March 12 2024 at 12:00AM
Unveiling the Art of Public Speaking: Insights from PMI-OC's March Dinner Event
On the evening of Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, project management professionals gathered at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club for a Dinner Meeting hosted by the Orange County Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI-OC). The keynote speech was delivered by Glenn Hoxie, a distinguished Senior Project Manager at Paul Hastings. Titled "Level Up Your Public Speaking Game," Hoxie's session transcended the conventional boundaries of a typical lecture, fostering an interactive experience for all attendees.
Rather than using a traditional approach where the speaker monopolizes the conversation, Hoxie facilitated a discussion between himself and the audience, inviting active participation and engagement throughout the session. By using personal anecdotes with practical insights, he empowered attendees to refine their communication skills.
Hoxie framed the path to becoming a confident public speaker as a five-level process, drawing valuable insights from the attendees along the way.
Level 1 was "Let's Get Our Head in the Game!" where attendees reflected on their motivations for improving their public speaking abilities. The audience was told to find their motivation by asking themselves, “Why are you here?” By finding your “why” you are getting mentally ready for a public speech.
Level 2 covered the "Fundamentals" across three key areas – physical, psychological, and technical. Attendees shared pre-speaking rituals like staying hydrated, practicing deep breathing, and reviewing talking points. Hoxie advised ditching self-centeredness by focusing on delivering value to the audience.
For Level 3, "Sailing into Gale Force Winds," Hoxie provided virtual and physical tips for presenting from home. Some virtual tips were to use a few words in your presentation, record the presentation, use engagement tools, and personalize the presentation. His physical tips were to stand, use appropriate lighting and sound, reduce distractions, and be agile.
Level 4 was the "Inner Orator Showcase" with volunteers giving off-the-cuff one-minute speeches to apply the strategies discussed. Topics ranged from travel to time travel.
Hoxie closed with Level 5's "Call to Action" –Stop preparing and start doing. He invited us to take what we know and put it into practice. We can only prepare so much. Sometimes it’s necessary to stop reading and start doing.
The high level of interactivity and Hoxie's coaching style made for an engaging professional development experience. Attendees left feeling inspired and empowered to take their public speaking skills to new levels.
