What do you get that public speaking family member or friend? Following (in no particular order) are 10 suggestions for anyone who speaks, presents, or just worries a lot about speaking in public.
1. Note cards for thanking meeting planners
If you speak professionally, meeting planners are your customers, your lifelines, your best friends. Their on-the-ground knowledge can save you from embarrassment and worse. Much worse. So thank them with a personal note when they help you get through that speech without incident.
2. Pictures of loved ones for focusing before a speech
Your loved ones are the reason that you leave home, stay in indifferent hotels, and answer questions from cranky audience members. So give that public speaker a portable set of pictures so that she can focus on it just before a speech to crank up the energy and emotion. The result will be better speeches and stronger families.
3. A year of Improv lessons
Great speakers are able to focus in the moment on the audience and the message – not themselves. They don’t get distracted by extraneous things like wondering if one’s fly is zipped up or if there’s spinach on one’s teeth. And nothing improves a speaker’s ability to focus on that all-important moment like a year of Improv lessons. Improv is hard to do, very hard, but you don’t have to become an expert to benefit from the increased ability to be present on stage. And once you’ve done Improv in front of an audience, public speaking will seem comparatively easy work.
4. A photo shoot
Those headshots are out of date, face it. And the temptation to do it on the cheap and get your kid to take some shots in the living room with a point-and-shoot will yield cheap-looking shots. Give your speaker the gift of a professional photographer and get it done right.
5. A pen for signing books
If you’re going to sustain a paid public speaking career, or if you simply want something of yours in the Library of Congress, you’re going to have to write a book. Your loved ones can’t give you the book already written, but they can give you a pen to sign them for adoring fans. And that should at least help you focus on the end goal. You might even write the book with that pen.
6. A lucky tie or pin
Many speakers are superstitious, and once a speech goes right, and you’re wearing a certain tie or pin, you want to wear it every time thereafter. More importantly, that suit that makes you look and feel great will help you deliver a great speech. People stand more confidently when they’re in clothing that fits well and looks good. So spring for a fabulous suit for your public speaker – or at least a great-looking tie or pin.
7. Best book from 2010 for public speakers
Since I can’t nominate my own books, I’m going to propose Nancy Duarte’s Resonate as a great read for public speakers. The book is full of tips and suggestions for creating wonderful speeches. Don’t stand up and speak without reading it first.
8. Flip cam to record speeches
The best way to improve your craft as a speaker – besides hiring a coach like me – is to record yourself speaking and then review the tape thoughtfully and honestly. Flip cams make it easy and inexpensive to do so – no more excuses!
9. iPad and apps
Many speakers are wed to their (clunky) laptops; the iPad gives you a stylish, lightweight alternative. And there are a number of apps that will allow you to show slides, take notes, and use the iPad as a teleprompter-like device. (I’ll evaluate them in another blog later on.) All very cool and up to date. Bring your public speaker into the 21st century with this ultimate gift of the latest technology.
10. Travel medical pack
Speakers live in fear of colds, flu, and other diseases that seem so easy to pick up while traveling – from that person sitting next to you on the plane, or that audience member who insists on shaking your hand despite holding a wad of tissue. So give them all the throat lozenges, ibuprofen and decongestant you can pack into a travel-size case. And throw in a love note or two while you’re at it; your public speaker misses you when she’s on the road.
What gifts have you thought of for that favorite public speaker in your family or group of friends? Let me know and we’ll get the word out before Christmas
Great (as in ‘GREAT’) suggestions, Nic. And your recommendation of ‘Resonate’ is right on.
Thank you for all of your inspiration this year — looking forward to that in 2011 too.
Love this day and be sure to keep on doing …..
….. things that amaze you.
Paul
Hi Nick
” A year of Improv lesson” sounds good to me.
I often watch “stand up” comedians and think that they are great speakers.
No notes, word perfect, interaction with the audience and so so relaxed.
Might also look at “Resonate”.
Always looking for good Public Speaking books.
Great suggestions, Nick. I’m curious if you have any suggestions for video camera placement. I am a little afraid of appearing to be a narcissist if I set up my flip camera in a prominent spot.
Thanks, Paul and Keith, for your good comments. And thanks Jared — I would put the camera extreme left or right, so that you get the front of the stage and the first few rows of audience, if possible. That way you’ll see the reactions (of at least the front of the house). In fact, I personally think it’s a great idea to buy 2 flip cams and put one on you and one on the audience. You learn an enormous amount by watching the audience reactions.
Nick!
Great post!
I have been kicking around the idea of improv and I think you sold me :) I also, love the iPad recommendation as I think the industry can begin using a facelift to connect with the future generations.
Thanks for everything!
Nick,
Ooooohhh. Okay, I’ll take Resonate and the Improv lessons. I did theater in college for four years and can absolutely attribute some of my ability on a stage to that training. But improv…I would KILL for some lessons.
And Resonate to top it off.
So I just ordered Resonate. Please inform Ms. Duarte that your blog drove me to buy!