Learning from the best or how to make your speech memorable

Speaking is an art where it’s not just the content that matters, but also how you deliver it. Even the most complex or dry topics can be presented in a way that keeps the audience engaged and actively participating. Let’s look at real cases of famous speakers to see what techniques make their speeches memorable!

Stories (Storytelling)

Example: Imagine you need to talk about complex technical solutions in a project. Instead of immediately immersing the audience in details, start with a story: “When I was a child, I loved to assemble construction sets. Sometimes there weren't enough parts, and I had to come up with non-standard solutions. A similar situation arose in our project, when…”.

Let's look at 2 excerpts from public speeches and try to answer the question: why does this work?

1-th excerpt from the speech of Maxim Dorofeev, author of the book “Jedi Techniques”.

2nd excerpt from Ilya Segalovich's speech

Your version of why this works? (The answer will be under the spoiler)

People always remember information better if it is packaged in emotional content. Stories make content “close”, understandable and memorable, as they evoke personal associations and engage the audience on an emotional level.

Who else to watch: Steve Jobs, Shimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigerian writer).

Using analogies

Let's say you're explaining a complex concept called blockchain. You can bombard the room with diagrams and terminology. That's OK if you're defending a project, but it's unlikely that the back seats of Hylod won't yawn at the information. You can present the same term in a different way: “Imagine the blockchain as a giant ledger where anyone can add an entry, but no one can change it. It's like writing with a pen in a notebook that can't be erased.”

A couple of interesting examples with analogies.

1st excerpt from the speech of the American business consultant Isaac Adisis.

2nd excerpt from Maxim Smirnov's speech at ArchDays 2019.

Your version of why this works? (Without opening the spoiler)

Analogies help simplify complex topics by relating them to something familiar to the audience. This makes abstract or new concepts more accessible and easier to grasp.

Who else to watch: Bill Gates, Neil deGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist), Danangia Etorachi.

Visualization

Have you ever noticed which slides in your presentations stick in your mind the most?
You probably remember the minimalist slides with diagrams, charts, and images. But what if the speaker brought out a pile of cubes and used them to explain some terms? I think you would remember them better than any slides.

If some part of the speech can be visualized, feel free to do it!

1st part of the speech by Swedish doctor Hans Rosling. (watch his other speeches – he is a master of storytelling and visualization)

2nd excerpt from Dananjia Etorachi's speech

3rd video – a fragment of a lecture by Alexey Kapterev, author of books on effective presentations

Why do you think visualization works?
Visual content helps to remember information and keeps the audience's attention. When people see, not just hear, it stimulates different types of perception of information, making it more understandable. Not all of us are masters of visualization – it is better to ask for help from a designer at work or involve a friend.

Who else to watch: Elon Musk, Hans Rosling, Alexey Kapterev, Bill Ney, Mark Zuckerberg.

Advice from Alexey Kapterev: Slides are not for reading. Slides are a reference summary. Put only key ideas or messages there.

Rhetorical questions and audience contact

Have you ever wondered why some speeches make you think more than others?

Look at these excerpts. What do you see in them? How do the authors use the “rhetorical question” tool and what does it give them? (The answer, as usual, is under the spoiler).

1st video of Pavel Durov's performance

2nd video from Tony Robins master class

Part 3 of Martin Fowler's speech

How do rhetorical questions change the speakers' speeches?
Rhetorical questions activate the audience's thinking, making them think about their answers. People feel more involved when the speaker addresses them personally. This contact helps create a closer connection with the audience and encourages their active participation.

Who else to watch: Barbara Corcoran (businesswoman and investor from “Shark Tank”), Simon Sinek (author of “Start with Why”), Tony Robins.

Humor

Let's say you're explaining the complexities of distributed systems. You might joke: “When servers try to synchronize, it reminds me of dancing at a wedding: everyone's moving, but no one knows where they're going.”

What is the power of humor?
Humor helps relieve tension and makes a presentation less formal. It can lighten even the most complex topic, helping the audience relax and absorb the information more easily.

Who else to watch: Here I would advise paying attention to comedians – Jimmy Carr, Conan O'Brien, etc.

Humor is also acceptable in presentations, in the form of memes, but it’s important not to overdo it.

Using real life examples

When talking about how the introduction of new technologies is changing an industry, give a real-life example. For example: “One company recently completely automated its warehouse with robots, which reduced order processing time by 50%.”

Let's look at an example from Daniel Levitin's speech.

What makes real-life examples a good tool?
Real-life examples make your story more believable and relatable. This helps your listeners see the practical value of what you are talking about.

Who else to watch: Melinda Gates, David Attenborough, Hans Rosling.

Using pauses

When you make a key point, pause: “This data shows… that our market will change dramatically in the next five years.” After your key point, pause for 2-3 seconds to give your audience time to process what you've just heard.

A classic example is Apple's presentations. (Video in English so you can appreciate how Steve Jobs places emphasis)

What is the power of pauses?
Pauses help emphasize key points and give the audience time to process. This creates a rhythm to the presentation and makes it more interesting to listen to.

Who else to watch: Winston Churchill, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs.

Interactive elements

The audience is also people. It may be that your performance is right after lunch. The first rows are still holding on, the second rows are pecking, and the third rows have simply fallen asleep. This means it's time to turn on the interactivity – ask for a show of hands or organize a short survey in real time via the app to get instant feedback.

Here I would like to show a rather creative example from a speech by sound and communications expert Julian Treasure.

Why is interactivity important?
Interactive elements help create dynamics and engage the audience. People feel like they are participating in the presentation rather than just passively listening to information.

Who else to watch: Tony Hsieh (former CEO of Zappos), Brené Brown (psychologist).

The final

Now you have come a long way with the audience. It seems that it is time to finish the performance.

Watch these 2 videos.

What do they have in common?
A positive ending leaves the audience with pleasant emotions and a sense of confidence in the future. This creates a memorable ending and motivates listeners to take further action.

Conclusion

Don’t be afraid to experiment, adapt techniques to your style – the audience will definitely appreciate it!

Speaking is not as scary as it seems. There are probably people in your company who have spoken, and usually these people are willing to share their expertise. Don't be afraid to ask them.

Option #2 – your company has a DevRel, like me. His job is to help you prepare, rehearse, make your presentation better, and find the most relevant place for your presentation. If you come to him with a request to speak, he will be only too happy!

If you know any other cool examples and techniques, drop them in the comments. Subscribe to my Linkdin (opens only with vpn) Well, and don't forget to vote for the publication if the article was useful.