October's top 10 public speaking tips and inspiration

While summer's making one last stand, fall is fast approaching in my part of the world. Soon, I'll be looking for ways to get firewood to catch a flame...and this month's most-read tips and ideas will spark inspiration for your next speech or presentation, I'm hoping. Here are October's most popular posts:

1. 14 ways to integrate Twitter into your public speaking was prompted by a reader question--one shared by many, as it's this month's most-read post.
2. How dynamic starts can help you get "good on your feet" when presenting also scored high with readers.  Using a dynamic start takes advantage of the already high attention level, and promises even more to your audience--something we'll cover in my workshop next week.
3. Stephen Fry gets wordy with us, and readers of The Eloquent Woman loved this video on how we use language, word snobs and better vocabulary without attitudes.
4. Non-anxious ways with Q&A is another skill that tells me you're "good on your feet"--but an area where many otherwise smooth speakers fumble.  These tips were a big hit with readers, and can apply to meetings, in-house presentations, big speeches, testimony, news conferences and more.
5. As a speaker, are you comfortable with silence?  When I asked readers on Facebook how they defined "good on your feet," a group of speaking coach pros all chimed in on not wordiness, but silence. Their tips on handling silences (and a few of my own) form the core of this post.
6. TED gave presenters a big gift this month:  A media player loaded with videos of TED talks and a content guide, so you can run TED videos without hooking up to the Internet.  Great way to get direct examples from top speakers with top techniques.
7. She gave her valedictory speech 42 years late, because discrimination gave the opportunity to the desegregated high school's top white student, on a technicality.  Mary French's story--and very well written speech (yes, she'd written it before she was turned away)--inspired many this month.
8. Want reasons to talk more, speakers?  I've got 7 reasons I want speakers to talk more (but you can't use them as all-purpose excuses for verbosity, now).  This came out of the vault while my team was on retreat this month, and proved popular once more.
9. There's a lectern. You can use it, or lose it.  Yes, you have options with lecterns, so these use-or-lose lessons for lecterns might inspire you; another reprise post.
10. This new resource for finding women CEOs and company founders in New York City suggests itself as a tool for finding women to include as speakers at your next event.  An alert reader sent it, saying she thought it belonged on The Eloquent Woman. I agree--and so did you.

Go here to subscribe to Step Up Your Speaking, my free newsletter that focuses in-depth on one speaking topic each month...then become a fan of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook and join the conversation with thousands of other women (and men) about public speaking skills and confidence.