Public Speaking in a Time of Distraction: The A-Ha! Method

What are A-Ha! Moments and why do they matter? They are the moments in any talk that inspire and motivate the audience to tweet or record you. Because of our neurobiology, A-Ha! Moments also help us encode memories more effectively by using arousal. Understanding how this works will help you craft the emotional responses necessary to create the best talks, pitches and meetings. We’ll also cover the appropriate pacing of A-Ha! Moments and emotional refraction.

Being compelling requires you to know yourself, and the goal is to figure out how your passion and authenticity combine to create a unique and enervating speaker profile. It’s important that your voice is unique, and not a copy of other speakers or pitches that you think are successful. In this lecture, we’ll look at different frameworks for thinking about what intrinsically motivates you.

In this lecture, we look at how to take your understanding of yourself and your goals as a speaker, and combine them to find your unique voice. We’ll take a closer look at humor, which is one of the most frequently overused/misused techniques in speaking. We’ll also investigate charisma and how to improve yours.

I’ve learned over the years that the optimal way to develop a narrative in a talk is to start with the ending - what do you want people to leave with at the very end. In this lecture, we’ll look at how to develop a great ending and then its matched beginning to bracket your amazing talk.

In order to do a great job, you need to know who’s in your audience and who you’re speaking to. In most talks, you’ll need to consider the organizer, the audience and the camera - and play to each accordingly. You’ll also want to understand the level of knowledge/skill of your audience, and any organizer goals/objectives, and match your narrative accordingly. We’ll also look at virtual talks and get some tips on how to deal with looking straight at the camera.

Getting people to listen to your talk or pitch requires writing a great title and description to lure them in. In this lecture, we’ll look at some structures for writing titles and descriptions, developing appropriate questions and takeaways, and how you can develop something that really works. Plus, we’ll look at a secret of professional speakers: how to not reinvent the wheel every time with your titles and descriptions.

Humans have been telling stories since the dawn of civilization, and our story structures have evolved to follow a common framework: Act 1, 2 and 3. In this lecture, we’ll look at the overview of the classic story structures and what each act means in the story. You’ll learn how to take the best elements of storytelling and apply those to live talks, pitches and meetings.

Speeches and pitches are among the shortest forms of storytelling, and therefore require special consideration. In this lecture we’ll also look at POVs (Points of View) in talks and how to choose the right one and ensure you’re consistent throughout.

There are four primary talk types I’ve identified in most public speeches: Learn, Discover the Truth, The Future, Get Pumped. In this lecture we’ll look at each one of these types of talks in more detail, with an eye to helping you decide what you’re going to present.

In addition to the talk types, there are a number of talk “flavors” you may find yourself having to give. Here we discuss the differences - and nuances of each: Keynotes, TED, Conference, Panel, Pitches & Sales and Workshops. You’ll learn how to identify the kind of talk you're giving and to adjust your content accordingly to what is in demand.

Though we’ll spend many future lectures on slides, this is an overview of your instructor’s unique perspective on slides. We’ll look at using them to support what you’re saying and also as a tool for developing your content. Moreover, we’ll look at different kinds of slides and how and when to use them. We’ll also discuss the 1+1+1 method of slide development I’ve perfected over the years.

Because of short-attention spans and shifts since the pandemic, you need to carefully navigate the opening of your talk and build it explicitly. Here we’ll look at the main types of opener I’ve defined: Planes, Trains and Rocketships, examples of each and how to create your perfect opener.

Digital meetings have different rules, contours and risks compared to starting a live meeting. This lecture looks at some of the specific issues with digital meetings, and how to develop a protocol that works for you.

The fourth wall is the suspension of disbelief that the audience enters when your story is well-crafted. Many speakers don’t do a good job of crafting and protecting the fourth wall, but here we’ll look at how to do that and what tactics to deploy in service of audience engagement.

You need to set the scene for your speech or pitch, but you also need to get to conflict quickly in the story. This is hard to accomplish, and in this lecture we’ll look at great ways to get there.

Between the first and second acts of your talk or pitch is the inflection point. This is when the action takes off and it’s crucial that you get it right. Here we’ll look at the essential tactics necessary to make the inflection point soar.

Act 2 of your pitch or talk is when the meat of the exploration or answer-finding happens. In this lecture we’ll look at how to structure Act 2 so your hypothesis, points and counter-intuitive items are given the right space to succeed.

Professional communication is always highly limited by time, and making the points you need to persuade audiences need to be done with great care. In this lecture we’ll look at how to make points well, and some of the pitfalls to avoid.

Persuasion in professional communication is often less about “Getting to Yes”, than about avoiding “Getting to No.” This is particularly important in pitches and other high-stakes talks, but relevant to all speakers. Here in counterpoints, we’ll look at how to structure your arguments so that you minimize the amount of pushback by carefully expressing their questions, comments or fears.

In the third act, you’ll be pulling together the conflict from Act 1 with the arguments in Act 2, though it is often overlooked. But if you’ve created some emotional tension, you will definitely need to release it for your audiences, while simultaneously maintaining your energy. This may be a good place for a unifying theory or overall resolution, and in this lecture we’ll look at the whole range of issues in Act 3 and how to maximize them.

We started by developing the ending first so that your closing would be as powerful as possible. Now’s the right time to circle back to the closer and see if it’s still perfect, and how to make it even more exciting (e.g. with callbacks).

Slides serve many different purposes in speeches and pitches. In this lecture we’ll look at several examples of different kinds of slides that provide an added shade of meaning to what you’re saying.

Virtual presentation and pitches (such as over Zoom) require some additional thought for slides and presentation elements. It affects audio and video, the size and resolution of your content, and many more aspects. In this lecture we will closely look at some of these main issues and how to adapt to them.

There are 4 canonical slide designs, and a 5th that you should never use. In this lecture we’ll look at examples of these different types and give you the opportunity to consider which ones will make it into your final deck.

The optimal way to craft your slide decks uses my 1+1+1 method of slide development. This lecture discusses some of the benefits of 1+1+1 and some more detail on short slide considerations.

Animations in slide decks are among the more controversial and fraught choices you can make. This short lecture looks at considerations for animation.

Peppering your slides with meaningful audio and video can enhance the audience’s enjoyment and understanding of your work, but it also comes with some serious pitfalls and considerations, including steps you must take before presenting.

You don’t need to be a great graphic designer to make a beautiful, clear and impactful slide deck a reality. In this lecture, we’ll look at some of the greatest hacks and tricks you can use to look professional with minimal time and expense.

More design hacks and tricks for optimizing your decks.

There are many tricks that are taught to help people improve their confidence when speaking or pitching. I’ve unlocked the most important secret, and in this lecture I lay out for you both strategies and tactics you can use to get there.

Over many years I’ve developed a foolproof way of learning my presentation materials without it feeling forced or rehearsed. In this lecture, I’ll teach you how to use this hack.

While you may be tempted to script your presentation and memorize it word for word, this is one of the worst options you can choose. In this lecture, we’ll look at some note taking strategies and reinforce the need for speaking from your heart.

Not all notes are created equal. If it makes you feel better to have notes you can reference, I’ll show you how to hack notes on stage so you still look professional.

Recording yourself and watching it back can be a useful technique for improving your speaking skills. Before you do that though, be aware of some of the biggest gotchas in self-recording, including your voice and who’s giving you feedback. That’s what this lecture aims to clarify.

Getting the timing right for your speech, pitch or meeting is incredibly important - moreso than in any other domain of communication. But how do you make sure the timing doesn’t get in the way and ultimately make you more nervous? In this lecture we’ll look at how timers work and what to do about them in advance (and during the session).

A few more notes about timing and how to get it right.

Body language for speeches and pitches is incredibly important - whether you’re presenting live or virtually. In this lecture we look closely at many aspects of body language and physical expression in presentations and how to think about them.

One of the most underappreciated parts of giving a great talk, meeting or pitch is your hygiene before the big event. You are a rockstar and need to think like one. But speaking Hygiene isn’t just about bathing - it involves careful consideration of your food and caffeine intake, the preservation of your mental acuity, sleep, clothing, etc. In this lecture I’ll share my tips and hacks from years as a professional speaker and pitcher so you can be your best self.

Murphy’s Law says that anything that can go wrong, will - and the corollary of “only the paranoid survive” has never been more true than in professional presentations. In this lecture we’ll talk about common presentation disasters, and how to prepare yourself for them.

When you’re presenting IRL, you will probably have some AV or technical support to ensure everything is working smoothly. But what if you’re presenting virtually? Well you are the AV crew in that case, and this lecture will walk you through some of the preparations and tactics for not messing up your presentation.

While you may not be the world’s foremost expert on your topic, being successful at persuasive professional communications requires embodying and projecting confident expertise. This lecture looks at what that means and how to seize the opportunity.

Even seasoned speakers get nervous before they do a talk. You shouldn’t expect to be free of any anxiety, but you can learn how to channel your anxiety in a constructive way. This lecture will help you understand the true value of nerves and how to use the feedback from the audience to your advantage.

Don’t pitch from the stage (unless you’re at a pitch competition). Let your expertise, knowledge and presentation excellence persuade attendees that you are credible and brilliant - without resorting to inappropriate sales tactics.

The majority of professional speakers are still white (or other majority) men. But the issues of diverse speakers and inclusive topics are growing by the day. When you’re pitching or speaking, this lecture recommends you leverage any divergent or unique experiences you possess and center those to tell more personal - and unique - stories where possible.

Standup comedians and public speakers have many areas of useful skill overlap - and you can learn a lot from watching funny people at the height of their success. From creating a mirrored emotional context to dealing with distractions, standup comedians have developed an expertise you can really learn from. In this lecture, we break down many of the most important standup skills, and reiterate the prescription that you should watch some standup to learn. How fun is that?

Interacting with the crowd as a speaker, pitcher or meeting leader is a common tactic, but is it good for the success of your presentation? This lecture will outline my unique perspective on when to - and when not to - interact with the crowd. We’ll look at some alternatives to pointless crowd call and response, and also how to use it to your advantage in digital meetings.

How many words per minute should you be using in your talks? There are a wide range of opinions and scenarios to consider, and you have to plan appropriately to include modulation and the audience’s language skills. In this lecture we’ll look at the different common speeds for talks and we’ll read a script at different speeds to test out how it feels.

Words such as “umm” or “like” are considered Filler Words, and most public speaking education focuses on removing these unnecessary elements as a sign that you’re doing something right. But as this lecture explores, the emphasis on precision of words may be misplaced for most speakers, leading to a negative attentional trade off. Finally, we’ll talk about pauses and how to use those to reduce your fillers.

Many speakers prefer not to give their slides and recordings to audiences after presentations. In this lecture, we’ll explore why I think that’s a bad idea, and how to maximize the post-talk opportunities for connection (and sales) with your audience.

Often your first opportunities as a public speaker will occur on panels. But panels are a different animal from regular talks and pitches. In this lecture we’ll look at some of the best tips, techniques and hacks to make sure you ace your panel appearances - and get future chances to pitch or speak.

We’ve covered virtual/remote talks throughout this course as appropriate. But there are some elements of acing a speech or presentation virtually that you should consider. This lecture pulls those key concepts together.

Your instructor is a big believer in checklists to ensure maximum success in high-pressure situations (like public speaking). In this lecture we’ll talk about some of the items that should be on your virtual talk checklist, and how to ensure you’re succeeding every time.

You can have a perfect talk, pitch or meeting, but unless you’re ready for Q&A with the audience, you might nonetheless struggle to get good ratings and feedback. This session looks at the tactics and strategies for optimizing Q&A in virtual talks.

When giving a virtual talk, pitch or meeting, it can be difficult to keep your eyes focused on the right location (the camera lens) at all times. This lecture addresses some of the hacks and techniques professionals use to make sure they’re always looking in the right place.

Your instructor has spent many years giving, grading and coaching entrepreneurs on their pitches. After seeing literally thousands of such sessions, there are some essential techniques, hacks and tricks that aspiring pitchers should learn. Peppered throughout the course and compiled here, are some of the critical elements you can use to improve your chances of getting what you want.

This lecture is a free PREVIEW of the forthcoming Level 3 of the A-Ha! Method for Professional Communications course. Intended for advanced students, Level 3 will help you button up your presentations with an eye on monetizing those talks. In this talk, we’ll look at how to use social media to drive your speaking program.