How to Speak

The speaker opens by stressing that communication skills (speaking, writing, and the quality of ideas, in that order) are paramount for success in life, likening the lack of these skills in students to sending a soldier into battle without a weapon. He introduces the formula for effective communication: Knowledge + Practice + (small) Talent, emphasizing that knowledge and practice far outweigh inherent talent. He illustrates this with a personal anecdote about skiing better than Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, attributing his success to K and P, while she only had T.

To ensure audience engagement, the speaker enforces a 'no laptops, no cell phones' rule, explaining that humans have only one language processor, and distractions hinder comprehension. For starting a talk, he advises against jokes, as the audience is still settling in. Instead, he recommends an 'empowerment promise,' clearly stating what the audience will gain by the end of the session, such as learning something that will make a difference in their lives.

The speaker shares several heuristics: 'Cycling on the subject' involves repeating key ideas multiple times to ensure everyone grasps them, acknowledging that some audience members may periodically 'fog out.' 'Building a fence around your idea' means clearly distinguishing your concept from similar ones by highlighting unique aspects. 'Verbal punctuation' uses enumerated points or outlines to provide clear markers, helping the audience stay oriented and encouraging them to 'get back on the bus' if their attention wavers. Lastly, 'asking a question' directly engages the audience, provided the question is neither too obvious nor too difficult, allowing for a thoughtful pause.

The speaker also discusses practical considerations for presentations. The optimal time for a lecture is around 11 AM, when people are awake and not fatigued. The location should be well-lit to prevent drowsiness and 'cased' beforehand to anticipate and mitigate any issues. The room should also be reasonably populated to create a good atmosphere. Regarding tools, the speaker champions whiteboards over slides for informing, citing their graphic quality, speed (matching audience absorption), and utility as a 'target' for the speaker's hands. He also gives examples of props, like the bicycle wheel and a swinging steel ball, to make complex concepts tangible and memorable through 'empathetic mirroring.'

The speaker critically analyzes the use of slides, asserting they are best for 'exposing' rather than 'teaching' ideas. He identifies common 'crimes': too many slides, too many words, reading slides aloud, small font sizes, distracting backgrounds, and excessive use of laser pointers that break eye contact. He suggests simplifying slides by reducing text, removing unnecessary logos and titles, and using imagery. He introduces the concept of a 'hapax legomenon' – a single, complex slide that can be used once to make a powerful point, but cautions against overusing them.

The speaker delves into informing and persuading. To inspire, a speaker must exhibit passion and help the audience see problems in new ways. He uses an example of map coloring with different algorithms to showcase how cool and impactful a solution can be. For persuasion, particularly in academic contexts like job talks, candidates must establish their vision and what they have accomplished within the first five minutes. Vision involves addressing a problem a listener cares about with a new approach. Accomplishment is demonstrated by outlining the necessary steps to solve the problem and enumerating one's contributions.

The speaker introduces 'Winston's Star' – a framework for making ideas memorable and ensuring work is recognized. This involves having a 'symbol' (e.g., the arch), a 'slogan' (e.g., 'one-shot learning'), a 'surprise' (e.g., learning from a single example), a 'salient idea' that stands out (e.g., 'near miss'), and a 'story' detailing the 'how, what, and why' of the work. He explains that these elements, when present, accidentally made his early research famous.

For concluding a talk, the speaker advises against displaying a long list of collaborators (best placed on the first slide), using 'Questions?' slides that waste valuable space, or simply saying 'Thank you,' which he deems a 'weak move.' Instead, the final slide should be a 'contributions' slide, summarizing the speaker's key achievements. For the final words, a joke can be effective. He shows examples of political speeches ending with a 'benediction' (e.g., 'God bless you, and God bless America') or a 'salute to the audience,' expressing appreciation for their engagement. These methods provide a stronger, more lasting impression than a simple 'Thank you.'