There are several do’s and don’ts for creating and walking a timeline on stage. Take a look at the following video and then see 5 tools below that you should keep in mind before your next speech. If you have problems viewing the video initially, then just hit the play button below.
5 Do’s and Don’ts for Creating and Walking your Timeline
- Do be subtle. As you saw, a few steps can create 20 years.
- Don’t think you have to tell an entire story from one spot. Instead, initiate the story from that spot and then use the entire stage to tell the rest of the story.
- Do use visual and verbal call-backs to evoke emotions and to make your message stick.
- Do take something out of your speech, put it into your audience’s life, and ask them about it. Isaak does this with the mountain when he asks, “What is your mountain? Has it defeated you?”
- Do realize that your audience’s left (the past) is your right and vice versa. In other words, you have to be like the aerobics instructor who does everything backwards so it’s correct for your audience. So when you walk into the past, you move to your right which is your audience’s left.
For more on Timelines and 39 additional delivery tools that will help you deliver your speech with the greatest impact, visit Dynamic Delivery Devices
Craig,
That was a great coaching session! After you coached me over the phone about the timeline I did it with too much movement, (there was nothing subtle about it), so I felt like I didn’t get the effect. Now I have a better understanding of what you meant. Thanks
Subtle and call backs will be incorporated in my next speech!
Thanks Genero. Yes, I guess some lessons really have to be seen. I’m glad it makes more sense now. Good luck and skill!
Craig,
Thank you for posting this coaching video.
I am a visual learner and this helped me get it.
In fact I will use this technique tomorrow during my presentation.
I look forward to additional video coaching segments.
This is awesome! Here is why. For someone like me it’s hard for me to visualize a concept when it’s written in a book or taught via postcard. I need to see the concepts acted out not just for the timeline, but because I can get a nugget that I wouldn’t be able to get through teaching via postcard or written. Let me give you an example. When Isaak said “what if I had given up 20 years ago” and because of that comment you were able to give him a different way to say it when you suggested that he ask “what is your mountain, and has it defeated you. I needed to see that not for speech delivery but for speech creation. I get to see or notice things I wouldn’t have noticed that you didn’t directly teach had I not see this through video. I hope you do more because it helps someone like me who has a hard time visualizing written and verbal instruction. My point and i’m closing with this…lol. “If I can’t see it I can’t understand it.”
Thanks for this.
Thank you Charles. That’s just the kind of feedback I was looking for, because there are actually dozens more of these video lessons. So you’ll see more of them!
Thanks Craig. It’s good to know that there will be more videos soon! 😀
Outstanding!
I was doing what you taught… but I was backwards!
I was doing it right to left, from my point of view.
It seems so obvious now.
Thank you for the time, energy and effort you’ve put into these posts!
We, your 2010 fans & 2011 clients, truly appreciate it.
You are very welcome. Once you do it in rehearsal, it will become second-nature for you in front of a live audience.
Craig, I’m sending the link to this page to all the Nyack Toastmasters members as you’ve driven home several important points we all should keep in mind:
1. Use the stage, all the stage
2. Don’t move unless there’s a good reason
3. Create a ‘virtual’ time or place onstage to support your story
4. We (Americans) view time progression left to right
It looks like Isaak is transforming his District 46 1st place Humorous Speech into an International Speech. I wish him good luck.
Thanks Michael for sending it on to other presenters! It’s nice to hear from you.
I like it. The effect may well be subtle, but it will reinforce the sense of overall congruity. And the question, what is your mountain? Beautiful.
Thanks Earl!
Great to see how such a small change in his use of the stage made such a big change in the effectiveness of his delivery. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
You’re welcome Kathy. It’s my pleasure
Have read your article, I feel to Create Timeline is necessary, it makes me more productive, the information you provided is very good, thank you
Thank you!