Mastering Public Speaking: Pro Tips vs. Amateur Mistakes

16 Nov 2023 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:05

A short instructional talk by TJ Walker contrasting habits of professional versus amateur public speakers. Emphasizes storytelling for key points, use of visuals (images/graphs) instead of bullet-heavy slides, and confident stage presence (hands-free, off-lectern). Advises avoiding common amateur behaviors to appear professional.

Chapters

What's the difference between great professional speakers and amateur speakers? Normal everyday speakers. Professional speakers illustrate every key point with a story. Amateur speakers say, I'd love to tell stories, but there's no time. I got to go through all the data. Professional speakers use visuals not with bullet points, but with pictures, images, maybe a graph. That is very simple. Amateur speakers say, oh, great slides. I can pack in lots and lots of bullet points, Lots of numbers, lots of text. Professional speakers walk out on stage. Hands are free. They don't get behind a lectern. Average speakers sort of shuffle on stage, looking down, perhaps holding papers, standing behind a lectern. Guess what? It's not that hard to come across as a professional speaker. Just don't do the things the average boring speaker does.