Notes on the MIT video: How to Speak - YouTube

📏 As a Rule: Always tell a story.

1. How to Start?
   • Make a Promise → Give the audience a reason to listen.
2. Heuristics
   • Cycle Through the Subject → Restate key points using different phrasing to reinforce ideas.
   • Build a Fence → Differentiate your ideas from others by defining clear boundaries.
   • Verbal Punctuation → Use lists and bullet points to structure your talk’s flow.
   • Ask Questions to Engage the Audience
     • Avoid overly complex questions
     • Avoid overly obvious questions
3. Time and Place
   • Know the Audience’s Schedule → Avoid problematic times (e.g., 11 AM, post-lunch, post-6 PM).
   • Inspect the Venue → Ensure proper lighting and visualize a full room to reduce anxiety.
4. Board and Props
   • Whiteboard for Lectures → Use empathetic mirroring (e.g., analyze a circuit step-by-step to make the audience feel involved).
   • Use Physical Objects → Show real-world examples (e.g., a functional circuit) instead of theoretical descriptions.
5. Slides
   • Support, Don’t Replace → Use slides for talks, not lectures.
   • Never Read Slides Aloud
   • Prioritize Images → Use simple, high-impact visuals.
   • Eliminate Clutter → Remove names, logos, titles, and dates.
   • Use Arrows/Boxes → Replace laser pointers with graphical guides.
6. Job Talks
   • Vision + Proof → Explain your vision and demonstrate contributions (ideally in 5 minutes).
7. Getting Famous
   • Five Key Elements
     • Narrative Identity → Frame your life/work as a compelling story.
     • Own a Symbol
     • Create a Slogan
     • Embrace Surprises → Make them routine, not rare.
     • Develop a Signature Idea
8. How to Stop
   • Final Slide → Acknowledge external contributors.
   • Closing Remark → End with a memorable joke or quip.