- A speaking style is that unique way
for each speaker to deliver information to their audience.
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- Being an effective speaker doesn't mean
necessarily using a particular style.
I think, to be an effective speaker,
you need to discover what works for you.
- We've all been trained that science is supposed
to be formal and that the best scientists
are the ones who are so serious.
- Data is data, conclusions are conclusions,
but how you present it is what matters.
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Some people have a very staid way of talking,
and they just give you the data, and that's that.
Some people also give it a little flourish.
- I'm, I'm a little bit goofy.
You know, I like to bring levity and humor.
- For other people, maybe the burden and the expectation
of having a joke land, they don't see the reason
why they'd want to put that pressure on themselves.
- Some people feel much more comfortable
being behind a podium.
- I'm the kind of speaker who likes to move around.
I like to walk around a stage.
- I like to ask questions to my audience.
People feel involved, and they feel part of your talk.
- I'm having a conversation with the audience,
so I do try to be conversational.
- Some people might equate a speaker
who's very charismatic with being effective.
One doesn't necessarily equal the other.
You might consider yourself an introvert, and that's okay.
- If you are soft-spoken, and you're concerned
that people aren't gonna hear you, don't worry.
That's why there are microphones.
- I'm pretty loud.
For me, that's really about feeling comfort
with my own voice.
- And we have so many different personalities in this world,
and speaking styles can often be a reflection
of those personalities, and all of those are great.
You know, when you sit down to watch a speaker,
you know, you want to see their personality come through.
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This makes me think about two young scientists
that we worked with in a workshop.
- A simple solution to the resolution problem.
- One was reserved, and the other
was clearly very outgoing.
- This is how I used to think of a cornfield.
A beautiful place out in the sunshine.
- And they, they gave two very different presentations,
but ultimately, you got the same product,
which was really, really great talks.
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- One thing that I would suggest that is painfully difficult
to do but is an amazingly excellent way to work
on your style, which is actually film yourself.
There's nothing like being able
to see yourself sort of outside objectively.
Core things that everyone needs to work on: don't put
your back to the audience, make sure that you can be heard,
and make sure that your pacing is appropriate.
People almost invariably speed up.
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- It takes time to develop your style.
Style works best when it fits you
and you feel comfortable with it.
I think that's what we mean
when we say, "This person has style."
- It's not a one-size-fits-all.
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