Crib Notes – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Greg DicksonPosted by Greg Dickson on February 16th, 2010 | 0 Comments

Sarah Palin took considerable heat last week – for using crib notes scribbled on the palm of her hand during a speaking event in Nashville. I first heard about this on a radio program, where the pundits were ripping her to shreds for using simplistic notes during a Q&A.

I did a little follow-up on CNN, and through an article in The Huffington Post, and came away thinking “Big deal!”

Now, I am not here to promote or criticize Sarah Palin’s politics. Nor am I going to comment on the content of her speech, or her Q&A responses (That might be like sticking my head in a bear trap). However, I do want to comment on Palin’s use of notes, both during her formal presentation and during the Q&A.

NOTES ARE GOOD!

Even the most seasoned professional speaker, an expert on the topic, can benefit from a few well-organized (but brief) notes. Notes can be used to get you back on track if you lose your train of thought, or if you’re distracted by things going on around you.

Even if you know your topic inside and out, single word reminders can keep the flow of your conversation moving in the direction you intend – for the sake of your audience. Notes can be a very effective tool for punctuating a point with a pause. Simply pause, refer to your notes, refocus on your audience and continue to speak. Not only will you accentuate your point, but you will slow down enough for your audience to process and absorb your content. Notes can give you the opportunity to take a breath (breathing is a good thing). Simply look at your notes, breathe, refocus on your audience, and continue on.

WHEN GOOD NOTES GO BAD!

Your notes should not be a “novel” from which you retrieve your information. They should be anchors, reminders, or transition points that you speak to in an unscripted manner, keeping the conversation with your audience engaging and personal.

Reading from a pages of text, or an overcrowded PowerPoint, are sure ways of killing the audience engagement you are trying so hard to garner.

THE UGLY!

Don’t try to hide your notes from your audience. If you use them properly, your audience will have a sense that you have prepared, are organized and are focused. They will appreciate the effort you have made to deliver your information succinctly and accurately. Unfortunately for Sarah Palin, sneaking a peak at her palm left her audience wondering about her credibility and her expertise.

So keep some things in mind when preparing your talk:

  • Know your audience.
  • Determine your objective.
  • Consider why your audience would want to take the action you are requesting. (In other words what’s in it for them?)
  • Determine your key points, supporting information, introduction and close
  • Prepare a a bullet point outline for your talk 
  • Use your notes as a guide, not as a text
  • Breathe deeply, relax, and enjoy the interaction with your audience

Speaking notes can be a great confidence builder. And when you feel prepared, you’ve got success in the palm of your hand.


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