The Academy Awards last night provided a wealth of insights into the art of public speaking. Whether you were looking for presentation lessons in the event or not, chances are you picked up on some of the broad strokes. At a party I attended, I noticed people from multiple careers commenting on acceptance speeches, introductions, special commentaries, and more. Most shared similar opinions about each, revealing the relative universality of perception when it comes to viewing a speaker.
One obvious lesson, demonstrated by Oprah and Jake Gyllenhall, is the respective virtues or downfalls of reading from teleprompters. Many conferences and speaking opportunities afford the luxury of these presentation crutches, but the benefit (or, more correctly, whether there is a benefit) of the device really just comes down to how it’s used. With Oprah, one could barely tell she was reading at all; Gyllenhall was worse than a parent reading a Dr. Seuss book for the first time. If you’re going to rely on a teleprompter, please do so responsibly (or be satisfied with mediocre results).
But what about general personality on stage? This is an area we rarely pay attention to, primarily because we believe personality is set in stone and there’s little to be done about it. Of course, this is a fallacy: each individual is a multifaceted person with many “personalities” (no, I don’t mean we’re all crazy). We have control over the way in which we reveal ourselves to the audience, and while the Oscars and the emotion that surely goes along with receiving such an award may excuse some unplanned behavior, I’d be willing to bet your next presentation scenario does not. Note the way jokes so variably influence the audience and the pain associated with those that do not carry. Note the way emotions can seem “crazy” on some, while for others they are truly moving.
Of course, the biggest lesson to be learned from the Oscars is that there are lessons to be learned from the Oscars. In fact, once you realize that presentations are the key to your success, you’ll find life is full of useful lessons in every area from content to design to delivery. So keep your eyes open and continually improve yourself!
