember/

7. A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…
http://visual.ly/9-step-cheatsheet-becoming-public-speaking-
expert

8. “The most engaging presentations
are:
Emotional - They touch my
heart
Novel - They teach me
something new
Memorable - They present
content in ways I’ll never forget”
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…
o Carmine Gallo, author of
o Talk Like TED

9. “The only way to learn to speak is to speak
and speak, and speak and speak, and speak
and speak and speak.”
o Elbert Hubbard
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND…

10. HERE ARE SILVANA’S 10 GUIDING
QUESTIONS
1. Who is your audience?
2. What’s your purpose?
3. Which stories will you tell?
4. “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM?)
5. How much time do you have?
6. How will you open?
7. What kinds of visual aids will you use?
8. When will you take questions from the audience?
9. How will you close?
10. When and where will you practice?

11. QUESTION 1 (OF 10)
1. Who is your audience?
 What do you know about them?
 What can you find out in advance?
 Ask your colleagues, and the event planner, if appropriate.
Community members? Business people? Potential donors or
funders? Students? Seniors? Find out what their
expectations are, and why they’d listen to you. What do
they need? Why should they care about your message?

12. QUESTION 2 (OF 10)
2. What’s your purpose?
 What do you want to accomplish? What’s your goal?
 Why are you speaking to this audience?
 Your goal is TO…? To inform? To inspire? To
motivate? To encourage? To persuade? Have your
purpose clear in your mind and let it shape your
message.

13. QUESTION 3 (OF 10)
3. Which stories will you tell?
 Why is the story relevant to your audience? How can they
relate to it and its main characters?
 How will you tell your story? How will you show it?
 Remember it’s not about you. It’s about them- your
characters and your audience! All your stories should be
simple, short and sweet; and should have a beginning, a
middle (or body) and an end. “Maybe stories are just data
with a soul.” Brené Brown

14. QUESTION 4 (OF 10)
4. “What’s In It For Me?”
(WIIFM?)
 Can you answer the question in your audience’s
mind? How will they benefit from your talk?
 Will your audience profit from your message or from
the actions they’ll have to take after listening to you?
 Spell out the advantages of listening to you/acting on
your message. Follow up with them to ensure they
reap the benefits you outlined. Make your talk worth
their time and effort so they can easily see WIIFM?

15. QUESTION 5 (OF 10)
5. How much time do you have?
 Will you know in advance?
 Could you flex your talk from 30 seconds to 30
minutes?
 Keep to the time you’re given. Be flexible, and have a
short/long version of your presentation ready to use
when needed. If you end early, allow your audience to
ask questions and start a conversation.

16. QUESTION 6 (OF 10)
6. How will you open?
 Will you start with a quote, an anecdote, an overview
of your talk, or some impressive data?
 Will you need to introduce yourself?
 The opening of your talk should attract people’s
attention. There’s no one single way to open, but
know your first words well so you can say them with
confidence- in the way you planned to- for maximum
impact.

17. QUESTION 7 (OF 10)
7. What kinds of visual aids will
you use?
 Will you bring props?
 Will you use posters, flipchart paper, or slides
(PowerPoint or Keynote)?
 Remember, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. If
you use slides, keep text to a minimum (0 to 20 words
per slide). Have a backup plan in case technology
doesn’t cooperate.

18. QUESTION 8 (OF 10)
8. When will you take questions
from the audience?
 Will you take them throughout your presentation &/or at
the end?
 How will you deal with tough questions?
 Paraphrase the questions to make sure you understand
what they’re asking. Keep your answers short and to the
point. And don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know- but
commit to find out and get back to them with an answer.

19. QUESTION 9 (OF 10)
9. How will you close?
 Will you close with a quote, an anecdote, a review of your
talk, or some impressive data?
 What will the audience take away from your talk?
 The closing is as important- of not more- as the opening.
Ensure you end up on a high note, with something your
audience will remember. The conclusion should help make
your presentation unforgettable. “People will forget what
you said, people will forget what you did, but people will
never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

20. QUESTION 10 (OF 10)
10. When and where will you practice?
 How will you prepare your voice right before your talk?
 How many times will you practice your speech is if it were
the real thing?
 Since “Practice makes perfect”, practice, practice, practice!
Rehearse your speech out loud, in front of others- or a
mirror/video camera. Practice standing up, on location,
whenever possible. But don’t memorize your talk, or it
may sound too robotic. And don’t forget to breathe! Try
some deep breathing right before your talk, and make
sure you warm up your voice and your body for your
presentation.

21. CAN YOU NOW ANSWER SILVANA’S
10 GUIDING QUESTIONS?
1. Who is your audience?
2. What’s your purpose?
3. Which stories will you tell?
4. “What’s In It For Me?” (WIIFM?)
5. How much time do you have?
6. How will you open?
7. What kinds of visual aids will you use?
8. When will you take questions from the audience?
9. How will you close?
10. When and where will you practice?

22. PUBLIC SPEAKING -
ANYTIME
Created by Silvana Valentone – December 2014
silvana_valentone@yahoo.com
@Silvana_Happy5