In this quick tip episode, I'm lifting the lid on how a speaking judge thinks and giving you the good, the bad and the ugly based on judging 55 speaker award entries … in one sitting (yes, I needed snacks!)
I was honoured to be a judge for the Speaker Awards again this year, covering Best Storyteller and Best TEDx categories — and I want to share what I saw behind the scenes, to help you sharpen your own speaking game.
This isn't just fluff, it's truth. You're gonna' walk away with tips to help you avoid the mistakes and amplify the magic in your own talks.
In this episode, I cover:
- What made the top entries stand out from the crowd
- The subtle (and not-so-subtle) issues that cost speakers points
- Why "telling" isn't the same as storytelling
- How to avoid the 'audiobook trap'
- The role of character, voice, and relevance in a standout speech
- What infuriated me as a judge - don't do this!
Whether you're entering awards, prepping for a keynote, a TEDx, or just want to up your storytelling game — this episode is packed with golden nuggets.
Enjoy!
If you'd like to watch the video of the episode, you can do that here:
Leave a rating or review for The Speaking Club
(Take a photo of your review, email it to me at sarah@saraharcher.co.uk and get a free e-copy of my book Cracking Speech Mate - How to Use Humour to Make You an Amazing Speaker!)
Books:
Grab your copy of Straight to the Top - How to Create and Deliver a Killer Elevator Pitch
Grab your copy of Cracking Speech Mate - How to Add Humour to Make You An Amazing Speaker
Resources:
FREE NEW GUIDE - From Blank Page to Stage
Thanks for listening!
To share your thoughts:
- leave a comment below.
- Share this show on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
To help the show out:
- Leave an honest review at https://www.ratethispodcast.com/tsc – I read and appreciate every single one
- Subscribe on iTunes
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com