Public Speaking Tips from the CEO of Deloitte
James Quigley is global CEO of Deloitte, the largest private professional services firm on earth. Jim generously gave me 45 minutes on the phone.
I asked Jim to share a personal weakness that had become a strength. He spoke about public speaking. He called himself a bit of an introvert. I didn’t, however, take his comment in the traditional “shy and withdrawn” sense.
I understood his comment in the context of the opportunities and challenges the public platform provides leaders to shape, direct, and motivate large organizations. Leading from the front is a powerful way to reach 175,000 employees.
Jim said, “People want to be led. They want leaders that have vision and passion. I’ve learned to leverage the opportunities the stage provides and do my best to ‘deliver the message’.”
Jim Quigley’s 8 public speaking tips
- Know your audience. Do your homework—understand the audience’s perspective, and think ahead about what that means to you, as the speaker.
- Engage your listeners—make eye contact, and work the room to connect.
- Wherever possible and appropriate, take and follow their cues—watch the body language.
- Be flexible and be prepared to change the flow of your remarks, length of presentation, and focus based on changing circumstances.
- Own the material, even if team members helped you prepare. To connect with the audience, the content must be yours.
- Be passionate about your topic – it is critical to not only know your topic but to also be passionate about it if you are to capture the attention of your audience.
- Be yourself – authentic speakers connect.
- Be careful with humor, risk usually exceeds the reward.
**********
What do you find challenging about public speaking?
What tips public speaking tips can you offer?
**********
On Amazon
Read my review of Jim’s book, “As One: Individual Action, Collective Power”
Don’t miss a single issue of Leadership Freak, subscribe today. It’s free. It’s private. Go to the main page of Leadership Freak by clicking the banner at the top of this page, look in the right-hand navigation bar, enter your email and click subscribe. Your email address is always kept private. Note: if it doesn’t arrive, check your spam filter for a confirmation email.
I still remember this issue being summarized best by a stand up comedian. He said, “When surveyed, people tend to list public speaking as their number one fear, followed by death. That’s right, people, DEATH is NUMBER TWO.”
I went from being someone who gave the speeches for Communication 101 in private in the teaching assistant’s office to someone who can speak in pretty much any context any where. I find that Quigley’s tips 2, 5, 6,7,are particularly true. If you own your material, and allow your excitement and passion to come through, the speech or presentation will be a success.
Just before I start a speech or presentation, I always take a moment and tell myself, “Be confident!” I don’t bother to think why or how, and somehow this always works.
Hi Joe,
Thanks for your comment. I love a simple plan and your “Be Confident” approach fits the bill.
You comment reminded me that passion makes up for many other deficiencies.
Best to you,
Dan
Dear Dan,
Compliments to you to have tapped James Quigley, the key business personality and covered his interview in a creative way. The 8 practical tips are quite comprehensive and useful. Yet, one can appeal to the target audience by showing an empathy towards them, bringing some newness by way of value-additions and awakening them on issues of their concern by showing the path of success.
One needs to have a good command on language and be a fluent, confident speaker.
Dear Dr. Asher,
It was a great privilege to speak with him. He’s candid and articulate.
Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Best,
Dan
Dear Dan,
I appreciate your effort to bring such valuable discussion on board. It is really informative and insightful. Mr Jim is so open to your question that he has admitted his personal weakness that became strengths is his introvert nature. It clearly shows that introvert can become more successful if they open up. It is generally believed that introvert speak less due to their inherent resistance. I find ” Be yourself” very interesting and ” Be careful” very challenging. When I speak being authentic, I connect more with my audience and hence debate and discussion becomes more rich. When I make humour, sometimes audience become critical. So, I have understood that general humour that is applicable to everyone is acceptable and allowed but humour that can touch upon your emotional attachment could be avoided. For example,humour related to religion, customs and belief of particular community could better be avoided.
I can offer public speaking tips that I have used and have been effective. Speaker shoud invite audience to raise question and engage in discussion. Speaker should appreciate audience. Speaker should be open enough to accept the suggestions.
Great tips. Being authentic is very important. nothing worse then listing to someone who you know is faking it. Talking above or at your audience is also deadly. They will turn you off quickly. You will know if you are paying attention. If you are seeing them turn their backs, folding arms, or even start having conversations change what you are doing or they will be lost.
Speaking from the heart and with passion about the topic can go a long way in connecting with people. But be careful not to go overboard.
“People want to be led” A little bit off topic but I’ve been saying that for years. They want to trust leaders and support good ones.
Leading doesn’t mean directing, I like to think it means to empower.
And I also received the winning copy of the Dreams are too small book. It’s on my agenda for next week. Thanks.
Matt
Great eight aspects to keep at the forefront from Mr. Quigley!
Some famous guy once said, “All the world’s a stage…”
Leaders are ALWAYS on the stage, like it or not, the spotlight is always on, even when you think it isn’t, it is.
Every moment is an opportunity to share/refine/be the elements of the vision with verve, moxie and of course, passion. (Moxie is such a great word!)
In Caddyshack, Chevy Chase gives great advice to Danny… “be the ball”, to riff off of that…’know your audience’ and even ‘be the audience.’ Hear what you are saying/breathing/being.
If you can’t be passionate about your message, why are you saying it?
All-right Doc, it had been a while but you had me running for the dictionary again: “verve” and “moxie” How about just enthusiasm and determination? Have a great Holiday, Best, Al………….BTW Doc you are right on in saying “all the world’s a stage..” just like we are always being listened to even when we are silent…………..communication is least about the verbiage like we all know and all about the body language. Anyone for Salsa? 🙂 Best, Al
Public speaking can definitely be fraught with anxiety, but the feeling you have when you have presented something you believe in, and when you get positive feedback, can be well worth the tense moments.
One of the challenges for me is memorization. And although I know not all public speaking situations call for memorization, a piece of material that you know so well that you can present it without visual aids is a good indication of #5, “owning” the material.
When I audition for parts at our local film school, I always try to have the script excerpt memorized, if I don’t technically have to – that helps me bring more “me” to the material and heightens the adrenalin edge.
One additional tip I would offer is to make sure you have read your written remarks out loud to rehearse – it is amazing how something that seems eloquent on paper can sound awkward and stilted when spoken out loud.
Great point about rehearsing Paula…have heard it recommended that you repeat it out loud x20 and will really have it learned and probably identify what needs to be said and what doesn’t after 18 or 19 times. Either way, you will have it nailed and can attend to the other pieces that Mr. Quigley noted–take and follow cues and semper Gumby with what you are presenting!
Hi Dan, great intro into the holiday weekend. From Jim’s list I believe knowing your audience and being yourself are the two most important. I think Paula is also right on with rehearsing. The way we sound is a whole lot different than the paper reads as she correctly points out. I would further add that adjusting the “physical space/separation to the particular audience is powerful and engaging. Enjoy the Holiday weekend. Regards, AD
I love the simple and practical points Mr Quigley gives us. Especially #1. Many people are talking but is anyone listening? I also am reminded that if your a leader that no one is following you may just going for a walk…
Then the 5, 6,& 7th points really drive home very specific objectives for me as a man bent on growing in this area of influence. I have cut and pasted these 8 points next to my computer so I can be reminded.
Still learning the same things over and over 🙂
Dan
My best tip for public speaking is…facts tell, stories sell…learn to be a good story teller…it will help you connect with your audiences better…
Keep up the good work Dan!
A few good examples wd have helped this article.
As it stands it’s too abstract. “Wherever possible and appropriate, take and follow their cues—watch the body language.” What does that mean in practice? Abandon your talk if they are bored? Cut out the last few slides? What can you change on the spur of the moment with any assurance that it is going to prove worthwhile?
Oh had a really hard time with public speaking, and that was detrimental to my job because I was promoted to regional manager, meaning I had to have frequent meetings with employees across the state every month. I’m taking my problem AND my new role very seriously, trying leadership tips and so on. I’ve read a very interesting book on leadership by David Grabovac called “Are leaders born or made?”. It really inspired me to lose my fear of public speaking and really become a leader for these people.
Dan,
Great pointers. I have spoken to small groups and know the the importance of each of these 8 skills. I would add, leave an action step or challenge so they can implement what they just heard.
Dan Black
Hi,
Would like to add a simple step to build confidence which in my view is really important.
“Practice for at least 2 minutes in front of Full Body size Mirror”.
Very helpful for me and may prove helpful to you also.
Bhupendrasinh Thakre
I agree that a speaker has to own the material and be authentic. It helps if you practise over and over. My struggle is to remove the words “like” and others from the speech when am nervous. Its a work in progress. I also think you must believe in what your talking about otherwise people may view you like one of those actors in a commercial with a bad voice over, your body language or lips may not go with what your saying. Believability is key.
I agree with several others here – Own the Material. I was always afraid of public speaking UNLESS the subject matter was MINE. I found that I had no problem regardless the size of the group, when I owned the subject matter.
Right behind this comes Engage your audience. They can provide more than half your presentation if you get them started and control their direction and longevity.
I’ve spent my career in advertising — agency side — writer and then creative director. Nobody sells creative better than the folks who have created it, so I was always presenting. In my early years I hated it (I was born shy). The associate cd in one of the agencies I worked for was a brilliant presenter; and unconsciously I was trying to mimic her style — unsuccessfully. I dreaded every time I had to get up there. Until she grabbed me one day and told me what I was doing. She arranged for me to have presentation skills training — where I discovered ‘my’ style; and I have loved it ever since. Once I relaxed I could connect with the audience. Once I relaxed I could have fun. Once I relaxed I could ‘sell’ the work I was so passionate about.
Oops, me again. Forgot an important point. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse to the point of nausea. And then rehearse again. You MUST be familiar with what you’re presenting. Do it over and over again — to yourself (out loud — even if you feel stupid doing it); and pick someone on your team and present to them. It’s not about memorizing and sounding like a robot on ‘the’ day. It’s about knowing your material well enough to own it … and extemporize based on what you’re getting back from the audience. You can’t do that if you’re presenting cold.
very good post !
Great post Dan! Public speaking is critical to success as a leader. I know that all too well. Growing up with a stutter and having to still manage it after 38+ years on earth, I have had my share of ups and downs in front of audiences. I have been much more comfortable “in the spotlight” for the past 10-12 years, but it is still not easy.
I did step up my game last fall. I enrolled in a local Toastmasters group, and am absolutely loving in. Our group is wonderful, supportive, and non-judgmental. We are all there to help each other. I am proud to say that I received my “Competent Communicator” designation in May, for completing (10) 5-7 minute speeches.
I plan on continuing this fall, start competing more, and keep having fun! James Quigley provides an incredible list that we can all learn from. I don’t think any of us will ever perfect the art of public speaking, but always be open to learning and improving every day.
Thanks again Dan!
Thanks for a great post! This blog can help as well, Engage – What NOT To Do When Presenting . Verity can help you be a great public speaker!
Some great tips here! Really agree on points 6 & 7, but I think it’s also important that you really know what you are talking about, not just the topic, but also that specific speech. This makes it so much less stressful because you don’t need to be afraid of anything anymore.