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By Luke Hannan
Today I’m going to share with you my top 5 delivery skills to boost your speech and presentation skills to have speaking like a Professional Master of Ceremonies or Paid Keynote Speaker in the shortest possible time!!! In Fact, These are the exact techniques I use every day during Corporate Presentations, as a Conference MC and when Public Speaking. Read on, take note and use these 5 essential boosts to take your Public Speaking and Presentation Skills to the next level. 1. Warm Up 2. Tone 3. Pace 4. Silence 5. Pitch 
1 . Warm Up
I love to read, and a great book I’ve recently read is one of Usain Bolts… Did you know that Usain’s masseuse Eddie would work on his body to warm and loosen him up before every Training Session and Race - every time!!! Public Speaking uses muscles in your abdomen, chest, throat, face, mouth, neck and so much more so warming up your body & voice is essential before every speech or presentation, loosen up those vocal chords, lips, tongue plus diaphragm and I assure you the words will come out of your body as smooth as silk. So how can we warm up our voice ?? Here’s a great video that encompasses my MC and public speaking warm up. I use these exercises before every Master of Ceremonies assignment - whether it's a Conference MC appointment hosting over 1000 people or leading a small public speaking training class. I warm up every time - and so should you
2 . Tone
Each and every one of us has a natural ‘tone range’ (from high to low) within which we generally operate. In general, when attempting to verbally convey information a reasonably wide tone range can provide more flexibility, more options & a better toolkit than a range that is significantly compressed - WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? In the following video you’ll note that the very same sentence is repeated first with a wider range of tone, second with a compressed range.
Based on the 2 examples in the video imagine a keynote speech during a conference, a corporate event host at a function or a business professional in a meeting delivering a presentation or sales pitch for more than 5 minutes with a really compressed tone range and then consider this -
If we consider the overarching purpose of public speaking which I believe to be “the transmission of data” If you’ve a compressed tone range when Presenting or Speaking this can make it difficult to convey your key messages WARNING: Beware of the last word in any sentence in your speech or presentation!! if you inflect your tone up on the last word in a sentence it can turn sentence into a question - when in fact it’s a statement - check out the talking tip below for an example PRO TIP: Record yourself and listen back - how is your range?? To open it up more try these singing exercises and then bring that into your public speaking. Remember practice makes perfect so get out there, get recording or feedback and contact me for advice or feedback at anytime 
3 . Pace
Slow and Steady wins the Race!! There are certainly times when a fast pace serves you well, to rev the crowd up and get people really excited - however it’s not sustainable for the duration of a presentation, especially for your audience. Imagine a Conference MC or Wedding Master of Ceremonies who every time they spoke did so at a thousand miles an hour… Cue the iPhones. Pace has it’s place, take commentating a horse race where in lieu of significant action early on - the speaker will generally start out slow and build pace as the race evolves, reaching maximum energy & speaking pace as the race reaches its crescendo. Importantly any professional speaker will alter continuously adjust and change their pace throughout their perch or presentation - and so should you. GO S L O W If you slow things right down and I assure you, the audience will hang of your every word. So be courageous and slow it down - the results will surprise you. 3 massive reasons people rush when presenting or public speaking 1. Nerves It’s natural to get nervous when your presenting or Public Speaking - whether you’re speaking at a Business Conference, MC for a friendly wedding or hosting clients in business presentation, nerves quite often creep in and the nervous energy can lead us to race through our speeches - Keep an eye out for this! 2. Running out of time For the self-aware speaker who is keeping tabs on time or when the Master of Ceremonies is guiding you towards your finish time and you’re running behind it’s a natural to think “I've got 15 minutes of material to cover in 5 minutes” so mathematically if you race through your material you might just get there… Beware you might as well not speak as the audience will have a significant propensity to tune out if you begin racing and maintaining this over average speaking speed for too long. IF YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME -
3. Not enough practice I would strongly suggest to practice, practice, practice (see the talking tip below on that) and nail your time - as a Conference Master of Ceremonies one of the questions I ask all my speakers is “you’ve got X minutes, how long will you use” and the professional speakers generally know this down to the minute - Know your timing.
To control your pace self awareness is the key - advice from trusted advisers in your audience, ask your MC, practice adequately beforehand, record yourself during rehearsals and whilst on stage presenting and know that you’ll likely speak faster on stage.
4 . Silence
Silence is Golden, and integrating silence into your presentation or speech can be as simple as pausing for a second or 2. The irony is that when you’re presenting and keep quiet (not using filler words like um, or argh, more on filler words soon) the quality and balance within your presentation will sky-rocket and for you to bank this uplift in presentation quality all you had to say was nothing… It is a real privilege as Professional Master of Ceremonies to see so many amazing speakers work their magic, work their crowds and work their butts off to deliver a riveting presentation, an inspirational speech or dazzling sales pitch using properly positioned pauses as a tool within their speaking arsenal. Silence really does give your audience a chance to think, to ponder and to process your information. It also builds suspense among the audience - The next time you’re called upon to host an awards night or present an award - be sure to hold the room you are in silent just before the you announce the award recipient(s) - the audience will be hanging off your words to hear what you say next (this is a key strategy of mine with Master of Ceremonies responsibilities during awards nights!!!) Beware - when you first integrate silence into your presentation it will feel like a lifetime between words, the reality however is that the true duration your silence will be less a than a second or two. Importantly Silence will also give you a moment to reflect, you’re not talking, in theory you won’t be moving too much - what a great time to take a moment to relax and then after a moment of silence - soldier on! Challenge yourself!! Add silence into your next speech to presentation. When writing my MC or speaking notes I’ll add <> in between words where I’d like to integrate a pause - the more <<<>>> the longer the pause I’m like to implement! <> Short Pause <<>> Medium Pause <<<>>> Long Pause <<<<>>>> Super Long Pause Drop a note in the comments below with how you indicate a pause within your speaking notes - I'd love to hear from you!
5 . Pitch
Pitch is such a vital tool within our speaking arsenal as changes in pitch and inflection within a sentence can entirely change the meaning of the words you say - same words, same order - different meaning. Take this amazing sentence I’d heard recently whilst listening to Royston Guest (Royston is a key pillar behind my Professional Master of Ceremonies & Live event Hosting business - his business growth pathways tool is amazing - be sure to check out: https://www.growthpathways.com) The sentence is “I DIDN’T SAY HE STOLE IT” In the video below we’ll see how pitch and inflection total change the meaning of this sentence.
As you can see that same sentence has so many different meanings just but altering our pitch and infecting on different words within the sentence.
Be sure to check your pitch and inflection when your presenting or public speaking and you'll have much greater control over the manner in which your key messages are received. There's my top 5!! There are so many amazing speaking tips and tricks, all of which have been integral in me taking the quality in my Master of Ceremonies opportunities to a higher level. For more public speaking tips and training - check out the suite of video at: https://www.lukehannan.com.au/talking-tips.html And now I’d love to hear from you: Which strategy from today’s post are you excited to try first? Or maybe you have a question about something you read. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below and I'll respond ASAP!
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By Luke Hannan Today I’m going to show you how to prepare for your next speech or presentation In Fact, these are the exact strategies I use when preparing myself for Professional MC gigs. Read on, take note and use these 11 essential tips to nail your next speech or presentation. 1. Consider your audience 2. Understand the event 3. Why is the audience there 4. Why are you there 5. The key take away 6. Know the Format 7. How long do you have 8. Know when you're up 9. What prop(s) will you have 10. Plan to Practice 11. Will there be Q&A? 
1. Consider your primary audience It goes without saying that the manner in which you’ll address a group of children would vary to how you’ll control a boardroom. Look at the general audience examples below and consider how you might present an idea and importantly what elements of that idea will be most sought after by the target audience: - Event Managers (focusing on the details / level of organisation?) - Marketing (focusing on look & feel / customer suitability?) - Finance (focusing on profitability / return on investment?) - Legal (focusing on is it Legal / aligned to regulatory obligations?) It is crucial to note that different people prefer to receive information in different ways and often seek varying angles of information about a similar concept. Key Takeaways
2. Understand the type of event The type of event will provide a guidance as to the tone that you should aim for within your presentation or speech. Take a look at the below table & use it to challenge your thinking - What things would you consider entering in the cells below when presenting at the below types of events? Key Takeaways
3. Learn why your audience is there? Recently, I attended a conference that was marketed as future focused, thought provoking and inspirational yet roughly half of the speakers were really focused on selling/marketing their products. Although most of the promoted products and services were innovative - the consensus among many audience members was an imbalance between too much Sales Pitch and not inspiring enough Key Takeaways
4. Know why you are there Why were you chosen to deliver this presentation? - Perhaps you’ll be adding a plethora of value as a Subject Matter Expert? - Maybe you’re the Leader and need to step up & take control? Whilst you may be wearing any number of hats - at the very core be sure to truly uncover your role:
Key Takeaways
5. Define what you want the audience to take away What are your most important messages - As a Professional Master of Ceremonies I love to ask my Keynote Speakers before the conference or event “If you’re audience is taking only 1 thing away from your speech or presentation - what would it be?" For example:
If you’re speaking where there is a Professional MC they’ll have already clarified why you’re presenting or speaking in your introduction. However often the 'MC' will simply read your Bio leaving an important element - your ‘Why’- out in the cold. If this happens or if there's no MC (a work meeting for example) it’s up to you to clarify early on why you’re there and what you want the audience to takeaway. Key Takeaways
6. Understand the Format of your presentation This is often clear but in terms of preparation you’ll need to cross check what the format is. (i.e. are you sharing the stage with numerous other presenters in a panel style discussion?) A 40 minute Panel Discussion with 5 panellists, an MC plus Q&A means you’ll probably only get 5 minutes max of airtime and it won’t be 5 minutes straight. You’ll likely get 30-60 seconds up front and if there’s rebuttals or debate you’ll need to be on the ball to ensure you best convey your key points. Alternatively it could be just you for 40 minutes with Q&A meaning you’ll have 30 minutes with little interruption to convey your key messages Key Takeaways
PRO TIP: Where you sit may alter audience perception of you. Studies have shown that the person in the middle of a Panel is perceived to carry the most authority... Perception is reality so consider which seat you’ll occupy and why. 
7. Learn how much time you have The format of your presentation (see point 6 above) will have a significant Impact on your actual allotted time. Assuming you know what the format is and how this impacts you - It’s time to figure out how much time you’ll have;
Key Takeaways
8. Know when you are presenting It’s easy to overlook the ‘when’ of your presentation or speech - however as a Professional MC timing is one of the key things I discuss with my Event Management clients and their Keynote Speakers during pre-event consultations. Here’s are few key things to look out for:
Key Takeaways
PRO TIP: If you need to boost the energy - physiological intervention is a great option so be courageous and get the audience involved - even a quick stand up and meet the person next to them will get the blood flowing!! 
9. Ask what props will you have Slides can be a great prop to aide you in conveying your key message - however the ability to inform, persuade, convince and confirm ultimately rests with you. There’s no faster way to lose the engagement of an audience by reading detailed information, slide after slide for the duration of your presentation. Always discuss the vision for your presentation with the MC, Event Managers and the AV team (or if you're flying solo be sure to ensure that any complex demonstrations can be seamlessly integrated into your pack). Also pays to have a backup in case things fail when you're halfway through. Key Takeaways
10. Plan and Lock in your Practice time If you’re going to present like a pro - don't prepare a speech at the last minute. You’ve got to put in the groundwork. As a Conference MC roughly:
Plan to practice as much as possible including getting to the meeting room or stage where you’ll be delivering your presentation. Key Takeaways
11. Understand if you’ll have Q&A? Asking questions of your audience has so many benefits:
Whilst a large proportion of presentations that feature Q&A do so toward the end, you might like to consider scheduling Q&A halfway through and again at the end. I fact some speakers will open with Q&A, using the audiences questions, queries and comments as the basis for their presentations. I’ve had the pleasure of being a Conference MC on countless occasions and questions are becoming faster, easier & more anonymous - quite often the Event Organisers will use apps such as sli.do https://www.sli.do/ which allows quick, concise and timely questions to be asked at any stage with anonymity. Significantly boosting an audiences willingness to participate. Key Takeaways
And now I’d like to hear from you: Which strategy from today’s post are you excited to try first? Or maybe you have a question about something you read. Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now By Luke Hannan Check these top 6 body language hacks to have you speaking like a Professional Master of Ceremonies, MC or Paid Keynote Speaker in no time!!! Following are my favourite techniques that I use every day during Corporate Presentations, as a Conference MC and when Public Speaking. Read on, take note and use these 6 body language hacks to take your Public Speaking and Presentation Skills to the next level.
 Posture Posture Posture If buying a house is about location location location, then professional level speaking or presenting all starts with posture posture posture. Why is posture so very important? As a professional Master of Ceremonies / Conference MC I’m extremely fortunate to see hundreds, even thousands or amazing speakers each and every year work their magic on the stages of Conferences all over the World. Correcting your posture is probably not the smallest or easiest change you’ll make when stepping up the quality of your presentations - But how you stand or sit when you’ve got the floor is the foundation on which you’ll build all of your other presentation & Speaking skills - so as you embark upon your journey toward getting it right; you and especially your audience will definitely see one of the biggest uplifts in quality in the quality of your delivery as a speaker or presenter. WHY? Speaking is a physical action. When we talk, muscles in our tummies (our diaphragms) contract to squeeze air from our lungs, this air passes out of our lungs, via the vocal chords (that produces sound a.k.a. our voice) and it reverberates through our lower skull, past our tongue and out of our mouths and the world hears our message - but are they really listening??? SO? Take lifting weights at the gym - for anyone who has ever dead-lifted or squatted over a long period of time, you’ll know that form is the key to keeping your body safe, importantly - good form is also the key to getting stronger and importantly lifting more!!! If you’re not a gym junkie consider a 100m sprinter, optimal form means better conversion of muscle movement into forward motion (which in turn means you get the the end of the track faster) If you’re not using your diaphragm properly people will still hear you, and you can still speak - but are you getting the most out of the speaking armory that your body represents? HELP ME First and foremost it pays to be in shape - stay fit - practise Yoga and hit the gym, do push ups, planks, squats in your bedroom - if you truly want fitness you’ll get it on any budget with any time frame - check eBay out for those selling their gym sets for $0.99 as they’re in a hurry to move - it’s all there - you’ve just got to want it bad enough…. Stamina and physical fitness help me as a Professional Master of Ceremonies and remember that the journey of a thousand miles starts it’s the first step - so get out there!! STANDING: Think mountain pose in yoga - but bring your hands in front of your belly button (don’t clasp…) and stand stall, straight yet relaxed. Quite often as a Conference MC I’ll be behind a lectern whilst as a sporting event or cocktail function as a Master of Ceremonies I’ll be standing either on stage or at ground level- in the case of sporting events and usually walking around within the crowd - IN BOTH CASES I’ll always stand relatively the same when speaking PRO TIP: The Lectern may seem like a great place to hide when your nervous about your speech or presentation but let’s be real here; you’re presenting or speaking on stage and in front of a crowd (they know you’re there) so resist the urge the to:
SEATED:
Check out the posture tips in the below Talking tip
 EYE CONTACT The Eyes are the window to the soul and if you’re looking to build that next level intimate connection with your audience - look into them. Whether it’s an audience of 1, or 1,000 you’ll almost always be able to see peoples eyes. Sometimes as a Master of Ceremonies for a massive Gala Dinner (think 400+ people) I’ve found that the lights can be rather bright - but you can still lock onto those sitting close. Quality not Quantity
The Boss Trap
Learn more here
 HAND POSITION Hands Hands Hands - behinds your eyes I truly believe these little puppies are arguably your most powerful body language tools!!! Use em’ well, and your ability to convey a message (i.e. communicate) will drastically improve - so how do you keep those bad boys locked and loaded ready to fire on your suspecting audience at all times when duty calls? Here’s my top 3:
 HAND GESTURES Although we like to dance like no-one is watching & sing like no-one is listening - Hand gestures when your public speaking of presenting have to power to really take your presenting to the next level or alternatively confuse your audience with preponderant un-coordination. Get it right and you’ll transition from beginner to intermediate and then expert in a compressed timeframe. Your audience will be raving so be sure to present like a professional - Use your hands. In a study done by Science of People - check out https://www.scienceofpeople.com/hand-gestures/ found that in an average TED talk (some 18 minutes) - the most popular TED talkers used their hands almost twice as much as the least favourite TED talks (some 465 vs 272) - that’s pretty insane and of course the quality of content, delivery and so many other variables affect the popularity of TED talks - but numbers are numbers. If you’re an advanced speaker looking to boost their gesture repertoire I’d strongly suggest to read the entire blog post by Science of People - https://www.scienceofpeople.com/hand-gestures/ it’s super detailed, however if you’re just beginning, perhaps you’ve got your first MC assignment or Public Speaking task ahead of you - start small. Here are my 3 golden rules of Hand Gestures
The same thing happens with hands - let’s say you’re standing in for a friend as a Wedding MC and are verbally ”Welcoming” guests but your hands are pushing them away - it’s not congruent and it will affect your ability to deliver key messages (i.e. communicate) with your audience. Practice, Prepare & Persevere: 3 P’s that ill help you,
Ensure your hands are open
 MOVEMENT WHILST ON STAGE So you’re on stage, rocking it and now what - shall we be the Statue of Liberty or a child with ants in their pants…..? It depends…. If you’re behind a lectern (using a lectern Microphone) you’ll honestly need to stay put… sure feel free to walk around - but know that if you do (not only will your MC be festering you to move back to the Mic) but the audience won’t be able to hear you… PRO TIP: when speaking at a lectern and referring to slides…. Know that your voice projects all around you, but in therms of Microphone Pick-up you’ll need to be speaking into the mic. If you’re talking and need to turn around - use this opportunity for some silence (because your voice will drop right off in terms of volume if you look away when speaking If you’re free to roam. When a lapel microphone (or a handheld) the stage is your domain - use it wisely and don’t be running left / right / left right…. Here’s how I avoid pacing left to right and in doing to I keep the necks of my audiences safe (and MC like a boss…)
There are no hard and fast rules to movement on stage - save that less is quite often more, go slow, get feedback and be sure to reflect on how you move the next time you’re on stage or presenting / public speaking.  TAKING YOUR POSITION ON STAGE This is an easy fix as the start of your Speech or Presentation and slightly tougher to remember to execute at the end. If your speaking where there is a Professional Master of Ceremonies the audience will know who you are & why you are there (Any Professional MC should have reset the audience, introduced you and discussed in brief your why) BEFORE YOUR CALLED ONTO STAGE (key considerations)
WHEN IT’S TIME TO ROCK & ROLL!!! When you’re called on stage, or your time arrives to present / speak;
ONCE THE MAGIC IS OVER Ahh the pressure is off & the crowd goes wild!!!! What now…. Normally in a conference your Master of Ceremonies or Compere will begin speaking, thank you again, facilitate Q&A and again sing your praises. Once that is finished, slowly make your way off stage and remember that although you’re now extremely relaxed (as it’s all over) do not drop your guard. Silly comments or jokes can ruin all the good work you’ve put in. So with appropriate place (not crawling or sprinting) make your way off stage. If there’s no MC you may have to take questions yourself more on Q&A later. But once all is over, again, don’t rush off stage. Take your time, relax and I always like to hold for just a moment when the applause is roaring to just soak it in for a tic (not too long though - then it just gets awkward….)
There's my top 6!!
There are so many body language tips and tricks, all of which have been integral in me taking the quality in my MC / Master of Ceremonies opportunities to a higher level. For more public speaking tips and training - check out the suite of video at: https://www.lukehannan.com.au/talking-tips.html And now I’d love to hear from you: Which strategy from today’s post are you excited to try first? let me know by leaving a comment below! |
AuthorMaster of Ceremonies Luke Hannan loves public speaking & brings energy, enthusiasm & excitement to his events - learn how here!!! Archives |
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