Public speaking is a necessity in life. It’s not really possible to get an education and avoid speaking in public. In the workplace, almost everyone has to speak to move up the ladder. Putting the following tips to use can make anyone become a public speaking pro.
Time yourself to find out how long your speech is. If it is longer than you were expecting, take the opportunity to trim it down. Add more to your speech if you have the time. Also remember, you never want to rush through your speech; remember to pace yourself.
Memorize your speech beforehand to reduce your anxiety. Once you have your speech memorized, then the delivery method you choose can be worked on. Having it memorized ahead of time can help you learn how to comfortably ad lib when in public.
While speaking in public, you cannot assume that people are going to understand what you are talking about. You need to fight for their attention and respect. Since this is technically a performance, you have to work to get the desired results.
Know as much about your material as possible. Have a broad general knowledge of the topic including statistics, facts and anecdotes. Use them judiciously when you feel your audience is receptive. Have a question session at the end of your speech.
Try telling true stories to better your public speaking. Prior to the day of your speech, make an outline of your story. It should have a beginning, middle, and ending that is clear so that you get your ideas out better. Your story should be genuine and your words should be natural and authentic.
Keep moving if you suddenly realize you skipped something in your outline. If you stop in the middle, your mind will become confused. In general, the audience is not going to know that you missed a small portion of your prepared speech.
Utilize a timer to determine the length of your speech. You’ll be able to add or subtract content to keep it in your time limit. If you need more information, do some research and find helpful information. Don’t rush when you make your speech.
An excellent way to calm nerves before public speaking is by breathing deeply. Deep breathing can be tremendously helpful at controlling nerves. Inhale through the nose for four seconds, and then exhale through the mouth for five. Repeat six times, and you will feel much calmer.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages prior to giving a speech. While it may appear to be a solution for low self-confidence, it will most likely backfire on you. Many great speeches turned bad from too much alcohol; don’t make yours one of them.
Practice your speech as much as possible so that it becomes second-nature. Try practicing in the mirror and use different facial expressions and hand motions. Try getting feedback from family when doing dry runs of speeches for them. They will help with your weak spots.
If you are prepping, practice a lot and memorize what you need to prior to speech day. Once your speech is in your memory, you can then work on delivering it. Once you have the speech memorized, you can ad lib once you are on the stage.
Note cards can be useful. Having a copy of your speech is a good idea, even when you have the speech memorized. You don’t have to have the speech in its entirety before you as you stand at the podium, but your key points should at least be jotted down.
Visual Aids
Visual aids shouldn’t take over your speech. It should enhance your statements. You do not want them to overwhelm your message. Try to use visual aids as much as possible. Make them appealing and colorful, but don’t go overboard.
Know your material as best you can. If you have your speech committed to memory, it is still very important to understand the topic completely so you can tell stories or jokes related to it. If you have time, you can add in some of these things throughout your speech as needed. They can also be used to make the speech stronger or to answer audience questions.
Warm the audience up before you give a speech. This is not to say that you should start right out with a joke. You can tell anecdotes that are relative to your speech. It’s a smart way to create a strong first impression with the crowd.
Get yourself into the proper frame of mind. There is nothing wrong with being nervous. Most public speakers have some fear before approaching the podium. Don’t think negatively, though. If you tell yourself you’re going to bomb the speech, chances are, you will. If you tell yourself you will do great, then you will.
To connect with your audience, begin your speech with a story. This can be something from your past. Using human elements to enliven your speech will gain the listeners’ attention. Do not make any parts of your speech offensive.
Familiarize yourself with the venue where you will speak. Test your voice in it to see how far it projects if you aren’t using a microphone. Use the equipment to see how it works. Understand the best ways to use visual aids. Figure out to make eye contact with those in the audience.
Know who you will be delivering the speech to and prepare accordingly. This will help you understand what they want. Coworkers or other students are expecting to learn from your speech. Family members might look for a little entertainment from your speech. Provide the right information to keep them happy.
Don’t let the audience know you’re nervous. Your words will have more power if the audience believes you are confident. In most cases, nobody will have a clue about how nervous you are. Hold yourself as though you have pride in your presentation.
Carefully monitor the speed you use to deliver your speech. Nerves can speed up your voice, which can make your audience miss main points. Slow your speech down too much and you audience is sure to be too bored to listen. Therefore, it is important to speak at a steady speed.
Continue with your speech even if you feel you messed up. If you stop in the middle, your mind will become confused. If you just keep going, your audience will never know you made a mistake.
Public speaking is a critical skill to learn. It is common to have to speak at school and also in the workplace. Sometimes, even things that you do for your own enjoyment require giving a speech. After reading the above article, you now have a good handle on what it takes to become a great public speaker.