I've been asked to speak....little help?!?

Chris McKaskell · Post by **Chris McKaskell** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:55 pm

I've been asked to speak to a small group (10 or 15) of youths (15 to 24) about apprenticeship and woodworking.

On the surface it's no problem -- I have enough knowledge about my subject, but...

I'm concerned about engaging them and keeping them engaged -- especially because I'm not accustomed to speaking in front of people I don't know -- especially youths!

Any tips or suggestions for effective speaking or good ice breaking jokes or standard formats which have worked for you?

Many thanks,

Chris

Jason Rees · Post by **Jason Rees** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:20 pm

Make it interactive. It's very difficult for most people in that age group to sit and listen for extended periods of time.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:20 pm

It's a little late, but... This is where teaching karate comes in handy. If you can talk and do karate and correct people all at the same time, then public speaking is no big deal. The years of experience (and some ability) have served me well.

Knowing your material is key, but you are covered there.

- Bill

Chris McKaskell · Post by **Chris McKaskell** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:23 pm

Jason, good point - thanks.

I should probably also mention these kids aren't necessarily budding tradesmen (yet) -- many will be what the pros in this country might call 'youth at risk'; so, a mix of kids who have maybe been in trouble with the law, or drugs, or who have given up on school, or who have moved out on their own very early, or who have simply been left behind in other ways; but, who have signed on to try to jump start their lives and get things on track again...

Any specific interactive ideas??

Chris McKaskell · Post by **Chris McKaskell** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:27 pm

Bill Glasheen wrote:It's a little late, but... This is where teaching karate comes in handy. If you can talk and do karate and correct people all at the same time, then public speaking is no big deal. The years of experience (and some ability) have served me well.

Knowing your material is key, but you are covered there.

- Bill

Actually, the organizer knows I teach karate and suggested I do a demonstration, but I can't really see yet how it might fit into the material I'm supposed to be addressing...albiet I find much synergy I also don't want worlds to collide too much!

No problem being physical while presenting though...

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:55 pm

Chris McKaskell wrote:
No problem being physical while presenting though...

People who know me professionally by my phone voice and then get to see me speak in public are very surprised. Not that I don't have a good phone voice, but... I'm a very animated speaker who engages the audience. And I credit decades of karate teaching to the development of that ability.

Since this is about working with your hands and you have no problem being physical, well you'll do just fine.

- Bill

Dana Sheets · Post by **Dana Sheets** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:26 pm

...thinking out loud...

Woodworking is about exercising your will and vision over a piece of wood, however, the wood has limits and if you try to make it do too much, it breaks. (you lean on a board for support, then you punch/kick it and break it.)

Woodworking tools can easily break or even set fire to a piece of wood in the hands of someone who is angry, frustrated, or impatient but in the hands of someone who is focused, has a plan, and is in control of themselves - you can make anything you can imagine.

I'd suggest showing them a range from birdhouses to some of the crazy woven sculptures on display these days

The real question that drives woodworking, is "What do you want?"
(Ask each of them what they think they could make out of wood - all answers are good answers.)

Then, show them Splinter: The Wooden Concept Car
http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/20 ... ncept-car/

Designer Joe Harmon's Flicker Page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66898206@N00/

His Blog:
http://joeharmon.blogspot.com/

Shana Moore · Post by **Shana Moore** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:40 pm

Chris,
In any public speaking I've done, I have to rely on the passion I feel about the subject or the knowledge and comfort with the topic at hand. So being prepared is the best key I can offer. It helps that you will have both depth of knowledge and passion about the topic.

Don't look at them as "at risk"...look at them as people. Dana's ideas are a great way to link thier interests to what you are doing. Clever jokes work on some folks, on others it doesn't. The best bet is to relate why they might be interested in woodworking...how can it relate to thier life?

For example, they can build furniture for thier home, which may be cheaper. They can build instruments. They can build ramps for skateboarding, etc. They can change thier future and be in control of the object they are working on.

That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure you'll do fine. Be prepared, be comfortable showing your passion and excitement about the material, and show how what you do can relate to thier lives.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

Shana Moore · Post by **Shana Moore** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:40 pm

VERY cool car Dana!

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:08 am

The better prepared on what you wan to talk about the better it will go.
One thing you don't say is how long you need to talk for, that's important.

You want to begin with a joke o something humorous, even off topic is fine.

You then want to Introduce a quick overview of what it is you want to discuss.

Break down into 5 or more sections on whatever it is you want to discuss. More depending on time.

Then conclude with an overview of what it is you talked about. Possibly a handout for further info.

Prepare some images or pictures or examples of what it is you are talkng about, powerpoint or slides are what I use. Handheld stuff is fine.

Write down all the above in an outline format so you have a flow to the total topic.

Write these down on 4-6 notecards. do not write out the notecards as full sentences or you'll stand there and just read it. This is bad. Use it as a general guide to keep you on track, with just basic ideas of what you want to discuss.

If each card represents 1-2 minutes of talk you can tailor your total talk time.

Put some questions on these cards to ask the people to keep them involved in the discussion.

I've given about 10 speeches or talks, of varying times, in the past year, These had to be down to the minute.

This is a relatively easy way of public speaking. Persuasive speech making is far more difficult.

If your talking for 15 minutes, you should take a day to prepare.
Practice working off the cards, look at the people, try to make eye contact.

If your well prepared and well rehearsed it should go great.
If not people tend to ramble on and on. You want to avoid this.

If you get the outline typed out, send it over and I can tell you what I think.

I was trained academically in this, and I almost switched my major to communications. I'll look for a good site to refer you to.
I never should have sold my textbook!

F.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:18 am

Chris,
I still have an outline for a 15 minute speech I gave on Genealogy in February. I can send it to you. Send me a PM with your e-mail.
Just use it for ideas and punch in your own info.
Then you can build your cards off that.
F.

Rising Star · Post by **Rising Star** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:09 am

Chris

I was, last year, thrust into the position of MC'ing the saturday night Masters Ceremony at GEM's summerfest. Quite a challenge but my internal thought was that hey it is now my party! Make the event your own. You will do a great job. It is you on the stage and how it plays out is up to you!

Rock on!

John Page

CANDANeh · Post by **CANDANeh** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:45 am

Enjoy it Chris. A couple years ago I had to give a presentation on motivating safety committees (just think of how boring that can be) to an audience of government employees. I was told it would be 20 but the number was closer to 100 when I arrived

One trick I learned was to focus more on the faces of females as they produce more expression. Therefore, if you see a smile the presentation goes much much better, men tend to keep stoic. Be excited about your presentation, in everything we can pull out something trust me on that.
Yes karate training/teaching helped a great deal...focused "outward" not "inward". If you back petal when in the "limelight" on stage it produces the same effect as back petalling in the ring...

Chris McKaskell · Post by **Chris McKaskell** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:09 pm

Fantastic!

This why I love these forums -- I can't think of any other place I could have access to so many different and helpful people!

Thank you everyone -- each of you has given me something really useful to work with.

Fred, PM is sent I'd love to see what you put together for a 15 minute presentation.

And Dana, cool car -- I spent some time looking at his website. He's still so young, I wonder what he ends up doing with his life?!?

I spoke also with my daughter and her boyfriend last night (both in that age range) and they suggested really straight talk -- honest and without trying too hard to relate.

Balance...I'll let you know how it goes.

Many thanks, everyone.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:46 pm

One thing you have to be is yourself when giving a speech. Unless your a trained actor like politicians.

But notice they read their speeches word for word. They probably couldn't do what your doing without sounding like an idiiot.

F.