On this page
Patrick Winston's "How to Speak" talk has been an MIT tradition for over 40 years. Offered every January, the talk is intended to improve your speaking ability in critical situations by teaching you a few heuristic rules.
For more on the life and work of Professor Winston (1943-2019), visit https://www.memoriesofpatrickwinston.com/
Patrick Winston discusses the importance of effective communication, likening it to a soldier being sent to battle well-equipped. He presents a formula for quality communication, emphasizing the roles of knowledge and practice over inherent talent. He promises to provide various speaking techniques and sets rules for engagement to maximize learning. Patrick advises against starting talks with a joke, instead suggesting an 'empowerment promise'. Various heuristics for giving a talk are shared, including 'cycling' on the subject and clearly distinguishing one's ideas. Tips on engaging the audience, developing a personal style, considering time and place, and using boards and props effectively are discussed. He also underlines the cultural implications of hand gestures and the strategic use of props in presentations.
These lessons can be applied in a variety of contexts, from school presentations to business pitches and public speeches. Understanding how to effectively communicate and engage an audience is a valuable skill in any field.
Applied Learning to Developer Enablement
The content emphasizes the importance of effective communication, which is a vital skill in software development. Developers often need to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders, so using clear language and visual aids can enhance understanding. For example, the use of boards or slides can help illustrate technical architecture or algorithm logic. Furthermore, the practice of distinguishing your idea is essential when proposing solutions or improvements in code reviews.
Developer Checklist
Communication Skills
Summary
Importance of Communication Skills
Patrick Winston emphasizes the importance of communication skills in life. He believes that one's success is largely determined by their ability to speak, write, and the quality of their ideas. He presents a formula where success in communication is a function of knowledge, practice, and inherent talent, with knowledge and practice being the most significant factors.
Role of Knowledge and Practice
Winston shares a personal anecdote about skiing to illustrate the importance of knowledge and practice over inherent talent. He explains that despite Mary Lou Retton's inherent talent as an Olympic athlete, his superior skiing skills derived from more knowledge and practice.
Objective and Promise
Winston's objective is to provide listeners with speaking techniques to improve their communication skills. He promises that by the end of his talk, listeners will have been exposed to many ideas which they can incorporate into their own repertoire and that will increase the value and acceptance of their ideas by others.
Rules of Engagement
Winston establishes a rule of engagement for his talk, requesting attendees to shut off their laptops and cellphones to avoid distractions. He explains that humans have only one language processor, and if it's engaged in other activities, it hinders the process of learning.
How to Start a Talk
Winston advises against starting a talk with a joke as listeners may not be ready for it. Instead, he recommends starting with an 'empowerment promise', telling people what they will know at the end of the talk that they didn't know at the beginning.
Heuristics for Giving a Talk
Winston shares heuristics that are always on his mind when he gives a talk. He advises cycling on the subject, going around it multiple times to ensure understanding. He also emphasizes the importance of differentiating your ideas from others by building a 'fence' around them.
Defining an Arch
The speaker explains the concept of an arch, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing one's ideas from others. An example is given where the speaker's algorithm might seem similar to another's, but the distinction is made clear with the fact that while the other's algorithm is exponential, the speaker's is linear. This is likened to building a fence around one's idea for clarity and distinction.
Verbal Punctuation
The concept of verbal punctuation is introduced. It is the practice of providing 'landmark' points during a talk or presentation to help the audience reorient themselves if their attention wavers. This could be done by providing an outline, enumerating points, or emphasizing transitions between topics. It is suggested that this technique helps the audience keep track of the talk and reengage if necessary.
Asking Questions
The speaker emphasizes the importance of asking questions during a presentation. Doing so engages the audience and helps them refocus. The speaker advises that the questions must be carefully chosen; they should not be too easy or too difficult to answer. A pause of around seven seconds is suggested as the optimal time to wait for an answer.
Building a Presentation Repertoire
The speaker encourages the audience to learn from effective speakers and build their own personal repertoire of presentation techniques. The goal is to develop a personal style that can effectively communicate ideas to an audience. This includes understanding the importance of time and place when giving a lecture, such as choosing a well-lit location and an optimal time.
Importance of Time and Place
The speaker discusses the importance of choosing the right time and place for a lecture. 11 AM is suggested as a good time since most people are awake by then and not yet tired. The venue should be well lit to prevent the audience from feeling sleepy. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of familiarizing oneself with the venue before the lecture to anticipate any challenges.
Understanding the Venue
The speaker advises 'casing' the venue, or familiarizing oneself with it before the lecture. This allows the speaker to anticipate and address any potential issues beforehand. The speaker also suggests visualizing the audience as disinterested farm animals to help manage nervousness or fear of a bad reception.
Audience Size
The speaker discusses the importance of having a reasonably populated venue. A sparse audience could lead to questions about the interest or relevance of the lecture. Therefore, it is important to choose a venue appropriate for the expected audience size.
Considerations for Time and Place
The speaker discusses the importance of ensuring that the audience is comfortable and the room is at least half full during a presentation. The environment and timing can significantly impact the effectiveness of the presentation.
Use of Boards, Props, and Slides
The speaker introduces the topic of using visual aids such as boards, props, and slides during a presentation. These tools can enhance the audience's understanding, especially when delivering informative content. The speaker highlights the benefits of using a board, such as its graphic quality and the ability to present information at a pace that matches audience comprehension.
The Advantage of a Board's Graphic Quality
The speaker emphasizes the advantage of a board's graphic quality, explaining that it allows for the use of graphics in the presentation, which can enhance the understanding and retention of information.
The Speed Property of Using a Board
The speaker discusses the speed property of using a board, explaining that writing on a board occurs at a pace that aligns with the average speed at which people can absorb ideas, unlike slides which can often flip too quickly for audience comprehension.
The Board as a Target
The speaker highlights the use of a board as a target for speaker's hands, reducing the awkwardness some may feel about what to do with their hands while speaking. It also provides a way to point out key points on the board.
Cultural Considerations for Hand Placement
The speaker shares a personal story about cultural norms and hand placement, emphasizing the importance of being aware of these norms when speaking in different cultural contexts.
Effective Use of Pointing at the Board
The speaker discusses the effectiveness of pointing at the board during presentations, even when the pointed content is not directly related to the ongoing discussion. This technique can help keep the audience's attention.
The Virtue of Blackboards
The speaker emphasizes the advantages of using blackboards in presentations, including their versatility and the natural engagement they provide.
The Role of Props in Presentations
The speaker transitions to the topic of using props in presentations, referencing playwrights as masters of prop usage. The speaker provides an example from a play by Henrik Ibsen to illustrate the suspense and engagement a well-used prop can create.
Practical Example of Prop Usage
The speaker provides a practical example of prop usage in presentations, using the example of a spinning bicycle wheel to demonstrate a concept. This not only makes the concept more understandable but also creates an engaging and memorable presentation.
Understanding Wheel Motion
The speaker explains the motion of a wheel by focusing on a small piece of it under a piece of duct tape. The speaker describes how this small piece moves when a puff of air is blown on it. This explanation helps to understand the overall motion of the wheel.
Conservation of Energy Demonstration
The speaker recounts a demonstration by Alan Lazarus on the conservation of energy. Lazarus used a steel ball attached to a long wire to create a pendulum. He then let the ball swing from a point near his nose, trusting it would not hit him on its return due to the conservation of energy. This demonstration left a lasting impression on the speaker.
Use of Props in Teaching
The speaker discusses the importance of props in teaching. Props make the teaching process more interactive, engaging, and memorable. They are particularly effective in demonstrations, as they allow the students to visualize and better understand complex concepts.
Empathetic Mirroring Concept
The speaker introduces the concept of empathetic mirroring. He explains that when students watch a teacher write on the board or manipulate a prop, they can visualize themselves performing the same actions. This process helps in understanding and retaining the concept being taught.
Use of Slides in Teaching
The speaker shares his thoughts on the use of slides in teaching. He believes that slides are more suitable for exposing ideas rather than teaching them. He emphasizes that slides often contain too many words and can distract from the main message.
Effective Use of Slides
The speaker demonstrates how to effectively use slides in a presentation. He advises against reading directly from the slides and recommends using them as condiments to the main speech. The speaker also suggests reducing the number of words on the slides and removing any unnecessary background.
Simplifying Slides for Effective Communication
The speaker emphasizes the importance of simplifying slides to hold the audience's attention. Unnecessary elements like logos and titles can be removed, allowing the audience to focus on the presenter rather than the slide. It's mentioned that people generally have a single language processor, meaning they can either read or listen effectively, but not both simultaneously. Hence, reducing the number of words on the slide can enhance the audience's attention towards the speaker.
The Impact of Slide Content on Audience Retention
An experiment conducted by a student is discussed. It revealed that audience members tend to remember information read from slides more than what they hear from the speaker. This highlights the importance of slide content in presentations, but also the risk of overloading slides with information, which can distract the audience from the speaker's verbal communication.
Eliminating Clutter and Choosing Appropriate Font Size
The speaker discusses the need to eliminate clutter from slides, such as unnecessary bullets. The issue of using small fonts, which can lead to overcrowding of text, is also addressed. A minimum legible font size is suggested to be around 40 or 50, as smaller font sizes often lead to the temptation of adding too much text.
Avoiding the Laser Pointer Crime
The misuse of laser pointers is identified as a common mistake in presentations. Using a laser pointer often leads to speakers losing eye contact and engagement with the audience. Instead of using a laser pointer, presenters are advised to use arrows or other markers within the slide itself to direct the audience's attention.
The Too-Heavy Crime: Overcrowded Slides
The speaker introduces the 'too-heavy crime', which refers to slides that are overloaded with text and lack sufficient white space or imagery. These slides often result from the misuse of small fonts. The speaker recommends printing out the presentation to identify if the slides are 'too heavy', and suggests using more images and maintaining a balance of white space for a pleasing visual experience.
Historical Extraction from Proposal
The speaker discusses how historical extraction from a proposal can be crucial in driving home a point. This involves pulling out key information from past data or events to support the argument or proposal being presented.
Hapax Legomenon in Presentation
Hapax legomenon is introduced as a term referring to a slide in a presentation that is so complex it can only be used once. The speaker uses an example of a slide showing the complexity of governing in Afghanistan. The point of this slide is not necessarily for the audience to understand, but to illustrate the complexity of the topic.
Presentation Crimes
The speaker shifts to discussing 'crimes' in presentations, illustrating with examples such as inappropriate timing and place selection for the presentation. The speaker also humorously highlights the 'crime' of having too many conclusion slides, leading to audience disengagement.
Importance of Audience Engagement
The speaker emphasizes the importance of keeping the audience engaged. Using a humorous anecdote, the speaker points out how disengaged audience members can get, even resorting to checking emails or examining lunch menus during a presentation. This highlights the need for captivating content and effective presentation skills.
Inspiring the Audience
The speaker discusses the importance of inspiring the audience. He shares findings from a survey about how different people are inspired, and emphasizes the role passion plays in inspiring others. He exemplifies this by expressing his own passion for artificial intelligence.
Effective Start of a Lecture
The speaker discusses the effective start of a lecture or presentation. He emphasizes the need to promise something interesting or cool to the audience at the beginning. The speaker exemplifies this with an engaging introduction about resource allocation.
Importance of Passion and Promise in Teaching
The speaker emphasizes the importance of expressing passion about the topic you are teaching and providing a promise to the students about what they will learn. This is exemplified by the speaker's admiration for computational solutions that can drastically reduce time spent on problems. The speaker believes that this passion and promise upfront can engage the students more effectively in the learning process.
Teaching People How to Think
The speaker asserts that teaching people how to think is a vital part of education, yet many educators struggle to articulate how they do this. The speaker suggests that we are storytelling animals and that developing our story understanding and manipulating skills is a continuous process from childhood through professional schools and life. To teach people how to think, they should be provided with stories, questions to ask about those stories, mechanisms for analyzing those stories, ways of putting stories together, and ways of evaluating the reliability of a story.
The Importance of Context and Practice in Oral Exams
The speaker discusses the importance of situating one's research in context during oral exams and the necessity of practice. It's crucial to present your research as part of a larger global pursuit and to highlight its potential impact. Practicing the presentation with people unfamiliar with your work is beneficial as they won't 'hallucinate' material that isn't there, providing a more accurate test run.
The Importance of Vision and Achievement in Job Talks
In a discussion about what is looked for in a faculty candidate, the speaker recounts that vision and proof of achievement are crucial. Candidates should express their vision and demonstrate what they've accomplished within the first five minutes of their job talks. If they fail to do so, they risk losing the interest of the potential employers.
Understanding Human Intelligence
The speaker discusses the nature of human intelligence and what sets us apart from other species. He explains that humans are symbolic creatures who can build symbolic descriptions of relations and events, and create stories. This ability to construct and understand symbols is what differentiates us from other species such as chimpanzees and Neanderthals.
Expressing Achievement
The speaker talks about expressing achievements by listing the steps taken to solve a problem. This doesn't necessarily mean that all steps have to be completed, but rather that a plan has been laid out. An example given is specifying a behavior, enumerating the constraints, implementing a system and demonstrating it.
Importance of Recognition
The speaker emphasizes the importance of being recognized for your work. He describes how being ignored can be detrimental and compares ideas to children, stating that you wouldn't want them to go into the world in rags. He suggests that it's important to present ideas in a way that they're recognized for their value.
Getting Remembered: Winston's Star
The speaker introduces 'Winston's Star', a concept for getting remembered. It includes having a symbol associated with your work, a slogan or phrase that provides a handle on the work, a surprise element, and a salient idea. He emphasizes that a salient idea isn't necessarily the most important one, but rather one that sticks out.
Concept of a Near Miss
The speaker introduces the concept of a 'near miss', referring to an idea or concept that almost meets the criteria of a specific target or expectation but falls just short. This concept is used to analyze and discuss the quality and impact of work or ideas.
Importance of Telling the Story
Emphasizes the importance of narrating the process of how a certain task or project was accomplished, how it works, and why it's important. This helps to ensure that the work is recognized and understood by others.
Deciding When to Stop
Discusses the challenge of deciding when to stop or conclude a presentation or discussion. This involves choosing the final slide and the final words that will leave a lasting impression on the audience.
Choice of Final Slide
The speaker discusses various examples of final slides, critiquing each for their effectiveness in ending a presentation. The speaker suggests that the final slide should encapsulate the speaker's contributions and be left up while people are asking questions and leaving the room.
Concluding the Presentation
The speaker discusses various ways to conclude a presentation, such as telling a joke or saying 'thank you'. He argues that saying 'thank you' is a weak move as it suggests that the audience stayed out of politeness rather than interest.
Benediction Ending
The content starts off with the end of a speech, where the speaker concludes with a traditional benediction 'God bless you, God bless America'. This is a common ending for speeches particularly in the American context, signaling the end of the speaker's address.
Bill Clinton's Keynote Address
The content then switches to the keynote address delivered by Bill Clinton in the Democratic Convention. The speech is highlighted for Clinton's speaking skills and his closing line is similar to the previous speaker, ending with 'God bless you, and God bless America'.
Analyzing Speech Techniques
The speaker, Patrick Winston, then analyzes Clinton's speech techniques, specifically his non-verbal cues such as pressing his lips together and saluting. These subtle cues are important in public speaking as they can convey various messages and emotions.
Different Ways to Conclude a Speech
The content then explores the concept of concluding a speech without saying 'thank you'. The speaker discusses various traditional endings, such as the Latin mass conclusion 'ite missa est' which means 'the mass is over, you can go home now', and the musical concert convention of the conductor shaking hands with the concert master. These conventions signal the end of an event.
Saluting the Audience
The speaker then introduces the concept of 'saluting the audience', a way of concluding a speech by expressing appreciation for the audience and the time spent together. This can be done by sharing personal sentiments about the experience and expressing the desire to return in the future.
Importance of Presentation
Finally, the speaker emphasizes the importance of how ideas are presented and packaged. He salutes the audience for their understanding of this concept, suggesting that it is an important aspect of effective communication and public speaking.
FAQs
What is the uniform code of military justice? The uniform code of military justice is a set of laws that mandates court martial for any officer who sends a soldier into battle without a weapon.
What is the formula for achieving quality in communication? The formula for achieving quality in communication is a combination of knowledge, practice, and inherent talent, with knowledge and practice being more significant than inherent talent.
What is the importance of distinguishing your idea from others? Distinguishing your idea from others is important, especially in a technical context, to prevent confusion and help others understand how your idea relates to existing ones.
What is verbal punctuation? Verbal punctuation includes providing landmarks or clear signs in your speech to help people follow along better. For example, enumerating points or indicating a change in topic can serve as verbal punctuation.
What is the significance of time and place in delivering a lecture? Time and place are significant in delivering a lecture as lectures should ideally be scheduled at a time when most people are awake and alert, and not fatigued. The place should be well-lit to avoid inducing sleepiness, and should be familiar to the speaker to avoid surprises.
What are the advantages of using a black board during presentations? Using a black board during presentations allows for graphical representation of ideas, matches the pace at which people typically absorb information, and gives speakers something to do with their hands, aiding in effective communication and overcoming cultural nuances related to hand movements.
What are the cultural implications of hand gestures during public speaking? Hand gestures during public speaking can be perceived differently in various cultures. For instance, hands in pockets or behind the back can be perceived as insulting or threatening in some cultures, as it could be interpreted as concealing a weapon.
What is the power of props in presentations? Props in presentations can create tension, anticipation, and a clear visual representation of the subject matter. They can be used to illustrate complex concepts and make the presentation more engaging and memorable.
How can props be used to illustrate complex concepts? Props can be used to simplify and explain complex concepts. For example, a spinning bicycle wheel can be used as a prop to explain the principle of torque in mechanical engineering. By focusing on a single part of the wheel, one can predict the direction of the wheel's movement.
What is the benefit of using physical props in teaching? Using physical props in teaching allows students to visually understand and engage with the concept being taught. For example, an instructor can use a pendulum to demonstrate the principle of conservation of energy.
What is 'empathetic mirroring' in teaching? Empathetic mirroring suggests that when students see a teacher physically demonstrating a concept, their mirror neurons are activated, allowing them to feel as if they are performing the action themselves. This enhances learning and comprehension.
What is the effective use of slides in teaching? Slides should support the speaker's content, not replace it, and should be simple, clear, and contain only key points. They should not be overused or contain too much information, which can be counterproductive.
How does slide complexity impact comprehension? Excessive information on slides can detract from the speaker's message, as people tend to focus on reading the slide rather than listening to the speaker. Simplifying slides can enhance audience comprehension.
What is the recommended font size for slides? A minimum font size of around 40 or 50 is recommended for legibility and to prevent overcrowding of content on slides.
What is the impact of using a laser pointer during presentations? The use of laser pointers during presentations can lead to disengagement with the audience. When you point at something with a laser, you lose eye contact and engagement with your audience.
What is an Apex Lagonemon slide? An Apex Lagonemon is a type of slide that demonstrates a complex concept in a way that is intentionally difficult for the audience to fully comprehend. The purpose of such a slide is to illustrate the complexity of the topic. However, such slides should be used sparingly.
What are some common mistakes made during presentations? Common 'crimes' or mistakes made during presentations include the use of hands in pockets, incorrect time and place selection, and cluttered slides. These can all detract from the effectiveness of a presentation and should be avoided.
What is the role of passion in teaching? Passion for a subject can naturally translate to lectures and make the topic interesting for students. The enthusiasm and passion exhibited by the teacher can be a key factor in inspiring others and making a difference while informing.
How can we teach people how to think? To teach people how to think, one must provide them with the stories they need to know, the questions they need to ask about those stories, mechanisms for analyzing those stories, ways of putting stories together, and ways of evaluating how reliable a story is.
What is the role of education in teaching people how to think? Education plays a crucial role in teaching people how to think critically and independently. This involves not just imparting knowledge, but also fostering the ability to analyze, evaluate, and create new ideas or solutions.
What is the role of persuasion in the educational process? Persuasion, including oral exams and presentations, plays an essential part in the educational process. It allows students to communicate their ideas effectively and convince others of their validity.
Why do students tend to fail oral exams? Failing an oral exam often stems from a lack of context and lack of practice. Establishing context means discussing your research topic within the broader scope of ongoing global efforts and its potential impact. Practicing your presentation is also critical.
What are the qualities looked for in a faculty candidate? When evaluating a faculty candidate, two essential qualities are looked for: vision and achievement. The candidate must show they have a clear view of their field and a unique approach to tackling problems. They must also demonstrate that they have accomplished something significant in their field.
How can one express vision and achievement? Expressing a vision involves defining a problem that needs solving and proposing a unique approach to tackle it. Demonstrating achievement can be done by outlining the steps taken or needed to solve a problem.
Why is recognition important after completing a job or project? Recognition is important to ensure your ideas and contributions are acknowledged. It's not just about personal fame, but about ensuring your ideas and contributions are recognized for their value.
How can you make your presentation and ideas memorable? To make your presentation and ideas memorable, it is suggested to use a 'Winston Star'. This includes having a symbol associated with your work, a slogan or phrase that provides a handle on the work, a surprise element, a salient idea that sticks out, and a story of how the work was done and why it is important.
What should the final slide of a presentation focus on? The final slide of a presentation should focus on your contributions. It should encapsulate the key accomplishments or contributions made during the course of the project or research.
How can you effectively conclude a presentation? There are multiple ways to conclude a presentation, such as telling a joke, which can lighten the mood and leave a lasting impression. However, avoid ending with a simple 'Thank you', as it can be perceived as a weak move and suggests that the audience stayed out of politeness only.
What is the Salute to the Audience? The Salute to the Audience is a way to conclude a presentation. This involves acknowledging the audience and expressing gratitude for their time and involvement. It can also involve sharing your personal experiences or feelings about the event or place.
What are Positive Closing Remarks? Positive Closing Remarks are expressions of satisfaction with the event and anticipation for future visits. A gesture of appreciation towards the audience is made, signifying the conclusion of the event.
What is the Acknowledgment of Audience's Understanding? The Acknowledgment of Audience's Understanding is when the speaker acknowledges the audience's presence as a testament to their understanding of the importance of presentation and packaging of ideas. This is viewed as a commendable trait and is appreciated.
What is the Encouragement for Future Participation? Encouragement for Future Participation is when the speaker encourages the audience to participate in future events, suggesting they bring their friends as well. This signifies the desire for a larger audience in subsequent events.
What signifies the Conclusion of the Event? The event concludes with applause, marking the end of the proceedings. The final word 'You.' might be a direct address to a specific individual or the audience as a whole, signifying the end of the speaker's address.
