Though there are certainly some people with a natural knack for public speaking, many more seem to live in fear of being called upon to get up in front of others in this way. However, by reviewing some key concepts, it is quite possible to make public speaking something to love, not dread. The article below should help.
If you need to prepare for an upcoming public speaking engagement, make sure you commit your speech to memory before anything else. When you can recite it easily, you can work more on how you will deliver it. Having it memorized ahead of time can help you learn how to comfortably ad lib when in public.
Do not allow anything to distract you while you are speaking in public. It is crucial that you don't participate in activities like twiddling your thumbs or jingling keys. This will give your audience the idea that you would rather be doing something else than be there talking to them.
Whether you are new to public speaking or it is something you have done dozens of times, watching videos of the pro can be helpful. Viewing them allows you to see what the experts do and say to engage their audience. You can then try using these techniques when you give your next speech.
If you will be speaking for a long time, be sure to have a glass of water handy on the podium. It is also a good idea to have a stool behind the podium so you can perch occasionally if you get too tired. Wear comfortable shoes so that you will be able to concentrate on your speech rather than your feet.
Write down key points and ideas on note cards. While you should have your speech memorized, you should carry a set of note cards with you to the podium. While you don't necessarily need the entire speech, having key points of it that you want to emphasize should at least be written down on note cards to ensure that you don't forget to cover the important stuff.
Don't leap right into your topic. Be sure to start your speech with a nice greeting for your audience. This will help put everyone at ease. It also gives you a chance to settle into position and prepare yourself to speak. Of course, it is also simply the most polite thing to do.
Do not try to impress your audience by using overly complicated vocabulary. Some people do this because they want to show off how smart they are. The only thing that this will do is confuse a lot of people since they will have no idea what it is you are trying to say.
Consider your appearance. The audience is not likely to listen to you when your state of dress or grooming skills are distracting. Consider your audience when you think about what you are going to wear. Suits work well in for most speeches, but consider something more casual when speaking to younger audiences.
If you use a computer program to present pictures and information, be sure that you know how to operate it. The last thing you want is to waste the time when you are supposed to be speaking with a lot of computer fiddling. Practice your speech and your visual aids presentation thoroughly.
If you can, look over the room and environment where you will be making a speech. Check how big it is, how good the acoustics are and get comfortable in the front of the room. The more familiar you are with room, the more at ease you will be when you have to make your speech.
If using slides or other visual aids that include printed messages, assume your audience knows how to read. You can paraphrase the message on the slide, but don't just read it aloud. This wastes your time and insults your audience's intelligence. By presenting written material and supporting it with a slightly different spoken version, your message will be more memorable.
Make your audience feel comfortable when you are about to speak. This will help to break the ice. You can tell them something that occurred to you while driving there, that the audience can relate to. This is helpful when establishing a connection with your listeners.
If you are scheduled to make a speech, arrive at your venue at least half an hour early. This will give you a chance to set up, to practice and perhaps to relax a bit. If you rush in just a few minutes before your speech, you will not have time to prepare.
To effectively communicate key data points, supplement your oral presentation with visuals. Reciting numbers and figures is more difficult than conveying words and concepts. Many audience members have trouble visualizing statistics and appreciate simple infographics, such as charts, tables, and graphs. You can also print this data and distribute copies to audience members beforehand.
Be sure not to read your speech to your audience. Ideal speaking notes give you a good outline and keywords. Engage your audience and vary your delivery based on their responses. Be yourself and share information from your own life when appropriate. This will help you create a temporary bond with your audience that will enhance the delivery of your speech.
When you have s speaking engagement coming up, practice the delivery on a couple of trusted friends. They can give you some suggestions on your delivery and your appearance. They may be able to observe negative things that you cannot see in yourself. They can help you iron out the kinks in your speech.
If you are using cue cards, only write down simple sound bites that will help you keep on track. Don't write down your entire speech. If you do, you may end up simply reading your speech off of those cards. That makes for a very boring event to say the least.
Lots of folks hate the idea of having to speak to a group. But, armed with the information presented in the piece above, nobody should worry too much the next time the need does arise. Refer to these materials often, and speaking to groups will become easier than it ever seemed possible.
Orignal From: Learn Everything About Public Speaking In This Article
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