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A fifth grader speaker experience was limited to at two page presentation which they gave without any stage fright. That was all observed and judged for getting a prize. What qualities in a speaker am I seeking for in a professional capacity that would influence me, spark a concept in my head, and be tailored to use it in my own life? It should make me joyful, smile when I think of it, and make me laugh or smile when I hear certain words. WTF comes to mind when I hear such mind-triggering sentences… Oh, oh oh …. Yes, I did say WTF, but my reaction is more like WOW! THAT’S FUNNY! Why, What, and How Should the Speech Be “Wow! That’s Funny” WHY: Laughter humanizes the speaker, forges a connection with the audience, enlivens, provides emotional solace, and ignites. WHAT: The use of diagrams, drawings, graphics, objects, or films, along with gestures, facial expressions, and speaker posture, as well as voice modulation and tone, can all elicit smiles or laughs. HOW: Focus on a term, phrase, or sentence that links reinterpretation to assumption. The subject, in which you’re incorporating humour, is important. One theory holds that certain people cannot perform it because it is not in their DNA. My scientific understanding of the DNA code never revealed the word “haha”; therefore, it is not genetic. Stand-up comics learned to be humorous through studying, practicing and performing. AUTHOR Angelina Kukkamalla

The world’s funniest joke is about a hunter who shoots his friend. It is not even dark humour. It is the kind of joke you share at a dining table… and that’s the problem. Almost all humour is based on tragedy. As a speaker, can we afford to allude to tragedy while we impact the thoughts and mind of our audiences?I believe this is a risk worth taking, provided it is based on 3 foundations of delightful humour; Ridiculousness, Timing, and Context. 1. Your funny pieces must be based on real-life observations, exaggerated to a point where they stand stark naked, and appeal to the audience because of their ridiculousness. The world’s funniest joke qualifies under this category.2. Your delivery must be on a very precise, preplanned timing, which requires a tremendous amount of practice… to appear absolutely impromptu and spontaneous! The novelty of any joke lies in surprise and, like Charlie Chaplin, you can invoke laughter even without saying a word!3. The funniest pieces are the ones that relate to something current in the lives of the audience. The trick is to make a joke of something that just happened (or was said) on the stage or in the room – ideally to do with you and not at another’s expense. By doing this you bring in the second wave of interest around the happening. With the right planning, you will have such trigger points repeatedly and your talk will leave the audience refreshed. To illustrate these foundations, I was once delivering a talk in which my wife was to add a piece. It was important to time her entry when I had warmed the audience enough. Then, when I called her up, predictably there was applause… and thankfully a whistle. I seized that moment and said (with a pre-rehearsed tone andwords), “Hey you realize I’m the helpless husband whose wife you’re catcalling, right?” Can you imagine how the audience related to my tragedy and the peals of laughter that followed? AUTHOR Sandeep Nath

The humour does not need to induce gut – wrenching belly laughs. A smile with their eyes, a smirk or even a small chuckle will do the job. Something that shifts them from thinking about your content to feeling it. It may be a joke about your name, your town of origin or how boring your subject matter is. Speakers often have a funny line in their introduction or their first piece on stage to get the delegates smiling. It could be highlighting your data in an unusual way. Australian demographer Bernard Salt who talks about Census Data often talks about the towns with the highest percentages of males and females and then refers to the “love highway” between the two. Whatever you do, make sure you practice it. Maybe even get an independent test audience in, to see how it goes. People’s sense of humour varies and what you think is hilarious may not rate so well to others, so best to get someone to test it! Straight forward, simple and curious observations about your content, paired with a quizzical expression, a big pause or a stage prop are great ways to start adding humour to your presentations. When you add more humour to your presentation, your delegates, your clients and your bank balance will thank you. So add more humour to your presentations today! Warwick Merry is a Certified Speaking Professional, dual Certified Virtual Presenter, recipient of the 2021 Global Outstanding Intrapreneur award, the 2022 PSA Breakthrough Speaker Award and 2022 PSA Nevin Award for service to the speaking industry. For over 20 years he has been hosting and producing online, hybrid and in-person events. He is the host of the Making Events Awesome livestream and Facebook group. AUTHOR Warwick Merry

A great speech has numerous components. The success of the speaker may hinge on the speaker’s body language, the outstanding content he brings to the table or the awe-inspiring and soul stirring delivery with tantalizing intonation. However there has always been a tussle on what reigns supreme in packaging a riveting talk. Is it the delivery or the content? Which needs to be crowned as the winner,content, or delivery? Many speakers believe and profess that content is the king. True to the fact that without a strong and enticing content it is hard to weave the magic in one’s talk. Some believe that a talk which is woven with weak content can also find place at the podium with a scintillating delivery, like Will Stephen who spoke on “How to sound smart in your Tedx” with absolutely no content. So, does this mean that irrespective of having the most diligently crafted and nicely padded talk with message still needs that magic potion of exceptional delivery? Let’s check. Each speaker must work hard on preparation of his script for a talk/keynote. He needs to pack it with stories, analogies, rhetoric(sometimes) and a well sculpted message. So, if this effort suffices to score the slot to be perched alongside great speeches, then the speaker can just read out the script from his notes to the audience. However, imagine this, if a speaker is asked to deliver an impromptu talk or speak on a topic which is given few moments before the final talk (which happens in most of the competitions which tests the speaker’s ability and his/her delivery prowess) then with no speech handy to read from, the speaker fails to make an impact. This, of course, doesn’t mean that just an exceptional delivery will sail the speaker to the shores of great speaking. So, to say, it is the judicious mix of content and delivery, verbal, and non-verbal aspects, which is expected of a good speaker. A good content depicts the in depth research done by the speaker, his effort in learning the concept, the speakers’ interpretations to cull out valuable lessons and the accrued mastery on the subject due to his research. A good content always wins the minds of the audience with a telling impression on their thought process. On the other hand, the speaker’s delivery includes his / her body language, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and vocal intonation which not only grabs the attention of the audience but also wins their hearts. Great delivery elevates the speaker’s credibility. An interesting and impacting delivery invigorates the environment in the auditorium and effectively swoons the audience towards the message of the speaker. Hence none of the two, ie, content or delivery, can be underplayed by a good speaker. A nicely crafted content with an exceptional delivery is the secret of success for all professional speakers. So, it is the right combination of bothcontent and delivery which form the indelible part of that winning mascot of an effective speaker. AUTHOR Col Shyam Vijay Simha

As a member of PSAI we all have a dream of making it big as public speakers. However, no dream can be fulfilled, if it is not followed by action. The most important action in effective speaking is to have the right delivery of the talk/speech. Let us understand what is the meaning of right delivery. It means your delivery should be in congruence with your mind, body and heart at all times. WHILE SPEAKING KEEP THE FOLLOWING IN MIND :- Speak from your heart and make sure that your expressions, gestures, postures and overall energy is in sync with what you are speaking. In other words, make sure that your verbal and non-verbal communications are in sync and if you do that you come across as a confident speaker. Make sure that the pauses are filled with silence and not by uncertainty ie. aaahhhh, hhhmmm etc. because when the pauses are filled with silence, the audience get that extra time to absorb what you are speaking whereas if it is filled with uncertainty, the audience may think you are not sure of what you want to speak and are searching for words. Further, you come across as a speaker who is not confident and that can create a disconnect with the audience. Have the right tone while speaking ie. it should be in line with what you are speaking because your tone clarifies and conveys the meaning. Your tone not only affects how people perceive you but also their willingness to listen to you. Speakers, who can speak in the right tone can manipulate audience’s feelings and emotions. Be mindful of the pace at which you speak because your pace of speaking affects the audience’s ability to follow what you are saying. When you speak slowly, it certainly grabs the attention of the audience and helps them process every word, but if you speak too slow it will bore them and they will lose interest by the time you come to the point of conveying the message. When you speak too fast, the audience will not be able to keep up with you and will eventually get disconnected. Hence if the pace of delivery is not appropriate, it will not keep theaudience engaged. Ensure that you do not speak in one tone and pace while speaking. Keep varying them depending of the script else it will be impossible for the audience to maintain any interest in what you are speaking. They will get disconnected and your message falls by the wayside. You all must have heard of ‘Duchenne smile’. While smile is the expression of happiness, Duchenne smile is considered to be the most authentic expression of happiness. Similarly, if your verbal and non-verbal ommunications are in sync, if the pauses are filled with silence and not by uncertainty, if you speak in the right tone and at right pace and if the tone and pace are modulated correctly, your speaking will not only be authentic but also effective. AUTHOR Meera Chawla

When we speak, we do more than just share our thoughts and words. We are competing for peoples’ attention, which according to researchers is less than that of a goldfish, just around 8 seconds! When we speak to an audience, that’s what we are dealing with! They have better things to do, easier distractions, and all at a magical touch! SO WHY SHOULD THEY LISTEN TO US? Because of our content? Maybe. But will they? Maybe not. So how do we speak to Goldfishes? Every few seconds sprinkle in a bit of these! 1. HUMORThis one is a given! Laughter bonds people and gets attention. Self-deprecatinghumor is the best! Improvisation skills are a great way to come up with humor onthe spot! That’s a skill that you won’t be let down by! 2. SMILELook at an audience member, and smile! They will almost always smile back! Andit’s a great way to boost your silent energy too! Of course, a little bit of caution – or aserious point might go wary, or you may come off as creepy! Be strategic! 3. SHOCKUnexpected things always gather attention! Sudden changes in pitch, sounds, andactions! I remember shouting ‘GOOOOD MORNING’ at a disinterested audience! Iwas so loud, I woke them up for sure! Not saying it’s the best way to do it, but theelement of shock wakes people up! the audience does not smile, nod, engage or connect, I can feel it in my bones that Iam bombing as a speaker. And that’s not a shock we want, is it?As speakers, we may have great content! And we must do! But if we need the contentto be consumed well, we need to amp up our delivery. AUTHOR Pragnya Venigalla

The college public speaking contest each semester is open to students who want to test the waters. After one contest a friendly dispute arose on which is important content or delivery. A student who delivered a very dynamic, skillful speech finished lower in the competition. Based on the skillful delivery, the other students argued that this speaker should have won the contest. However, the judges expressed some concerns about the content of the speech and stated that the speaker did not establish credibility. As one judge explained, “Delivery cannot substitute for a good message. An effective speaker must convey a message that resonates with the audience, is supported by a variety of sources, and is well organized.” The dissent was dismissed. Which do you think is more important, Delivery or Content?When you watch a speech, do you pay more attention to Delivery or Content?This question begs for an answer for a long time. When you learn how to evaluate a speech/speaker effectively, you will most likely place more emphasis on the speaker’s delivery and less on the speech composition, context, relevance, and other content components. The more you evaluate the more you will realize the importance of the content regardless of the skill with which the speech is delivered. As mentioned above regarding the dispute, a listener should seek to understand and analyze the message no matter the level of delivery. If you are offered the following options – OPTION 1 – A speech well organized with very relevant and new information, but delivered by a less satisfactory speaker (good speech/poor speaker). Would this keep you from receiving the message?OPTION 2 – On the other hand, you may encounter a speaker, who is very conversational, enthusiastic, and passionate, but is delivering a poorly organized speech with confusing explanations that both keep you from fully understanding the message and/or recognizing the content. Would the speaker’s delivery keep you from realizing this?What would you choose and why? A speaker’s content and delivery work together to create a highly effective speech. You must remember that content and delivery are twin pillars; exceptional strength in one can compensate for weakness in the other. The most engaging delivery won’t overcome a big content problem. Delivery matters, but it is secondary to content. It’s not just how you say it. What you say (and what people understand) is important! Are you a budding speaker or someone looking to demystify their leadership drive?You’re in luck – Tarun Kumar is the Mentor you were seeking. AUTHOR Tarun Kumar

When internet started, it made geography history. Now, after the pandemic, the easy accessibility and ubiquity of online platforms have brought the world within our reach. We are able to listen and interact with global audiences, attend webinars and participate in panel discussions or industry conferences, but we do need to keep certain norms in mind while addressing different audiences. The first thing to research when accepting the global assignment is the demographics and cultural background of the listeners. Check if the audience is familiar with English or whether a translator is required. While speaking, make the talk/speech as universal as possible, avoiding local references or colloquialisms that are likely to confuse the audience. Especially with data, use international terminologies like millions and billions rather than lakhs and crores. References to Gandhi/Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela will be more recognisable than Rajnikanth or Shah Rukh Khan. Similarly, Tom Cruise is more current than Humour is always risky – avoid all sexist, racist or other jokes likely to cause offense. One speaker sent us a snippet asking if the humour in it was ok and our chapter unanimously said they were offended by the toilet humour jokes, so he dropped it from his final talk. Use the local language or phrases if possible. Politicians across the globe are known for opening their election speeches with a greeting in the local language- the most famous of these being John F. Kennedy’s declaration “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner). It also helps to explain where the speaker is from, and some phrase of the local language can add flavour to the speech. If there is a word that jells with the theme, go ahead and use it- ‘Ubuntu’ and ‘Ikigai’ are now universal.While talking to audiences that are unfamiliar with your accent, speak at a slower pace and take the time to enunciate each word carefully. Indians use both British and American pronunciation for words like schedule, semi, missile, etc. so check what the audience is more comfortable with AUTHOR Nina John

As a professional speaker, with every speech we deliver, we have an opportunity to share an impactful message with the audience. It is the responsibility of us speakers to ensure that the message is customized for the audience we are going to address. Traditionally, a speaker would need to perform a lot of research and analysis to identify how to tailor their message to the audience. Here are the advantages of AI: 1. Gather data about the audience 2. Create a prompt that gives a detailed description of who you are, what kind of audience you will be speaking with, how many words are you looking for. 3. Generate suggestions for you. 4. Ensuring that you give feedback to the AI engine. The more feedback you provide about which suggestions were helpful, the better output you can get. I would recommend treating the tool like a friend. Just imagine you are discussing your predicament with a friend. The more specific questions you ask, the better answers you can expect. Note: Getting excellent suggestions from an AI based tool is a lucrative proposition. However, we must be cautious not to accept the suggestions as they are. We must create our own interpretation from the suggestions from AI, and include that in the content. I foresee 2 risks with the suggestions: First is about plagiarism. As the world is still wrapping its head around AI, content generated by AI could be categorized as plagiarized. Some examples for you: Questions: “as a professional speaker, I am about to deliver a keynote session to new graduates from a college. The students are from karnataka and are graduating from a prestigious college. What can be the message I can share with them with my Keynote speech?” Congratulations on your upcoming keynote speech to new graduates from a prestigious college in Karnataka! Here are some ideas for a message that you can share with them: 1. Embrace the Power of Change: Graduating from college marks the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Its important to embrace change, and view it as an opportunity for growth and development. Change is inevitable, and those who can adapt to it are the ones who will thrive in the future. Encourage the graduates to be open to new ideas and experiences, and to be flexible in their approach to their careers and personal lives. 2. Pursue Your Passions: As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, it’s important for them to pursue their passions. They should strive to find work that they enjoy, and that aligns with their personal values and goals. When you’re passionate about your work, it doesn’t feel like work at all. Encourage the graduates to be true to themselves, and to follow their hearts when it comes to their careers. 3. Continuously Learn and Grow: Graduating from college is just the beginning of the learning journey. To succeed in their careers, the graduates must continue to learn and grow. Encourage them to seek out new opportunities for learning, such as attending conferences, reading books, taking online courses, and networking with professionals in their field. Emphasize the importance of continuous learning and development in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world. I have 16 years of experience in defending the information assets of multi-national companies like Microsoft, almart etc. As a Cyber Strategist, I help organizations curate their cyber strategy. AUTHOR Aniket Amdekar

Speakers will NOT be replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI), but speakers who do NOT use AI tools WILL bereplaced by those who do. So, I’m exploring the myriad of AI tools available and their potential to revolutionizemy speaking and training process. So far, I’ve found that AI-powered tools are useful in three main areas: RESEARCH: They analyse data from various sources, like social media or other speaker’s talks, to provide insights into audience interests and behaviours. This information helps me tailor my content to better engage my audience, using specific examples or adjusting my tone and language to resonate with a particular demographic. CONTENT: AI can structure my talk and incorporate relevant stories and media. With AI-powered tools, I quickly organize my thoughts and ideas into a cohesive outline, ensuring that I cover all necessary topics and keep my audience engaged throughout the talk. It also helps me find and integrate engaging stories, whether written, image or videos, that enhance my message and make it more memorable. AMPLIFICATION: AI-powered tools help me record, edit, and package my talks into bite-size clips that are easy to share on social media platforms. They can also translate and deliver the talk into other languages. These tools automatically transcribe and caption the video, making it more accessible to a wider audience. However, AI is not a magic solution that should be blindly relied upon. We must be mindful of cultural or humour-specific nuances that may not be captured by AI tools. Using AI effectively is all about providing the tool with the right information and prompts. The adage of “garbage in equals garbage out” comes to mind. It’s essential to review and edit any AI-generated outputs to ensure that they accurately reflect the intended message and tone of the talk. By using AI expertise in conjunction with human intuition and emotion, speakers can fully leverage the power of this exciting technology to engage audiences at scale. So, which speaker do you want to be? The one who embraces AI and reaps its benefits or the one who refuses to use AI and risks being replaced? The choice is yours. AUTHOR Roberto Cumaraswamy