Script or no script

Here’s the thing: people can tell when you are reading.

I should caveat that with: people can tell when you are reading unless you have done the work to be sure you don’t sound like you are reading.

My personal preference is that you should go without a script where you can, but the reality is that you will be reading a script at some point.

So if you are going to read from a script – how do you sound like you are talking rather than reading??

1. Check the Words

This is key to it sounding like you aren’t reading. The aim for all presenting is that you sound like you’re talking to your audience as if you were in the pub plus 10%. The language you use to write is significantly different to the spoken word.

When we write we use lots of words we don’t need. When we speak we get to the point quicker. We also write in the first person (I / we went to the pub) or the third person (she went to the pub). We we speak we use the first and second person (you).

When you write you tend to put descriptions up front and the subject last. When speaking the subject goes up front and then you may add some description after.

Written: However, this week the dynamic and hairy lead singer of the Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, did go to the post office

Spoken: “Dave Grohl, the lead singer of the Foo Fighters, went to the post office this week – which was surprising…”

It is worth going through your script and checking that it reads in a way that you would actually talk.

2. Read, Read, and Read Again

Chris Anderson says in his book “TED Talks: The official TED guide to public speaking” that most TED speakers write then memorise their talks. The rehearsal process of repetition makes it sound like you are speaking. And this is the case for those that purely rehearse rather than script too.

You will need to read a script at least 5 or 6 times before it sounds like it has become part of your spoken word.

3. Work Out Your Emphasis and Intonation

With reading written word, ironically, you need to put the natural emphasis and intonation back in. When I played the flute in orchestras we were regularly making notes all over our music, and for reading the written word, you need to do the same.

There is a fantastic technique called The Hudson Voice Technique, developed by the BBC voice over artist Steve Hudson. His technique includes two elements you can use really easily.

Firstly, pause at the end of your sentences (and even more so at the end of your points) and energise the beginning of the next sentence (point).

Secondly, mentally break the script up beyond the punctuation. In a sentence you are likely to find a bit of a natural lull every 3 to 4 words, then get your pencil and draw a line in hose breaks. This will help you slow up your reading so you are not racing ahead, and it will get you to think about where the emphasis is in a sentence.

Mostly, you need to find your natural voice rather than your natural voice, and to do that you can watch my video about finding your authentic voice here: https://youtu.be/ltnQy744B9g

In summary the pros of scripting is that you can remember what you are going to say, you can shorten your prep, and you can even delegate the writing part.

I wanted to leave you with this. I used to think that no script for speaking in public was the thing to aim for. Then I saw this great performance from Richard Huntington at Next Radio in 2016 https://youtu.be/8UIVpD5V0Xs and his energy made me wonder if you could do great presenting with a script in your hand.