What was the scope of Phillips' research and what did he produce?
He studied 5,000 public speakers over seven years and distilled 110 core communication skills with many sub-skills.
Video Summary
The 110 techniques of communication and public speaking | David JP Phillips | TEDxZagreb
Main takeaways
01
Phillips analyzed 5,000 speakers over seven years and distilled 110 core communication skills.
02
Open body language builds trust; closed postures signal threat and reduce audience connection.
03
Use functional gestures to indicate change, emphasis or enumerate points (one, two, three...).
04
Vary pace and use pauses to create emphasis, allow absorption, and convey urgency or importance.
05
Emotions drive decisions—speakers must connect emotionally, not just intellectually.
Key moments
Questions answered
Why does Phillips emphasize open body language?
Open body language signals trust and connection, while closed postures indicate threat or discomfort to the audience.
How should gestures be used during a presentation?
Use functional gestures to illustrate change (better/worse), emphasize points, or enumerate items (one, two, three).
What effect do pace and pauses have on a talk?
Varying pace conveys urgency or importance, and well-placed pauses let the audience absorb information and heighten attention.
What is the Duquesne smile and why is it useful?
A genuine smile that engages mouth and eyes; it improves presence, wellbeing and audience connection when practiced deliberately.
Are these public-speaking skills innate or learnable?
Learnable—Phillips argues presentation skills are acquired through practice, not by being born with a special gene.
The Journey to Understanding Public Speaking 00:17
"Seven years ago, I embarked on a journey to analyze 5,000 public speakers from all over the world to distill and understand what makes a good speaker good, a great speaker great, and an outstanding speaker outstanding."
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David JP Phillips began his in-depth exploration of public speaking by analyzing a vast number of speakers, aiming to identify the key skills that contribute to effective communication.
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This extensive research led to the discovery of 110 core skills, complete with numerous sub-skills. Despite the volume of skills, he plans to focus on a select few that he considers most vital for effective presentations.
The Importance of Body Language 03:38
"Whenever a human being closes their body language, it is a sign that they feel threatened in one way or another."
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Body language plays a crucial role in communication, significantly impacting how messages are received. Closing off one's body language can signal discomfort or defensiveness to the audience.
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Phillips emphasizes the importance of maintaining open body language, which fosters connection and trust with the audience. He critiques common mistakes speakers make, such as starting presentations in a closed-off manner.
Effective Gesturing in Presentations 06:27
"What you should use them for is what's called functional gesturing to show that something is getting better, something is getting less good, or that it's one, two, three, four, five that we are going to go through."
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Gestures should have a clear purpose in presentations, used to emphasize key points or to indicate lists and sequences. This helps clarify and enhance the verbal message.
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Phillips discusses various common body language positions and gestures observed globally, underscoring that speakers often adopt positions that may hinder their presentation effectiveness.
The Role of Pace and Pauses in Speech 08:20
"The pause is important, absolutely it is."
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The delivery of a speech can be significantly affected by the speaker's pace and use of pauses. A well-paced delivery keeps the audience engaged and helps emphasize critical points.
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Phillips illustrates how varying one's pace can communicate urgency or boredom, with slower speech indicating importance while rapid speech might imply disinterest.
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He elaborates that properly placed pauses allow the audience to absorb the information and emotionally connect with the message, rather than detract from the speaker's credibility by rushing through the material.
Decisions Based on Feelings 11:41
"Every single decision you've taken in your entire life and will take for the rest of your life is based on one thing only: a feeling."
- The speaker emphasizes the fundamental role that feelings play in decision-making, highlighting that our experiences and choices are driven by emotions rather than purely rational thought.
Essential Skills for Public Speaking 12:06
"If you haven't used them before and you start using them as a public speaker, they will make a difference to your speech."
- The speaker introduces five main skills that can significantly enhance public speaking effectiveness, suggesting that even small adjustments can lead to substantial improvements in audience engagement and delivery.
The Power of the Duquesne Smile 13:36
"The Duquesne smile has been shown to make you more likely to be married, less likely to be divorced, happier, more content with life, and more relaxed."
- The Duquesne smile, which is characterized by a genuine smile that engages both the mouth and eyes, is presented as a powerful tool for enhancing well-being and improving social interactions. The speaker shares personal experiences of learning to master this smile, which led to a noticeable increase in happiness.
Learning and Applying the Duquesne Smile 14:03
"I spent not four but six months learning how to do a Duquesne smile, and suddenly my brain was launching Duquesne smiles in everyday happiness."
- It took the speaker a conscious effort over six months to develop the Duquesne smile, which resulted in a profound shift towards positivity and joy in daily life, reinforcing the connection between physical expressions and emotional states.
The Importance of Combinations in Public Speaking 15:17
"Just like boxing, combinations exist in public speaking as well."
- The speaker draws an analogy between boxing and public speaking, suggesting that successful communication involves mastering specific combinations or techniques that can lead to a powerful impact. This comparison encourages the audience to be mindful of their strategies when delivering speeches.