3 ms·

Should be titled: Malcom Gladwell's public speaking secret. And the answer is plain as day,and rather boring. Said Gladwell, "I know it may not look like this

Should be titled: Malcom Gladwell's public speaking secret. And the answer is plain as day,and rather boring. Said Gladwell, "I know it may not look like this. But it’s all scripted. I write down every word and then I learn it off by heart. I do that with all my talks and I’ve got lots of them" That's like asking someone who looks physically fit what their secret is, and they tell you, "Diet and exercise." Everyone knows this, but no one wants to put in the work.

pmichaud 17y ago
No one except the physically fit, expert public speakers.
ibsulon 17y ago
No, not everyone knows this. In fact, nearly every public speaker is initially taught not to do this. (I was in Forensics in high school, and recently joined Toastmasters.) For most people, if you try and memorize a speech, it will look like you've memorized a speech, because you will be fumbling for where you are next. If you are a professional speaker on a tour, someone with a lot of drama experience, or a salesperson with the same pitch every time, then it might make sense to do Gladwell's approach. For the rest of us, practice extensively but don't memorize start-to-finish.
- tpyo 17y ago
  I just make mine up on the spot. Does no one else do this?
  - frossie 17y ago
    I just make mine up on the spot. Does no one else do this? It depends. There are some advantages to winging it: true spontaneity, an ability to have a more interactive presentation that is tuned to the rhythm and responses to the audience. The oft-materialised risk is that it turns into a rambling incoherent mess. In front of an unknown audience, the risk is too large, because if they don't feed you the right response, you are dead in the water. At least with a prepared talk you have something to fall back to. If you know your audience, or if you are determined to engage it whatever it takes (school talks come into this category), a certain amount of off-the-cuffness works well, provided you are confident you know what you are talking about.
  - ibsulon 17y ago
    It depends on the quality of speech you need and your audience. Usually, I don't, but that's because of the standards I set for myself. :) (Then again, I haven't done a major speech in a while)
- teyc 17y ago
  The operative word is of course "initially". It is a matter of time before one has to practice that big speech enough times that one ends up committing it to memory.
metra 17y ago
Looks like the secrets of Gladwell's public speaking are also the secrets of any stand-up comedian. And, really, it's not a secret at all.
aristus 17y ago
I learned that one by accident. I used to do open mike standup (really) and would amuse myself by composing bits talking out loud during long commutes. I couldn't write them down so I would end up composing/practicing a piece 40 or 50 times the week before a show, tuning every little word and intonation. When I got up on stage they rattled off like magic, and I had several words/tones to choose from right in the moment, depending on the mood. The illusion of spontaneity takes a lot of practice.

pmichaud 17y ago

No one except the physically fit, expert public speakers.

ibsulon 17y ago

No, not everyone knows this. In fact, nearly every public speaker is initially taught not to do this. (I was in Forensics in high school, and recently joined Toastmasters.) For most people, if you try and memorize a speech, it will look like you've memorized a speech, because you will be fumbling for where you are next. If you are a professional speaker on a tour, someone with a lot of drama experience, or a salesperson with the same pitch every time, then it might make sense to do Gladwell's approach. For the rest of us, practice extensively but don't memorize start-to-finish.

tpyo 17y ago
I just make mine up on the spot. Does no one else do this?
- frossie 17y ago
  I just make mine up on the spot. Does no one else do this? It depends. There are some advantages to winging it: true spontaneity, an ability to have a more interactive presentation that is tuned to the rhythm and responses to the audience. The oft-materialised risk is that it turns into a rambling incoherent mess. In front of an unknown audience, the risk is too large, because if they don't feed you the right response, you are dead in the water. At least with a prepared talk you have something to fall back to. If you know your audience, or if you are determined to engage it whatever it takes (school talks come into this category), a certain amount of off-the-cuffness works well, provided you are confident you know what you are talking about.
- ibsulon 17y ago
  It depends on the quality of speech you need and your audience. Usually, I don't, but that's because of the standards I set for myself. :) (Then again, I haven't done a major speech in a while)
teyc 17y ago
The operative word is of course "initially". It is a matter of time before one has to practice that big speech enough times that one ends up committing it to memory.

metra 17y ago

Looks like the secrets of Gladwell's public speaking are also the secrets of any stand-up comedian. And, really, it's not a secret at all.

aristus 17y ago

I learned that one by accident. I used to do open mike standup (really) and would amuse myself by composing bits talking out loud during long commutes. I couldn't write them down so I would end up composing/practicing a piece 40 or 50 times the week before a show, tuning every little word and intonation. When I got up on stage they rattled off like magic, and I had several words/tones to choose from right in the moment, depending on the mood. The illusion of spontaneity takes a lot of practice.