Notes are (not) for numpties!

Confidence Part 5:

I am sorry to destroy the mystique, but most speakers use notes.

With the modern technology, they try to make it look like they are speaking from memory or from their mind, but the “Teleprompters” (or whatever they call them today) are simply so well hidden that even live it can be hard to spot the notes.

They want it to look seamless and professional, but the truth is that very few people speak without notes, regardless of how it appears to the audience.

I always surprises me when someone comments about me not looking at my notes, because I feel like I rarely ever look up from my notes.

·         Notes:

o   It is very rare for a speaker to NOT have notes. It is easy if you give the same talk over and over, but if your speeches vary, notes are almost mandatory. Those people who do a basically unchanging presentation wherever they go, of course will get so used to their presentation that it basically sits in memory. But these people are basically showmen – and I do not mean to disparage such people, but their shows are primarily for entertainment. If your presentations change every time, then you will almost certainly want notes.

§  Some people do get away without notes, but they are rare.

There have always been some rare individuals who either have outstanding memories, or a natural way about them that allows them to present without notes, but the overwhelming majority of speakers use notes of some form.

·         Many noted speakers used extensive notes.

Winston Churchill apparently had even the pauses and inflections written into his notes, and yet I have heard people say that he spoke with no notes at all. As far as I could find, the majority of the time he used extensive notes.

§  Notes can take many forms.

·         Powerpoint can be an assistance to a presentation, but it has become a passé nowadays. Use with caution. But the slides can be your prompts for your presentation, if used well.

·         Palm cards – these are small cards that can be concealed in your palm – hence the name – with the headings and main points written on them. A skilled user can swap through these cards without the audience noticing.

·         If there is a Rostrum or Pulpit or stand of some sort, then the easiest thing is to simply have written notes on the Rostrum before you. The audience can’t see them, but you can have the information clearly displayed before you.

·         Tablets or Phones – you can have your notes displayed on an electronic device either in your hand or on the Rostrum – just be careful to stop the screen turning off after 2 mins.

§  Notes can be as comprehensive or brief as YOU need them to be.

Some people can get by with major points and headings, others feel more confident with extensive notes. You will figure out where you are most comfortable in this. For instance, my personal speaking notes could be read out word for word and would make perfect sense – but I don’t read my notes word for word, and will sometimes stray from my notes if I think it is relevant. But I am most comfortable knowing that if I get lost, I can revert to reading the notes until I get back into rhythm.

o   Using language appropriate to your audience is vital.

One problem that people fall into is that of assuming everyone knows what you are talking about.

§  Don’t speak too far below or above your audience.

• I remember a friend once who was a highly studied scientist, but who just thought everyone understood what he was talking about. He would get onto a technical subject and start using big words, and discussing technical details, and no one around could keep up with him. But he was oblivious to it. He genuinely thought everyone was a smart as he was.
• But just as you can lose an audience by talking over their heads, you can also lose them by aiming to low.

It is a trick that takes some practice, but you need to aim for the middle of the group, high enough to give useful info to the experts, but low enough to lift up the novices with your info. They might not understand it all, but they will get the general points, and it will spur them on to know more. Meanwhile the experts interest may be spiked to look more into a few points.

§  Don’t use specific jargon in a general audience.

Jargon: every industry has it. 

• If you must use it, then explain it briefly for those of your audience who may not be up on all the latest acronyms.
• If your group is all very specific, then by all means, Jargon yourself silly, but in my experience a room full of experts is a rarity. Be careful with Jargon.

o   Preparing your notes.

§  You need to have gone through your presentation several times before you actually present it. 

• The process should be something like this: 
• First draft, re-read, make a cup of coffee, second draft making changes, re-read (with another cup of coffee), make further changes and finalise presentation, re-read (third cup of coffee), go for a walk, go home, watch a footy match – anything but thinking about your presentation. Then review it again. 
• I have been told that you need to review and re-read no less than seven times - after that much coffee, you will be in some sort of trouble. However, having read through your notes that many times, you will have confidence that you know your presentation.