How to Speak

MIT OpenCourseWare · ★ Dr. Daniels Hall of Fame

Why it's in the Hall of Fame: Communication is a leadership skill, not a soft skill. Winston shows how to teach it.

Why leaders watch it

Concrete rules for opening, structuring and closing a talk so ideas land; directly improves presentations to teams and boards.

Patrick Winston's long-running MIT lecture on public speaking teaches heuristic rules for talks. It covers how to start, use time and place, boards, props and slides, and how to inform, persuade and finish.

Takeaways

• Open with a promise of what the audience will gain
• Use stories and a clear structure
• Close with a contribution, not a thank-you

Topics: Public speaking & presenting, Writing & storytelling

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