You are surely going to have to do some public speaking at one point or another. Your speaking skills will impact the audience you are speaking in front of. The following advice will help you speak well in almost any situation.
Use a timer when you practice so you can verify the length of your speech. If it is longer than you were expecting, take the opportunity to trim it down. Find more information if you need to make your speech longer. Finally, do not rush when giving your speech.
If you are preparing for a public speaking engagement in advance, memorize your speech first, before anything else. After you know the words, work on how it comes across. Having your speech memorized in advance also gives you a chance to ad lib comfortably on the stage.
You can’t speak before an audience and think that others will automatically know what you’re saying. You have to get their attention and hold on to it. To get results, you must work for it.
Always look at your audience when you are speaking in public. Do not let yourself get distracted by things in the area. You must command the attention of your audience.
Know what you are talking about, inside and out. Research it from various angles so you have a good understanding of the topic. Write down bullet points of everything you want to cover, and be clear and concise so that you can refer to it as needed during your speech. Thoroughly preparing yourself will be a big pay off if your audience decides to ask you questions.
Know what type of audience you will be talking to. If at all possible, find out who the people are in the crowd. Prior to the speech, even say hello to some of them at the door. This will help you relax and make it more like you are speaking to friends than strangers.
Time your speech to know the length of your speech. This allows you to edit the speech if necessary to keep it at the right length. If it is not long enough, add a bit of meat to it. Also remember, you never want to rush through your speech; remember to pace yourself.
You may want to consider using a story to engage your audience. Make yourself a solid outline of the facts to base your speech on. Make sure you have an intro, body, and conclusion. Your story will seem natural if it’s a real one.
Know your audience when giving a speech. How far will your voice carry or is there a microphone? Try out the equipment to see how it works. Decide how to use visual aids for your speech. Figure out how far you will need to look to make eye contact.
If you accidentally skipped over a sentence, forget it and keep going. If you go back in time to try to cover something that isn’t fully necessary, you could find yourself becoming confused and lost in the speech entirely. Also, people will notice it more if you backtrack.
When getting ready to make a speech, learn the words of the actual speech first. Once you have the ability to make your speech without assistance at any time, you can then start working on delivery. With your speech firmly implanted in your mind, it will be much easier to naturally ad lib when you finally give it.
Deep Breathing
Deep breathing can help curb your anxiety. Deep breathing can be tremendously helpful at controlling nerves. Breathe in for four seconds and then breathe out. Do this about 6 times to calm yourself down.
The most effective way to refine the message of a speech is to practice it. You can try recording the speech or practicing the speech in front of your mirror to spot any areas that need improvement. Also consider gathering a group of family or friends to watch your speech. They can critique you and give you important feedback.
Be as familiar as possible with your materials. Think about the material that you are trying to get across. Use them as needed to help your audience apprehend your points. In addition, you can rely on them during the question and answer period or during follow-up conversations.
You must know your material in order to feel comfortable while delivering your speech. Make a thoughtful topic selection, preferably one that you know well. You won’t impress your audience by using big words they don’t understand. Instead, speak conversationally so they with them, and they will be impressed.
Bring your audience to your corner before starting your speech. Be available to shake some hands and smile as people enter the room. They will become more intrigued by your material.
To help your speech make a big impact on your audience members, do what you can to make the ending memorable. Of course your whole speech is important, but your ending is what will help make it memorable. A boring ending will make them forget your speech quickly.
As you prepare your speech, ascertain you know your topic well. Research it from various angles so you have a good understanding of the topic. Think through what you want to say, and put those thoughts down on paper so you can follow your own train of thought. Being prepared will help when you have to answer questions from the audience.
Note Cards
If you have to, make use of note cards. Though memorizing your speech is always wise, keeping a written copy on hand is also smart. Having the main points on note cards will help you get through the speech.
Sometimes it’s better to let people ask questions during your speech instead of at the end. Waiting can cause your audience to forget important points. People are more likely to appreciate you as an orator if they can ask questions as they come to mind, so allow them to do so.
Know the crowd makeup before you give the speech. Try to find out the names of individuals who will be listening. Greet them at the door and ask their names. This will help you relax and make it more like you are speaking to friends than strangers.
Start off each speech with a story in order to connect with the audience. You can use a story spawn from your personal experiences, a current event, or even a hypothetical scenario. This will allow your audience to connect with you better. Avoid saying anything that could be construed as offensive.
Understand the audience you are speaking to. Different audiences need different styles of speaking. Your colleagues may want to be informed. Some of your friends may desire entertainment. Provide the right information to keep them happy.
If you are nervous, imagine you’re simply an audience member in your speech. If the person making the speech made an error, would you laugh at them? Would you lose any respect for the speaker? Mistakes are not as bad as you make them out to be.
Familiarize yourself with the room you are using to give your speech. Learn how far your voice carries if there is not a microphone. Try out any equipment you will be using. Decide how to use visual aids for your speech. Make sure you understand what an appropriate level of eye contact is.
You don’t need to be a good actor or politician to give great presentations or speeches. Preparation, self-confidence, and an understanding of your audience are all critical to success. You may find that these public speaking tips actually improve the way you communicate both behind and away from the podium.