Darren LaCroix

Darren outspoke 25,000 contestants from 14 countries to win the title of 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking. Since then, Darren has traveled the world demystifying the process of creating a powerful speech. He has roused audiences with his inspirational journey from first-rate chump to first-class champ, proving anything is possible if you are willing to work for it.

He is an author, keynote speaker and corporate comedian. His keynote topics include Laugh & Get Rich: How to Profit from Humor in Any Business, Want to Sell More? Got Humor?, OUCH! Lessons on Becoming A Champion, and Kustom Komedy Keynote (Darren will customize a presentation for any group). He has also developed a training program called Humor Boot Camp, designed to help professionals lighten up their presentations.

Contact Soar with Eagles for more information on Darren at 479.903.0208 or carrie@soarhigher.com

I’m is now living proof that if you stick with it, you can learn anything — especially how to be an effective speaker. After years of intense study, I developed 10 tips for becoming a better speaker. These tips can be used by anyone who needs to hone his or her skills related to presentations and speaking — even if they’re a really, really bad speaker. In fact, the content of my winning speech focuses on overcoming objections and roadblocks. Here are some guidelines that anyone can use to improve their speaking abilities:

1. Be an unquestioning sponge. Turn to the experts and soak up their sage advice. One of the first comedians I consulted told me to read books on stand-up comedy. Although surprised by the recommendation, I followed that advice.

2. Watch and learn. Observe the worst along with the best. If you’ve ever been intimidated by an incredible speaker, go watch other speakers who are more at your level. That’s where the incredible speakers got their start. You’ve got to be willing to seek out places to watch speakers and devote the time. I attended a multitude of Toastmasters’ presentations and open mike nights at comedy clubs.

3. Learn to write and speak in plain English. Outlines and notes may work for some, but the experts say they write their speeches out — word by word. So, sharpen your pencil or get your fingers tapping on the keyboard and churn out the words. Beware of long, tedious jargon-filled communications because they’re frustrating and wasteful. Business communications must be precise, complete and totally comprehensible. Don’t forget your delivery either — be articulate!

4. Get in front of audiences. For me, the three most important things in becoming a good stand-up comic were stage time, stage time, and stage time. My mentors pushed this in a big way. In my opinion, 95 percent of your growth as a speaker comes from being in front of an audience.

5. Practice. Allow me to repeat what a former World Champion speaker told me: “Let no one out prepare you.” I watched 90 World Championship contest speeches on video, presented my speech to 22 Toastmaster clubs, received 143 written evaluations, and videotaped almost seven hours of my practice speeches to prepare for my seven-minute winning speech. Watching yourself on video can be painful, but it’s one of the best ways to evaluate yourself.

6. On a scale of 1 to 10, be an 11. If you constantly ask yourself what you can do to make your presentation outstanding, you’ll eventually come up with some answers. I played on the fact that my gestures were already strong and felt that if I could bump up that part, I would surely go over the top. I also decided to use the stage differently from other speakers. Since my speech was about failing on my way to achieving an objective, I used the stage as a linear metaphor. I started on the left side of the stage, progressively moving to the right side, toward his goal. I observed that other speakers tend to stand still (boring) or bounce around (erratic distractions).

7. Be sensitive. Give some thought and time to your audience’s needs, their particular mindsets, available time, education level, and how they might absorb information. If you take the time to customize your speech this way, it will be much more effective.

8. Read a lot. You’ll be shocked to discover how many ideas you can get from other people. Read books, newspapers, magazines, trade publications, and newsletters. They will open up a bounty of information for speech content and make you a more worldly person as well.

9. Diversify your approach. Remember, there are many different forms of speaking and all are helpful in some way. Presentations to sales forces, instructing a training class, pitching to clients, persuading senior management, defending a cause to a school PTO group, helping a church committee, etc. — all are opportunities to practice. Be sure to always come prepared (even if you consider these stints insignificant) and WOW them — in many cases, they won’t be expecting it.

10. Incorporate Darren’s Spotlight Theory. You can reduce your anxiety about getting up in front of an audience by turning the spotlight on the audience. Refocus your attention away from fears of stumbling or stuttering in your delivery to the value of the message to be delivered. Make sure that you provide the audience with a message that is interesting and helpful to the particular group. What can they learn? What can they gain? Make the whole presentation an act of giving — with the spotlight on the audience — and your anxiety will be significantly reduced.

If you want to be more of a speaker, speak more. In my winning speech, I detailed my rise (and multiple falls) to the top — how strangers mocked me; how friends and family worried for me. If you’re willing to fail, you can learn anything.