Public speaking is one of the most powerful techniques to win people over and influence large groups - even entire populations in some cases. Looking back throughout history, evidence of this and just how prolific these skills are can be seen time and time again - for better or for worse. Take for example some of the following well known individuals from our present and past: Barack Obama, Ghandi, the Clintons, Hitler, Mussolini, John F. Kennedy and so many others. The one thing that they all had or have in common was excellence in the art of public speaking.
Following are 10 tips that I use during my preparation for and delivery of a speech, whether to just a few individuals or a large group.
1. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. I once read that Ted Turner spends a full hour for every minute that he intends to speak in front of others. That’s 60 times the amount of time needed to deliver that segment! Therefore, if I’m delivering a 15-minute speech, I should expect to spend at least 15 hours in preparation.
2. Know Your Subject. The moment you step on stage or in front of any group to whom you are about to speak, you are immediately assumed to be an authority on the subject of which you are speaking about. It is imperative to arm yourself with, at a minimum, above-average knowledge of your subject. Expect there to be questions following your speech, and prepare yourself to answer these questions by following the first tip.
3. Get Their Attention First. This is one of the most crucial parts of your speech, and it must happen as soon as your delivery gets underway. Often, you will be speaking to groups of people that are coworkers or associates. This means that you can expect them to be socializing amongst one another, even as you begin your presentation. It is common human behavior, and not something that you can afford to allow to distract you from your current task at hand. I’ve always found that a moment of uncomfortable silence can be effective, or even the exact opposite - a loud noise. Nevertheless, prepare yourself with a tactic to get everyone’s attention the moment you take the floor.
4. Speak With Authority. Does this mean to thrust your right hand into the air and demand all of those before you to kneel down and obey their master? Of course not. What it means is to speak with confidence. Maintain a posture of self-assurance and speak with conviction. If you don’t believe in what you’re saying, they won’t either. This doesn’t mean you have to yell or call out individuals in the crowd that aren’t paying attention. It means you simply have to convey your words with conviction, which actually leads me to my next tip.
5. Practice Your Tempo. Rhythm is key in a solid delivery, and this can only be established through repetition (again, refer back to Tip #1). There shouldn’t be unnecessary pauses or delays in your delivery unless they are planned. Filler words, such as “ummm” and “uhhhh” can be devastating to the effectiveness of your presentation, so it is crucial to ensure that you’re prepared to make your delivery with a tempo. Don’t miss a beat, or you’ll lose your audience’s attention in just as much time.
6. Look Them In The Eyes. This can be one of the greatest challenges of public speaking, but is also one of the most critical practices. People want to feel like you are speaking to them, not to the wall behind them or the floor that you are standing on. It can be unnerving to see all of those eyes staring at you, seemingly waiting for you to slip up and blunder in your delivery, but it is imperative that you face fear in the eyes and remain focused on your mission. Remember to constantly scan the entire crowd. Don’t focus on one individual. Speak to everyone. Attempt to make eye contact with everyone in the audience.
7. Use Cue Cards. This practice can be very effective in helping you stay on track if you find yourself losing your place mid-speech. Most verbal presentations can be broken down into segments or paragraphs. Having a card or cards with intro lines or words marking distinct starting points of the various parts of your speech can be effective in helping you quickly find your place again and finish successfully. You don’t want to depend on these to get you through your performance, but they can be helpful in times of dire need.
8. Engage Your Audience. People love to feel important, smart and as though they are a part of something. When preparing your speech, look for opportunities to engage them by asking questions, taking polls, bringing volunteers on to the stage or using other means by which to keep them on their toes. Sometimes, simply throwing objects (such as small prizes) can be enough to keep your audience attentive. The point is, do something to keep them focused. Sometimes, simply talking isn’t enough. Find out what else you can do to keep your presentation fun, interactive and/or engaging.
9. Be Animated! Who wants to watch a deadbeat’s lips move? No one. Body language is imperative to a successful delivery. Does this mean flailing your arms about and jumping up and down? Not necessarily, although that may be an appropriate activity for some presentations. The point is to mix it up so that your presentation doesn’t become boring. Master speakers are able to overcome this challenge simply by the varying the pitch and tone of their voice, while others use visual aids, emphasize their points with their hands and move about freely as they speak, pacing from side to side of the stage to get more up close and personal with the different areas of the seated or standing audience. It’s very important to familiarize yourself with the venue in which you’ll be performing. Will there be a podium? A microphone? Will it be fixed or wireless? How loud must I speak for those in the back of the audience to hear me? Can everyone see my visuals? Again, refer back to Tip #1.
10. Be Your Own Audience. I strongly recommend borrowing, renting or purchasing a video camera to record and then analyze your practice speeches. This will help you view your performance from your audience’s point of view, and you will see all of the things that distract them from your speech (i.e. putting you hands in your pockets, saying “ummm” and “uhhh”, looking at the floor, poor tempo, etc.). Continue practicing until you have mastered your performance. Be sure to practice as though you were actually there. If you’ll be performing in a large auditorium, you should practice as such, even if in the comfort of your own home.
That’s it. Most importantly, if you don’t believe you can do it, no one else will either. People are amazing detectors of truth. If they smell fear, they will attack it. Expect this. The only way to overcome this obstacle is through solid preparation. Through this preparation, you will become at a master of your own delivery, and there is no better way to believe in yourself than to become a master of yourself.
Good luck and remember that no matter what, the show must go on!! Check out http://www.multiplelvelmarketing.com Affiliate Marketing and Affiliate Marketing
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