I always have my eye out for news related to public speaking, and the other day something truly unique came to my attention. It's called Orai, and it's a mobile app designed to help you be a better speaker. Currently, it's only available for iOS.I was instantly both curious and skeptical. What could an automated app do to help you speak? Truthfully, the answer is: not much. … [Read more...]
How people perceive you based on your voice
Like it or not, people can and do subconsciously judge you for your voice. It can be used to emphasize points and make you seem confident, but it can also work against you if you use it incorrectly.Don't believe me? Watch this video of Donald Trump dubbed over with a sophisticated accent:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=728_Lwz3nD0Suddenly it almost doesn't matter … [Read more...]
How to keep the audience engaged
One of the primary challenges of any public speaker is keeping the audience engaged with their speech. If you're able to invoke curiosity continuously throughout your speech, then you are miles ahead of most speakers.If you've ever seen a video by the popular YouTube science guy Vsauce, you know how powerful curiosity can be. (Also, take note of how wild he is with his … [Read more...]
Interview with psychologist Susan Weinschenk about public speaking
It is with great pleasure that I post this interview for y'all to hear.Susan Weinschenk, also known as "The Brain Lady", has a Ph.D. in Psychology and has over 30 years of experience in the field. She is passionate about figuring out how people tick, and how to persuade and encourage people. Her clients include the Federal Trade Commission, The Mayo Clinic, FedEx, and … [Read more...]
How to improve your hand motions for public speaking
There was a group of people in the late 1800s who believed that crowds could be manipulated by a very specific set of hand motions. The "elocutionists", as they were called, had books that they would study carefully, full of specific formulas for various speeches. If they wanted to convey certain concepts or emotions, they had specific gestures already planned.Now we know … [Read more...]