2nd
October Neil
Riley
Do's
and Taboos of
Public Speaking
Neil Riley
commenced his
address on the
Do's and
Taboos of
Public
Speaking
making us all
smile by
telling us a
joke. This
took the form
of a very good
description of
the Coliseum
in Rome and an
almost deathly
contest
between a lion
and a prisoner
was about to
take place in
front of
Caesar. The
end of the
joke was
almost
unimportant,
as Neil's
words had
reflected the
completed
scene and in
doing so he
had won us
over by making
us relaxed
with full
concentration
and smiling.
We were of
course all
waiting for
the outcome,
after being
caught by the
verbal picture
he had
created, and
the smile he
wanted. One
should smile
it gets your
listener to
respond, it
indicates that
your audience
is with you,
he said.
The next
point he
demonstrated,
was the
deliberate
pause for a
moment in his
talk, this
again made us
listen hard
anxious not to
miss his next
point and
indeed each in
our minds were
trying to fill
in the missing
words. We
should not
rush out with
our words but
deliberate
with them.
When preparing
ones address
he commended
that we should
prepare what
we want to
say, then make
a précis
using keywords
with large
print. We
should also
practice such
that we give
thought to
each word.
On the
question of
where to put
ones hands, he
suggested that
we should not
place them in
our pockets or
stand with
them clasped
behind our
back,
otherwise we
would tend to
look like
Royalty. We
should keep
them neatly
suspended at
our sides was
his
recommendation.
He was of
course
demonstrating
the hands
question while
talking, which
certainly
brought home
the point and
was most
amusing.
Dress was
the next point
discussed, he
was of the
opinion that
one should
dress to the
standard one
would
anticipate to
observe at the
meeting or the
type of
audience being
addressed.
In our case
he had chosen
correctly
being dressed
in a smart
suit with
collar and
tie. One must
get this
right, as it
helps to feel
comfortable
was his
principle.
The
assembled
company was
indeed caught
up with his
subject and
many of us
were wishing
we had had
this lesson
years earlier
to help us
with the art
of oratory as
he had
certainly kept
us fascinated
for the thirty
minute
delivery we
had enjoyed.
Neil
responded to
several
questions on
his subject of
Public
Speaking.
He informed
us that in his
recent years
he had been
blighted with
M.E. (Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis)
and had been
unable to
follow his
career as a
lawyer, he now
has to take
his recovery a
day at a time,
so to speak,
and was
progressing
slowly towards
better health.
We thanked
his for a fine
talk, which
had been well
received on
his subject
and wished him
well for the
future.
visitor
