Without Toastmasters, I would not be the trial lawyer that I am today. Toastmasters International helps people become better public speakers. The organization also offers a very effective leadership training program. Ralph Smedley started Toastmasters in 1924 in the basement of a California YMCA. I am a second generation Toastmaster and have been involved in a […]
VISUAL AIDS A visual aid is a chart, picture or other visual item that helps accentuate a speaker’s point. Visual aids are important to aid the speaker’s organization, maintain the interest of the audience, and assist in persuasion. The use of a visual aid can increase an audience’s retention by up to 43%. Power Point […]
SPEECH DELIVERY-PART IV PUBLIC SPEAKING 101 Delivery of a speech can be broken down into four basic methods: Manuscript, Memorization, Impromptu and Extemporaneous. Which method you use will depend on your ultimate goal in giving the speech. Let’s examine the four methods: Manuscript In a manuscript speech, the speaker reads word for word from a […]
Lawyers can enhance their presentations by adopting the right balance of gestures, body movement, and eye contact. Here are a couple of things to think about: GESTURES Gestures can enhance a presentation, or distract from it. The key to gestures is moderation. For example, too much hand waving is distracting. However, ticking off points using […]
In part two of Public Speaking for Lawyers 101 we look at articulation, pronunciation and the use of fillers. Articulation and Pronunciation As lawyers, people expect us to have a command of English and to use language precisely. Therefore, if we are lazy in articulation and pronunciation, we lose credibility. For example, how many times […]
Lawyers are inevitably asked to speak in front of various organizations. Many people believe that lawyers have a natural ability to convey a point of view effectively. Little do they know that many lawyers view public speaking as a curse, rather than a gift. I respect the fact that speaking in public is not a […]
My wife and I were out with friends for dinner the other night when one friend expressed reservations about an upcoming public speaking presentation that she agreed to give. The presentation will be at a national convention of book store owners and she was nervous to the point that her doctor prescribed medication to slow […]
