Comments on: The awkward introductory post! http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/awkward-introductory-post-begins-here/ A book of true tales from a veteran public speaker Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:50:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steve Arrowood http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/awkward-introductory-post-begins-here/#comment-40 Steve Arrowood Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:44:32 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=3#comment-40 Ben, I think that simple answer you wrote about why so many speakers are bad is not the end, but the beginning, one of the core reasons to write this book. What exactly should we work on to get better at public speaking? What skills and talents are possible to improve in our speaking and by how much? Through my work I know many teachers who ask for recommendations of student resources to improve public speaking. There just are not a lot of understandable, practical, insightful studies out there. People stay scared of doing it and bored of seeing it their entire lives. Hopefully those who are proven effective and can illuminate their effectiveness for others will continue to step up. Ben, I think that simple answer you wrote about why so many speakers are bad is not the end, but the beginning, one of the core reasons to write this book. What exactly should we work on to get better at public speaking? What skills and talents are possible to improve in our speaking and by how much?

Through my work I know many teachers who ask for recommendations of student resources to improve public speaking. There just are not a lot of understandable, practical, insightful studies out there.

People stay scared of doing it and bored of seeing it their entire lives. Hopefully those who are proven effective and can illuminate their effectiveness for others will continue to step up.

]]> By: Scott http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/awkward-introductory-post-begins-here/#comment-6 Scott Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:46:40 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=3#comment-6 Ben: this is exactly why I'm interested in the topic. I think we could make similar observations about writing, relationships, philosophy or dozens of other core, perennially important but typically ignored in practice topics. Part of the goal of the book is to capture all of the ridiculous things that happen behind the scenes for people that do a lot of public speaking. So my goal is not strictly to write a manual - but to author a fun, interesting book about something we do and listen to all the time. Ben: this is exactly why I’m interested in the topic. I think we could make similar observations about writing, relationships, philosophy or dozens of other core, perennially important but typically ignored in practice topics.

Part of the goal of the book is to capture all of the ridiculous things that happen behind the scenes for people that do a lot of public speaking. So my goal is not strictly to write a manual – but to author a fun, interesting book about something we do and listen to all the time.

]]> By: Tammy Takahashi http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/awkward-introductory-post-begins-here/#comment-5 Tammy Takahashi Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:39:17 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=3#comment-5 Unfortunately, I have to agree with Ben. There are many reasons why public speakers are boring or hard to follow. But I would argue, that not having the "right" kind of public speaking manual isn't high on the list. That said, I'm really looking forward to your new book because I want to be a spectacular speaker, not just a "good" one. I want to do things differently. I want people to thinkg "Wow, she rocked my world!" when they come to my seminars. I'm also a women, and 99.9% of public speaking books are geared toward men. Thanks for starting this blog. I'm going to be paying close attention to it! Unfortunately, I have to agree with Ben.

There are many reasons why public speakers are boring or hard to follow. But I would argue, that not having the “right” kind of public speaking manual isn’t high on the list.

That said, I’m really looking forward to your new book because I want to be a spectacular speaker, not just a “good” one. I want to do things differently. I want people to thinkg “Wow, she rocked my world!” when they come to my seminars. I’m also a women, and 99.9% of public speaking books are geared toward men.

Thanks for starting this blog. I’m going to be paying close attention to it!

]]> By: Ben Scofield http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/04/awkward-introductory-post-begins-here/#comment-2 Ben Scofield Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:06:34 +0000 http://www.speakerconfessions.com/?p=3#comment-2 I think the answer to why so many public speakers are bad is pretty simple: they just haven't invested the time it takes to get better. Speaking is rarely the primary (or secondary, or tertiary) responsibility for people, so they don't feel the need to improve. In addition, there's relatively little peer pressure to improve, since most of the other speakers at any given event will be poor as well. If more people improved, then there'd be more incentive for everyone else to get better as well. Unfortunately, these two factors mean that the people who most need to work on their speaking skills probably won't find this blog... but we can hope! I think the answer to why so many public speakers are bad is pretty simple: they just haven’t invested the time it takes to get better. Speaking is rarely the primary (or secondary, or tertiary) responsibility for people, so they don’t feel the need to improve.

In addition, there’s relatively little peer pressure to improve, since most of the other speakers at any given event will be poor as well. If more people improved, then there’d be more incentive for everyone else to get better as well.

Unfortunately, these two factors mean that the people who most need to work on their speaking skills probably won’t find this blog… but we can hope!

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