Giving a Speech? What is Your Main Point?

Executive Speech Coach Patricia Fripp with Coachee at Recent Speech Coaching Camp
Executive Speech Coach Patricia Fripp with Coachee Dave Chase at recent Speech Coaching Camp

If you follow my blog you probably have heard me mention before that I have spoken at the Ragan Speechwriters Conference in past years. Ragan Communications publications are a wonderful source of information on communication – both in writing and speaking. The first time I spoke at their conference the opening speakers were Bill Clinton’s speechwriters. As you can imagine, these people write for history! The opening video introducing them featured Bill Clinton saying, “I have these three guys who write my speeches. I told them, ‘When I was Governor of Arkansas I gave four speeches a day and wrote them all myself. Why do I need you?’ They tell me now that I am the President if I say the wrong thing I can start a war.”  Here is some advice from White House speechwriters reminding us that – a speech should focus on ONE topic!

Former White House Speechwriter: Focus on Just One Thing

Clinton speechwriter Jeff Shesol tells how to focus your speech, become educator-in-chief, and write like Hemingway, not like Faulkner.

by Russell Working

Former White House adviser Rahm Emanuel, now mayor of Chicago, was a demanding message cop for President Bill Clinton’s speechwriters.

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How Do You Get People to Read Your Messages? 10 Tips for Writing Outstanding Email Subject Lines

Executive Speech Coach & Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
Executive Speech Coach & Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Many of my readers know I am a great fan of Ragan Communications newsletter, which provides great information on speaking and writing more effectively.  Email is often overlooked as an area in which we can demonstrate excellence in our business communications. I hope you find this as helpful as I do:

10 Tips for Writing Outstanding Subject Lines

by Teresa Dankowski

They’ll never read what they don’t open.

Brevity, clarity, and honesty are just three essentials for inducing your readers to actively receive the brilliance you’ve sent their way.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then subject lines are the path to successful email marketing.

Romantic, huh?

Writing a high-quality subject line takes practice and know-how.

1.) Make it brief.
Writing a subject line that is 50 characters or fewer is generally recommended, as some email clients might cut off longer subject lines. According to MailChimp, subject lines of 28–39 characters have the highest open rate. The exception is for highly targeted audiences.

2.) Say what’s in the email.
Don’t worry about being funny or catchy; being direct with your recipients is far more effective. One study found that a clear subject line gets 541 percent more clicks than one that’s clever.

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What do National Speakers Association Awards Mean?

Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach, National Speakers Association Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker
Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, Past President of the National Speakers Association,  & Executive Speech Coach

This week I will be attending the National Speakers Association’s National Convention in Philadelphia.  As a Past President of the National Speakers Association and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker I am sometimes asked, “What do National Speakers Association awards mean?” These awards and designations give meetings planners confidence. Here is a brief explanation:

The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) only on accomplished professional speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSPs must document a proven track record of continuing speaking experience and expertise as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior.

The Cavett Award is NSA’s most cherished award. It is presented annually to the member whose accomplishments over the years have reflected outstanding credit, respect, honor and admiration in the Association and the speaking profession, and whose actions (in terms of sharing, guiding and inspiring other members) most closely parallel the illustrious career of NSA’s Founder Cavett Robert.

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Public Speaking Tip from Patricia Fripp and President Obama

Roxann Andersen
Roxann Andersen, Fripp Speech Coaching Camp Alumna & Expert on Storytelling for Business Presentations

Don’t you love it when your public speaking seminar and coaching camp students so internalize a message that they continue to send you specific examples that can be used in blogs, talks, and seminars? Coaching Camp alumna, Roxann Andersen shares this observation on the effective use of concrete language in public speaking:

Dear Patricia,

I read an article in the paper yesterday and thought of you. You often teach on using words that are specific rather than general. This is a related topic: using words that are concrete rather than abstract. I think politicians are especially guilty of floating away on their abstractions, but I give President Obama kudos for this quote.

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Improve Your Writing & Speaking – Be Aware of These 7 Errors

Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach & Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker at Coaching Camp
Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach & Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker with a “Get Coached to Speak” Camp Coachee, Dave Chase

Whether you own a business, report to a boss, or are searching for a job, it is important to sound intelligent in all your business communications. Never underestimate the power of your words. I share this article from Ragan Communications by Shanna Mallon describing seven errors you should avoid in your writing; many of these are errors you should also avoid in your presentations. As Shanna points out “By becoming alert to typical mistakes, you become less likely to make them.”

7 Errors Even Good Writers Miss

When your job entails putting words together at a breakneck pace, the odds are good that your devious fingers will try to put one over on your brilliant mind. Caveat scriptor!

Listen, even good writers make mistakes, from obvious repeats to subtle misspellings. It means we’re human.

If you’re like most writers, you’re probably making common blunders on a regular basis. Don’t lose heart. Awareness is half the battle: By becoming alert to typical mistakes, you become less likely to make them.

Before you publish your next blog post or submit another magazine article, do yourself a favor and check it against this list. Below are seven mistakes that even good writers miss:

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A True American Hero

VanTBarf8You may have read one of my previous blog posts about my uncle, Alfie Fripp who passed away in 2013 at 98. A WW II veteran, he was the oldest surviving and longest-serving British prisoner of war. He was “Uncle Bill” to me and my brother Robert Fripp. I would like to introduce you to another hero of WW II, Van T. Barfoot who died at the age of 92 on March 2, 2013.

Remember the guy who wouldn’t take the flag pole down on his Virginia property a while back?

You might remember the news story about a crotchety old man in Virginia who defied his local Homeowners Association, and refused to take down the flag pole on his property along with the large American flag he flew on it.

Now we learn who that old man was.

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Developing Good Original Content… What on Earth Do I Talk About?

Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Spea
Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker

Whether your goal is to deliver an effective business presentation… or to become an in-demand professional speaker your presentations must contain great content. Public speaking classes are full of tips on what to do with your hands, how to stand, and how to make eye contact. As important as mastering all of these public speaking techniques is developing good original content.

As an executive speech coach I am frequently asked, “What on earth do I talk about? Where do I find examples to illustrate my key points?” My secret of developing good content is simply this – live an interesting life and talk to interesting people.

Make Lists

To help you get started… make a list of all the people who have influenced you in your life. Lists are a great way to gather useful content for your presentations.

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Be Effective in Your Writing And Speaking… Purge Redundancies!

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE - Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker at Lady & The Champs Speakers' Conference
Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker at Lady & The Champs Speakers’ Conference

I advise speakers to, “Edit out the words that have no meaning.” Thought you would be interested in this article from Ragan Communications by Rob Reinalda. Rob and I obviously agree that “specificity builds credibility.” Thanks Rob for your good work! Your pain is adding to my education… Patricia Fripp

Writers, Purge These Redundancies!

Today’s ‘writing’ teems with superfluous words and phrases. With attention spans short and time limited, readers (and listeners) seek brevity and clarity. Deliver.

by Rob Reinalda

I commute. Not every day but a couple of mornings a week, I walk to the train station and catch the 7:50 (or occasionally the 8:20) and ride into Chicago. At the station I hear this announcement:

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Have You Considered Collaborating?

The Late San Fransico Comedy Legend, John Cantu with Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach
The Late San Francisco Comedy Legend, John Cantu with Patricia Fripp, Executive Speech Coach

Frippicism: It is difficult to be creative in isolation.

Collaboration is beneficial in much of what we do.  Collaboration works for speakers, especially when we are trying to come up with new or improved speech ideas.

I often brainstorm with copywriting genius David Garfinkel and the two of us used to collaborate with the San Francisco comedy legend, John Cantu when he was alive. At one session, John was just out of the hospital after serious cancer surgery. David and I asked him to describe his experiences. In a few minutes, we were all laughing so hard that I ran and got a tape recorder. “Start over,” I said.

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Want to Be an Effective Speaker? Eliminate Pointless Phrases

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE - Executive Speech Coach, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker
Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE – Executive Speech Coach, Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker

As an executive speech coach, I recommend that in preparing your presentation you record yourself and then listen carefully to find and eliminate all non-words, clichés and redundancies from your talk; these will only dilute your message and bore your audience!

Lisa Braithwaite wrote this great article on “filler phrases” which appeared in Ragan Communications. Thank you Lisa.

Eliminate These Pointless Phrases from Your Vocabulary

With all due respect, these filler phrases have to go. You know?

by Lisa Braithwaite

How many pointless or nonsensical phrases do you insert into your everyday speech? Probably a lot.

We all do, and in normal conversation, they easily slip by unnoticed. But when you’re on a stage and all eyes are on you, two things happen:

1. You react to your nervousness and insecurity by saying or emphasizing things you normally wouldn’t.

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