I’m not one to get overly emotional about what most celebrities have to say, but Oprah’s acceptance speech at the Golden Globes really did move me. And regardless of your position on the #metoo movement, it’s hard not to admit that her connection with the audience was powerful. She was masterful at weaving her life story and passions into today’s current events, resulting in an emotional ride you didn’t know you were on till it was over. Her presentation insisted you to stay and listen.
Wouldn’t it be great to be a presenter as amazing as Oprah? To command an audience with passion and confidence? Oprah has spent her life perfecting her craft and it shows.
What? *&*#&?
You don’t have that kind of time to devote to how you speak, present….write?
I get it. But there are some simple takeaways you can work into your schedule. After all, if you are going to accept a speaking role at an event, then you should only do so if you have the time and commitment to make it great.
1. Passion Points. It’s cliché to say, but she knew her audience, and played right into the emotions of the #MeToo-themed night. You are doing yourself a disservice if you get up in front of an audience to speak yet have no idea of the issue-related backstories, the gossip, the concerns, and the hopes of those in the room. Never present unless you have had time before the presentation to understand the passion points of the audience. Get there early and talk to people. Make some phone calls ahead of time. Know your audience.
2.Don’t Dwell in the Details. Her speech moves along – she doesn’t dwell in details. Even her “thank yous” were interesting and a sort of short summary of the highlights of her life. When you have to do business, keep it brief.
3. Cadence is a Craft. Close your eyes and listen to Oprah’s cadence.
When does she speed up? When does she slow down? When does she enunciate every word and why? She knew where the script was going and she accounted for the ebbing and flowing of her thoughts. It was not the first time she delivered that speech, nor did she wing it. If I could have a dime for every client who ever said, “I like to wing it.” It’s never ideal.
4. Write your own material – or at least edit it. If you aren’t a writer, make sure you schedule time with the person crafting the speech so they can channel your key points, emotions and passion. You can always tell the difference between a presentation the presenter writes and one that someone wrote for them.
When you start practicing your presentation, you need to mark up your script. What is that? In broadcast journalism school, professors taught us how to mark up scripts to help us deliver a more compelling presentation being respectful of phrases, key points, pauses, punchlines and exclamations. It’s super helpful as a means to cue yourself on how to deliver a line. More on that in a future blog.
In the meantime, Oprah, thanks for the inspiration!
