Jan 4th, 2008 / Written by David Isserman
Forbes publisher, Rich Karlgaard, is no stranger to giving speeches. As a member of the Washington Speakers Bureau, Karlgaard is accustomed to speaking around the United States, covering topics on business and the economy.
In the December 10th issue of Forbes, Karlgaard wrote his “Digital Rules” column about how to give great speeches. Here is some of the advice he offers:
- Avoid using PowerPoint. Tell a story instead
- Get away from the podium. Walk around while you talk
- Always wear white shirts when speaking live. If you sweat, white won’t turn darker
- Poll the audience at the beginning of the speech to create a bond between you and the audience
As a bonus, he suggests visiting YouTube to find and review videos of past speeches and lectures. One of his favorites is Burt Rutan’s “Houston, we have a problem!” speech making the case for private space travel.
