Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Public speaking is one of my favorite pastimes – and it should be, considering all the speeches I give every year. I speak to huge corporations and highly-specialized groups and get paid well for the privilege.
I’m often asked for advice on making effective and interesting presentations. Seems a lot of folks out there are fairly terrified at just the thought of speaking in public. Let me share a little secret: it wasn’t always easy for me either. Here are some of the questions I’m asked most frequently.
What about preparation? I spend seven to 10 hours preparing for each speech. I spend time with the CEO, president, top officers, and contact at least a half a dozen people who will be in the audience. I’ll get the management’s perspective and the employees’ perspective. And I have rarely given a speech where there wasn’t a glaring difference. So, research is critical. I’ll tour a client’s plant, sample their product, check out their store displays, and even call competitors for their opinions.
How do you set up a room? Would you believe that out of every 100 meetings I attend, at least 90 are in the wrong size room? The audience will number about 500, but the room holds 1,000. You must set up the room for the audience size. Rope off the back section and move the audience up close. Also, make sure the kitchen is shut down during the presentation. Noises like dishes being banged around, trays getting dropped, orders being shouted out are huge distractions. I also insist on having an audio engineer in the room before and during the presentation, to make sure the equipment works. Finally, people remember more and have more fun in bright light. It’s easy to doze off during the best presentation if the lights are low and the chairs are comfortable.
Do you write out speeches or use handouts? I use notes, and practice until I can deliver my message with just a few words on a card as prompters. Most handouts wind up in the wastebasket, so I invite audience members to write or email me for information on anything I’ve said in the speech.
What about visuals? I don’t believe in visuals for the messages I deliver. I occasionally use a few props for effect. But if you must use visuals of some kind, make absolutely certain that the graphics are clear and bold so that the person in the farthest corner can read them. It’s not a misdemeanor; it’s a felony when the person in the last row can’t see.
What’s the best way to use the lectern? I’m behind the lectern at most 10 percent of the time. I like to walk around so I can address all parts of the room. The lectern is handy for keeping notes or messages that must be read verbatim. But never use it as a hiding place. If you don’t believe me, watch the political candidates during this stumping season. The ones out in front are easier to relate to.
What do you recommend for sales presenters? Do your homework, and then do it again. Do you know the audience? Can you get some fun facts about some of the people who will be in the audience – their preferences, their roles in the company, whether they are the decision makers, who the competition is, both yours and theirs? Can you follow through on your promises?
Anything else that would make a presentation better? Pay to have yourself videotaped and audiotaped, and have your presentation assessed by a speech coach, as I do. Find out how you can present yourself better, and you’ve got it made.
Now for a couple of crazy sounding but highly useful tips. I always carry masking tape and a ruler. The door latches on hotel ballrooms have a tendency to bang shut, and cause more distraction. I always tape over the latches to keep that noise to a minimum. I check the podium too. The 45-degree angle on most podiums may make it easier to read your notes, but the skinny lip at the bottom doesn’t hold many pages. I build it up using my ruler and masking tape so my papers don’t go scattering all over the floor.
For more tips on giving speeches, see my “35 To Stay Alive” handout on my website.
Mackay’s Moral: Taking stock in your presentation skills is not an expense, it’s an investment.