Shouldn't I prepare out a written manuscript?

And really – if you are going to appear – what is your purpose? It must be something above and beyond giving the audience the chance to hear you read. The audience wants the chance to make contact, ask questions and influence what happens. Well, I'll end my presentation with an opportunity for questions, you may be thinking. But that won't be the opportunity to save your presentation, to clear up possible misunderstandings. And how often hasn't the period for questions been omitted or cut short for lack of time? You are very vulnerable if you rely on a manuscript.

For some people, a manuscript provides security, and they wouldn't think of talking without one. This is false security. You may no longer have to fear not knowing what to say, but now you have to fear losing your place, being interrupted and running out of time.

Speakers who are nearsighted or wear glasses are often afraid to lift their eyes from their text, so they stand with their heads bowed.

Writing a great speech is also very difficult. The written word takes on a different tone, and it takes both skill and practice to write something that sounds good when spoken.

And few people can write the way they talk. It is contrary to how we have learned to put our thoughts in writing – we end up with something written that sounds written, too.

It's a rare person who can draft a presentation ahead of time that will always be more interesting than the audience's own thoughts. And if it is not – then to whom are you speaking?

David Bernstein writes in "Put it together, Put it across"

"And yet when I thought of the tedious lectures I had endured at college,
the learned papers, the professional discourses and subsequently the commercial
presentations I had attended, I realized that though the majority of educated people can write something to be read, they can seldom write something to be heard. Indeed, they are generally unaware that there is a difference.
Papers are 'read' to learned societies. The speaker pores over his text ..."

Most skilled people are better at answering questions than at giving a speech.
There are good reasons why interviews are the common form of presentation
in the broadcast media throughout the world.

In the future we won't be using a manuscript, but one introductory sentence and a list of questions!
If you've written complete questions, you will have plenty of opportunities to regain control should you notice that you are not interesting enough or even if you lose your place! This will give you all the safety net you need!

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Copyright © Bengt Hemlin 2002