Search this site »

The Forrest Gump Guide to Public Speaking

Posted by Campbell & Chadwick, PC in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Jan 23, 2009

by Dale Howe, Communication and Leadership Professional. Guide to Public Speaking

I’m not a smart man… but I know what love is.
Talk about the things that you know. Genius is seeing what others cannot see. If you truly know something, you can describe it so that others can see it through your eyes.
That’s all I have to say about that.
Don't talk just to fill the time. When you have covered your topic, stop talking and sit down. Otherwise, the audience will stop listening long before you stop talking.
Momma always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.
Effective public speakers communicate complex ideas in ways that listeners easily grasp. Avoid using technical vocabulary (or explain the terms) when speaking to a non-technical audience. Use word pictures, stories, and humor to engage your audience.
Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
The audience is always hopeful that the speaker will be insightful, humorous, and engaging. Don't disappoint them.
When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.
Take care of yourself. Public speaking requires a lot of energy. Prepare early so that you have time to rest before the presentation.
You've got to put the past behind you before you can move on.
Learn from your mistakes so that you can be a better communicator. Once you have learned, stop dwelling on past failures — you will soon have new failures to consider.

Dale Howe is a leadership and communications consultant, with the law firm of Campbell & Chadwick in Dallas, where he provides guidance in methods for communicating complex legal issues to juries. He is the author of Visual Persuasion, a newsletter about the use of demonstrative evidence in the courtroom.

He regularly speaks to groups of business and legal professionals about corporate culture and leadership styles. He also serves as a mentor in the Professional Leadership Program at the University of North Texas.

Dale has served in organizations at entry-level, mid-level, and executive-level positions. Prior to returning to Dallas, he served as Executive Director and Associate Director of nonprofit organizations, specializing in helping to train leaders.

Dale’s work ranges from interpersonal to international. He has trained leaders in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Haiti. He is as comfortable in adobe huts as he is in five-star hotels.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Theology.

Dale and his wife, Karen, have been married 36 years. They returned to Dallas in 2004 in order to invest in their children and grandchildren.