Authenticity vs. Preparation?

My September newsletter blog deals with an issue that has arisen lately: an oddly pervasive notion that a speaker's preparation kills any "authenticity" the speech might have. As you may guess, I have a few thoughts about this!

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Tips you can use!

A time not to shine!
If you are going to be taping an interview or even Skyping under bright lights, think about wearing HD-friendly makeup. Your SPF foundation protects you by reflecting light, which is great for outside, but under the lights you run the risk of emitting a ghostly, silvery glow.

 
Dare to waste paper
Make sure you don't look down too much when you deliver your speech; limit your text to the top 2/3 of your page. That way, when you glance at your notes, your gaze will not drift dangerously downward.

Shorter is better
Resist the urge to "embellish" your speech and stretch it to fill your allotted time. If you can say it in fewer words, please do so. Have you ever heard anyone complains about a speech running "undertime?"