The following video by Kathleen is an informative speech. If you are puzzled by the title of this post then watch the video below and you will see what I’m talking about. I think you will find it pretty amusing or maybe not…
Right off the bat, I think you will notice that Kathleen did a great job of selecting her speech topic. Why? Because she chose a topic that she is very much interested in and her enthusiasm about that topic was obvious. I really liked her energy, but a couple of times I felt like her body movements were a little off-putting and sometimes erratic. Be aware of your body movements when you are doing a presentation. If they become excessive you tend to draw attention to your body rather than your message. Also be careful not to sway when you speak. A lot of times you may not realize that you are swaying until you see yourself on video. Once you are aware of it, you can easily correct it going forward.
When you are rehearsing your presentation try to eliminate awkward sentences and the excessive use acronyms. I think Kathleen should have mentioned only once that the A.K.C. recognized the following breeds except for the “tea cup” poodle rather than using the acronym numerous times.
I enjoyed the visual aid during the presentation, but I was thinking more visual aids would have been nice and I’m not talking about more flying poodles! Perhaps a picture of each breed would have been nice to help the audience connect with the descriptions of each breed. I realize that a picture might not have come across clearly on video, but it’s something I would consider if I had access to a projector for my final delivery.
If you are going to give an informative speech, you want your audience to know that you have done your research and you are well qualified to speak on your topic of choice. I like that Kathleen validated her research on poodles by including her own personal experience with poodles as an owner of two.
Lastly, try to use note cards that are no bigger than 4X6. If you are comfortable with a 3X5 card, that is even better. I know I’ve said this before but holding a sheet of paper in your hand while talking can be a distraction to your audience. Try to minimize your notes to index cards.
I’ve left some things out. What else did you notice about Kathleen’s presentation? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Thanks!
Do you have a video you would like to share? Send me an email christopher@grademypresentation.com.
