To Lectern Or Not

 A TED Talks on the Internet are very inspiring and a great way to see different styles of public speaking.

Last week, I attended TEDx Youngstown, which was a part of TED Talks. It was a whole day of hearing many speakers and diverse topics. I know one of the speakers, Greg Smith, a fellow Toastmaster who talked about inspiring kids. He was great. Greg has great stage presence, didn't use notes and used slides to enhance his presentation.

At Toastmasters, there are some situations where the speaker stands behind the lectern and has their notes in front of them. With this style, a speaker can deliver a respectable and amazing speech.

In our club, Executive 408, members like the speakers to come from behind the lectern and come out to the audience.

One thing I've noticed with our newer members, they are coming out from behind the lectern during their early speeches from the manuals.  There is a situation with that, they start their speeches really powerful, then they lose their way and have to look back at their notes. Usually, there is a lull in their speech as they try to find their place on the notes.

My suggestion for newer speakers is to stay behind the lectern, get used to speaking in front of an audience and being comfortable looking at their notes.

As they do more speeches and become more comfortable in front of a group, then gradually come from behind the lectern. They could have a smooth transition from using notes to coming from behind the lectern and eventually using no notes.

Other technique is to come from behind the lectern while making a point and then glide smoothly behind the lectern to glance at the notes and continue.

In my first speech class in college, we were taught to use 3 x 5 notecards for a speech. With the cards so small, I was constantly looking down at them. I would lose contact with the audience and my speech was less effective.

At TEDx Youngstown, at least two speakers use notecards while speaking. One did well because he was passionate about his topic. With the other speaker, I felt that his credibility was slightly lost because he was constantly looking at his notes.  He seemed very uncomfortable.

Another TEDx Youngstown speaker was on stage with actual sheets of paper. He was reading from the papers and looking up occasionally at the audience. Another thing, he was speaking about a subject that most of us didn't know anything about or could relate to.

I looked around at the audience; people were checking their phones and others had a glossy no interest look in their eyes as they listening to that speaker. The speaker just didn't connect with the audience.

I believe that notes should be a guide or map for any speech. So, the speakers can make their points, they would like to make.

Speeches are like a trip with the speaker taking the audience on a journey with their topic, their speech presence and their passion. They clearly know where they are going.

Whether you are doing a Toastmasters speech or a TEDx presentation, make sure the audiences are wearing their seat-belts for enjoyable speech road trip.

Art Byrd has been a member of Executive 408 Toastmasters Youngstown, since 2009.

He has achieved his Competent Communicator, Advanced Bronze, Silver and Gold. Competent Leader and Advanced Leader Bronze. He is working on his Advanced Leader Silver.

Currently, Art is the Vice President of Public Relations for Toastmasters 408 and

the Area Governor for Area 13 in District 10 in Ohio.

Follow Art on Twitter @artbyrdvew
Follow Executive Club 408 on Twitter @ Executive 408
Be sure to listen to On The Table Podcast with Kim Kracji, She interviewed me on my role as Area Governor and visiting Prison Clubs.  http://onthetablepodcasts.com/12
Also, available on ITunes.  Kim's podcast is awesome.