6 things you should never do in a speech

With all of the tips and pointers out there for becoming a successful public speaker, there is still an extreme lack in tips for what not to do. These six points are things you should never do in a speech, as highlighted by Zig Ziglar during an interview with John Hayes (Successful Persuasion Through Public Speaking). Knowing what to do is not enough. You must know what not to do as well.

Ziglar is quick to point out, “If you have a message and you’re excited about delivering it and you give it all you’ve got, the audience will forgive some things. But some things they will not forgive.” Let’s take a look

1. Profanity and vulgarity

On the list of things audiences do not forgive, “Profanity and vulgarity are at the top of the list.” Ziglar gives a great example of when using profanity cost somebody a speech during his interview in Successful Persuasion Through Public Speaking. “There was a major company that had invited a speaker and he used one word of profanity and the Chairman of the Board walked up, took the microphone from him, and thanked him. That was all from him.” Don’t be that person. It is embarrassing and incredibly difficult to recover from.

2. Dirty jokes

Ziglar notes, “You’ll get some laughs sometimes with smutty jokes, but it’s usually nervous laughter.” People want to hear you speak because of the topic you are discussing. Not because they want to feel like they are back in a college party. Just don’t do it.

3. Put people down

Another big no-no is putting people down. Ziglar wants people to understand that every person in the audience is important. Additionally, every person in your life is important. Putting people down makes people wonder what you actually think of them and immediately breaks the trust that you have worked so hard to build.

4. Sexist or racist illustrations

“I have never yet heard of a speaker getting another engagement because he told dirty jokes, used profanity, put people down, or used sexist or racist illustrations. You just don’t do it. First it’s morally reprehensible. And besides that, it’s just dumb.” Nothing needs to be added to support his idea here. Ziglar is right. Don’t take the risk; it’s not worth the few nervous laughs.

5. Speak longer than allotted

People came to hear you speak for a specific amount of time and it doesn’t matter if you are the best speaker in the world; people will only really listen for the time they are told they have to listen. Additionally, people will begin to resent you if you hold them longer than they were expecting to listen to you. “Don’t think the world will end if you don’t finish everything you’ve got to say.” It won’t. Stop thinking your voice is the best thing that has ever happened in their lives. It isn’t. Be sure your advice is effective and your voice is listened to by not going over your allotted time. It is given to you for a reason.

6. Do not cut into someone else’s time

The final major “no-no” is that speakers need to realize they absolutely cannot cut into another speaker’s time. Ziglar experienced a time when a speaker cut into his time by 25 minutes, and then “apologized profusely. He said he couldn’t believe he had done that. He said he had such respect for me and that it wouldn’t happen again. And it didn’t until the next time we spoke together! That’s ridiculous. A speaker must respect time.” This is simple and it is extremely important. Respect yourself by respecting others. “The audience won’t forgive you for cutting into the time of someone they are waiting to hear.”

Source: Ziglar