Speech Modes

March 26, 2026 by Alexander Kipp

I'm talking to the audience.
I'm re-living an experience in front of the audience.
I'm portraying other people from the experience I'm re-living in front of the audience.

Make Your Speech a Journey of Active Discovery

November 13, 2017 by Alexander Kipp in technique

By breaking your teaching points down into questions and discussions that lead to your point, you can help the audience go on a journey of active discovery, instead of passive listening. The question-answer approach naturally builds in points for the audience to absorb and process your ideas. Your audience will be more engaged and, as a result, retain more information. They'll also have more fun along the way. And so will you.

Make Sure Your Panel Discussion Includes Some DISCUSSION

October 30, 2017 by Alexander Kipp in audience, content, technique

When running a panel discussion, it's usually a good idea to have some DISCUSSION. If you are a moderator, you need to constantly be looking for ways to keep the audience interested. Try to listen to your speakers with the ears of an uninitiated audience member: What context does the audience need? What about the topic is most interesting to the audience?

Call-outs

October 27, 2017 by Alexander Kipp in audience, content, technique

Instead of thinking of your adult audience members in your presentation as “students”, you should think of them as “participants”. Instead of thinking of yourself as a “teacher”, think of yourself as a “facilitator”. Your job is to draw out your participants' expertise and interest by establishing an environment that invites their ideas, opinions, and experiences.