Media Training Worldwide’s TJ Walker Gives Insights On Public Speaking, Presentation

TJ’s Insights

April 1, 2005

New Books, TJ Walker’s “Media Training A-Z”
http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/mediatrainingaz.html
“Presentation Training A-Z” http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/presentaz.html

Love Your Family—But Not for Speech Critiques

Most presentation training experts, including myself, constantly exhort our clients to practice and rehearse speeches as often as possible in front of real people. Then, ask for their feedback, including what they remember, what they like and don’t like.

Almost anyone will do. Almost.

I don’t recommend that you rehearse your presentations or media interviews in front of family members because they are just too close to you, and vice versa.

If Smithers from down the hall in your office hears your speech and then tells you that the introduction to your speech was a little unclear and it needs more direction, you are likely to think that your introduction is a little unclear and it needs more direction. If your spouse tells you the same thing, you may think, “You are one to talk! The asinine directions you gave me to your mother-in-law’s picnic last week cost me an extra three hours in the car!”

The feedback from Smithers is more helpful because, presumably, you aren’t as close to Smithers as you are to your spouse. If he gives you a criticism, it won’t dredge up painful memories from the past and devolve into a tit-for-tat session.

The other problem with family members is they may be too positive. Your parents or spouse may love you so much that, in their eyes, you can do no wrong. That may be nice for your ego, but it won’t make your speech better if you are given nothing but uncritical praise.

So when you are looking for people to give you feedback on a presentation rehearsal, use family members as a last resort. A colleague, especially one you aren’t particularly close to, may give you the very best prize—an honest, unbiased critique.

Do you need a keynote speaker? http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/keynote.html

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Author of Media Training A-Z
& Presentation Training A-Z

TJ Walker
Media Training Worldwide
212-764-4955

Media Training Worldwide provides more media and presentation training workshops and seminars (54 separate courses) than any other company in the world. Media Training Worldwide also publishes more than 100 presentation training books, DVDs, CDs, and other information products and is the largest presentation/media training publisher in the world. For a product catalog or more information on training services call 800-755-7220 or visit http://mediatrainingworldwide.com/mediatrainingcatalogapril2004.pdf.

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