Comments on: Ask Matt: Tips On Public Speaking

By: Backpacker Girl

Backpacker Girl — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:54:57 +0000

Thanks for the tips . I taught English last year at a middle school in China and it really took some time to get used to so much public speaking. Thanks so much for all the great advice!

By: Oliver WebMatros

Oliver WebMatros — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:11:54 +0000

Hi Matt

Exciting video. I personally believe that your leadership and nice public figure is part of the recipe that makes WordPress so special and great. And I think you’re a wonderful public speaker.

By: Gouri

Gouri — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:41:46 +0000

Nice tips on public speaking. Knowing your material is the key to self confidence.

However, just in case you don’t get time to update, this trick may be handy:

Assume that you are the most intelligent guy in the crowd, all rest know nothing.

This will boost your confidence like anything.

By: Federico Gauffin

Federico Gauffin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:13:35 +0000

That takes a lot of confidence, right? Hahaha
Nice tip.

By: janetti !

janetti ! — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:50:35 +0000

thanks matt. nice perspective that people are there to support you, see you do well.

life is perspective.
you rock ;D

By: Alan Hoffler

Alan Hoffler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:40:02 +0000

If knowing the subject well was all it took to be a good public speaker, we’d all have been paying attention to EVERY class in college.

I think the most important thing is to focus on the audience, not yourself. It’s NOT about the speaker.

By: Wordpress Creator Matt Mullenweg Gives Tips on Public Speaking | Beniaminus

Wordpress Creator Matt Mullenweg Gives Tips on Public Speaking | Beniaminus — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 03:31:09 +0000

[...] Watch the video here. It’s just over a minute long Ben Wilson wrote this post from his small room in his small house near the ocean. If you enjoyed this, you might like to sign up for his free communication tips. The newsletter also has less talking in third person. [...]

By: Timeless Gourmet

Timeless Gourmet — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:58:58 +0000

What a nice short and sweet post! I spent some hard-earned dollars at one of the finest graduate business colleges in the country (Babson) to learn just what you summed up. Not that I enjoy it more, but yes, it’s possible to do and do well!

By: Ethos,Pathos,Logos « Rubber Tyres = Smooth Rides

Ethos,Pathos,Logos « Rubber Tyres = Smooth Rides — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:42:04 +0000

[...] Ask Matt: Tips On Public Speaking (ma.tt) [...]

By: Tim Ackerman

Tim Ackerman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:15:09 +0000

Great post!

I strongly agree with you, that knowing your subject well will make you relax. The logic behind it is that — it is easier to talk to something you really know about.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:00:50 +0000

I’d agree except on bullet points, I think they’re toxic. I like it when points (or one-word slides) come after you’ve started talking about the subject to underscore it, but more often I see them used as basically an outline reminder for the speaker. For that, print it out and put it in front of you.

By: John

John — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:37:06 +0000

Warren Buffett once was asked by a college student what he thought was the most important skill to learn and Buffett replied “public speaking”.
Thank you for the video and the tips!

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:11:28 +0000

Two cameras. Future ones won’t be as fancy unless Micheal Pick is in town.

By: Clarence Johnson

Clarence Johnson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:55:45 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I especially like your point that if you mess up, the audience will laugh with you.

In closing, knowing the material is definitely the gospel.

By: Mark Jaquith

Mark Jaquith — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:31:53 +0000

In this order: know your material, practice the talk (don’t memorize, let it flow naturally between bullet points), eat before (but not immediately before), calm yourself with breathing, get to know the audience beforehand. And slow… down.

By: Becca

Becca — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:09:25 +0000

I haven’t actually gotten to watch the video yet as I’m at work, but knowing your material is definitely the way to go. However, even better than that is just being confident in yourself. Someone may ask you something you don’t know the answer to, or you may not actually know your material through and through (which happens to me all the time as a teacher who’s expected to incoporate literature, history, culture, and a plethora of other knowledge into my classes), and you have to be able to confidently admit that you hadn’t considered that, or hadn’t come across that in your studies, or whatever. It comes down to both confidence and sufficient knowledge to be able to show that, even if you don’t know everything, you do know more than the audience did when they first walked into the room.

By: filosofo

filosofo — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:36:57 +0000

For these videos are there two cameras, or are the close shots just made by cropping the wider shot?

By: Marcus Hochstadt

Marcus Hochstadt — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:17:15 +0000

Another one is to go up on stage or give the presentation right away. Do not think about it whether or not it is a good idea to do it or to raise your hand — just raise it, go up there and perform.

On the other hand, if it’s ‘your’ presentation or you’re scheduled to speak then I would occupy myself with other tasks until just before the presentation or speech, then go up and perform what you’ve already prepared weeks or months ago.

I learned that the most obstacles are being ‘formed’ by waiting and thinking about it too long…

Also, a speaker tend to capture 10 times more ‘mistakes’ during and after his or her presentation than the audience.

By: Mark Mathson

Mark Mathson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:41:57 +0000

Good tips. It is refreshing to think of the audience wanting you to do well.

By: Jim Littlefield

Jim Littlefield — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:26:22 +0000

I watched the video before reading your intro and was surprised you didn’t mention “knowing your material down cold”.

That’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I’m speaking. By knowing my subject down cold, I know I’m prepared (yes, I was a Boy Scout). More importantly, I become conscious of the fact that I know more about the subject that most of the audience. They’re here to learn, not to test my knowledge or challenge me.

By: Chris M

Chris M — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:33:49 +0000

That’s a really great tip about the audience being there rooting for you!

By: goofydg1

goofydg1 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Good points. They all relate to one another. The better you know your material, the more relaxed you’ll be and people feel that. I also try to tailor what I’m doing to the environment. The shape of the room can really change what you need to do.

By: Capt.

Capt. — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:09:06 +0000

What you’re saying matches exactly with my own experiences. Know your topic, add a good preparation, some additional background information (perhaps on slides you add after the official last slide of your presentation), and a clean set of comfortable clothes, and you’re good to go.

In addition, it also helps if you are either familiar or in some way superior to your audience. Talking to your superiors will nearly automatically make you a little nervous.