Do you have a wedding speech to give? You may need to create an impassioned speech in class or a pitch at work. No matter the reason you are asked to speak in public, making a positive impact is important. Use this advice to help you out.
While speaking in public, you cannot assume that people are going to understand what you are talking about. You have to get their attention and hold on to it. You will need to use multiple tactics to keep their attention.
A timer is useful to know exactly how long your speech is. That way, you can make edits to stay within the allotted time. If you find your speech is not long enough, research to find more information. Don’t rush during the speech.
Learn the material the best you can. While you will probably practice beforehand to memorize it, you sill need to know any data or facts that you could be asked about that are related to your speech. Find a way to put them in your presentation. Be prepared for more questions on the subject.
Keep your attention towards the audience. Don’t let yourself become distracted. You are attempting to convey a point or be persuasive, so you must be completely present.
After you know your speech inside and out, practice it! Try practicing tweaking your speech when you can. Be sure to practice your pace and breathing. Leave time for any audience interruptions that may occur. If you can, try to practice using the podium and other equipment you’ll be using when you make the real speech.
You may want to consider using a story to engage your audience. Make sure to outline your speech. Knowing how to speak your ideas clearly in the right order will help you better communicate your ideas. Your story should be genuine and your words should be natural and authentic.
Get to know the room in which you are going to speak publicly. Test the acoustics and the mic to see how much you have to project. Practice using any equipment you need so that you know how it works. If there are visual aids, learn to use them. Figure out how much eye contact should be made.
Practice is the single best way to make sure you know exactly what to say. Try recording yourself giving the speech. Listen back to the tape to identify any areas of weakness. However, it is always best to prepare your speech in front of family and friends, since instant feedback is the best.
Do not drink alcohol before you give a speech. This is not the best idea that you can put into practice. Alcohol can cause memory issues and may make you stumble over your words.
Take the time to fully understand your material if you hope to give a great speech. Talk about something that you like and that you already know a little about. Use a conversational tone to impress the audience with knowledge instead of upscale jargon.
Prior to launching into your material, try to win over the crowd. Smile as they enter, and if it’s possible, shake some hands as you welcome them. When you show this positive attitude, the audience will show more interest in what you will be talking about.
Once your speech is prepared, practice it often to the point that you have it mostly memorized. Practice in front of a mirror where you can try using various hand gestures and facial expressions to help make your points. This is the best way for you to feel comfortable. They could offer suggestions for content improvement, or for how it is delivered.
Note Cards
Make use of note cards. It’s always ideal to bring a backup copy of your speech with you even if you have memorized it. You need not have the entire speech written down word for word, but having the key points you wish to make written on note cards can help ensure that you do not leave out any important information.
No matter how anxious or mixed-up you may get during a speech, never make an apology. Your audience may not notice even if you think that you are making all sorts of mistakes. Just correct any mistakes you make without apologizing.
Speeches are given for countless different reasons. Unfortunately, many of them bring out the fear in people when they think about speaking in front of a crowd. Use the advice you have read here to give an effective speech. Get the results you are looking for when you speak well.
Onaolapo Adeyemi is a travel and technology writer. If he’s not on tour, you’ll find him in New York with his wife, and pet parrot hanging out at Starbucks.
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