By Lauren Ambrose
RCG team members may not always make our beds in the morning, but now we’re thinking twice after a speech from Naval Adm. William McRaven.
In his recent commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin, McRaven shares poignant lessons from his decorated naval career. It all starts with the first chore of the day. “Making the bed is a little task that reinforces how the little things in life matter,” says McRaven.
Since its upload on May 19, 2014, the video of McRaven’s address has gone viral — over 1.6 million views in just two weeks. Watch the speech below.
When McRaven speaks, we all listen. His simple, direct anecdotes are humorous and sincere. His voice is strong and presence commanding. Take note: these are all signs of a great orator.
In McRaven’s own words, and with a little help from Psychology Today, we help you understand how the little things matter with public speaking.
1. “You must be calm.”
Breathe in… now breathe out! Deep breathing, coupled with good posture, is said to help decrease tension and make you feel more confident. Take a deep breath, straighten up and remember to stay calm as you begin speaking.
2. “Get over being a sugar cookie.”
Practicing delivery of a speech is essential because it can help you to monitor how long you speak, recall main points with ease and feel more comfortable while presenting. But remember that mistakes may happen, and that’s okay—don’t hold yourself to a standard of perfection. Get over it if it doesn’t go well, Cookie, and learn from your mistakes.
3. “Remember.”
Memorizing a speech is never a guaranteed method of delivery; it puts you at risk for forgetting points and stumbling over words. Instead, organize your points in a general outline so you know what you want to say and when but not word for word.
4. “Hook ‘em.”
Even if you have your speech manuscript written, it is still important to practice. Preparation will allow you to keep your eyes up, avoid reading the script word for word, and hook your audience. Confident speakers engage their audience.
5. “Find someone to help you paddle.”
Enlist the help of coworkers or other individuals you know to serve as your audience and provide feedback. By practicing, it can help prepare you to speak in front of an actual audience.
6. “Measure a person by the size of their heart.”
To avoid the audience begging the question, “Why should I care?,” show your passion and the importance of your message by speaking from the heart and displaying emotion. Use your tone to emphasize key points.
7. “Get to the destination.”
Keep your audience visually engaged by using the space around you. Move about when speaking and make meaningful gestures to emphasize importance. Tip: Use a designated formation when moving, much like the basic “speaker’s triangle.” Begin the introduction at the orange circle, move to circle 1 for the first point, and circle 2 for the second. Then, before the conclusion, move back to the orange circle.
8. “Be your very best.”
Just like McRaven, show your personality and your best self. Relate to your audience, tell a personal story or joke and have fun delivering your message.
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