“Forget everything else, and just say it to me. Say it to me, as a friend.”
– Lionel Logue, ‘The King’s Speech’, 2010.
I think this piece of advice is wonderful. It may seem silly to try to imagine your audience as one person, but I believe that the best speakers make every audience member feel that they are being addressed as an individual.
When you rehearse (rehearsal is vital, even for a small talk), if you can avoid going into formal mode and instead imagine that you’re speaking to a friend, you may find that you employ techniques which feel natural, such as:
🔴 pausing as the next particular word or idea comes to you. Let them wait a moment, it creates good tension.
🔴 smiling or laughing if it feels natural. This is powerful and feels really good as a speaker.
🔴 reflecting momentarily on what you’re saying, out loud. A simple, spontaneous analysis can be an excellent way to guide your audience’s thinking.
🔴 moving around a little. This frees up your particular speaking style and commands the room. Online, a standing desk arrangement facilitates this perfectly. In person, move your eye contact between specific people.
If you can employ the ‘speaking to a friend’ approach, your whole talk will feel conversational and very easy to listen to.
[photo by Kelly Sikkema on unsplash]