Speaking in public can be something that people either love doing or dread the thought of. Those who loathe it should be happy to know that with practice, they don’t have to feel that way. Read on to learn more about being an effective speaker.
A timer is useful to know exactly how long your speech is. This can help you edit it and retrain its length. If you find your speech is not long enough, research to find more information. Also remember, you never want to rush through your speech; remember to pace yourself.
If you plan to prepare in advance for a speech, try to memorize your remarks. This will help you with the overall delivery. By memorizing your speech ahead of time, it also gives you confidence to ad lib parts of it while you are on stage.
Learn as much as you can about the subject you are presenting. Think about the material that you are trying to get across. Work them in when you can to see how your audience reacts. Your thorough knowledge about the subject is also great in the Q and A that follows up the speech.
Always look at your audience when speaking. Do not let yourself become distracted by something else happening in the room. You want to make your audience see your point, which means they need your complete attention.
Once you memorize your speech, then practice it over and over. Speaking it out loud often will allow you to make tweaks as you see the need. You should also practice breathing and the pace of your speaking. Leave time for any interruptions, such as applause or laughter. When you can, try out your speech using the exact equipment used in the public event.
Make sure you have a good understanding about your topic when you’re preparing your speech. Research your topic completely. 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.
If you are anxious about public speaking, practice deep breathing techniques. Before you start to speak, breath deeply a few times and then exhale. Try inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while counting to five. Repeat this breathing technique five times to help calm your nerves.
Before starting your speech, try to win over the audience. Be available to shake some hands and smile as people enter the room. The audience is sure to show appreciation if you have a great attitude.
Practice your speech each day. This will help you increase your confidence. Have your notes with you as you stand at the podium, even if you’ve done a good job of memorizing your speech. That way, if there’s a point you forget, you can make a quick glance at your notes to jog your memory.
To ensure that your audience remembers your speech, do your best to end it with something that will stick in their minds. There are going to other parts in your speech that are important to your audience, but your final point is what so many people will remember most. Ending on a boring note isn’t going to lodge your speech into long-term memories.
Note Cards
Note cards are great tools for speeches. Having a copy of your speech is a good idea, even when you have the speech memorized. Your entire speech need not be written out, but make note cards on the key points to make sure you do not forget anything.
When preparing to make a public speech, picture giving it in your mind. You want to visualize the speech and the audience reactions. You’ll be more confident if you think the audience will respond well.
Ask Questions
Don’t make people wait to ask questions. People may likely forget the questions that they had. Instead, allow people to ask questions throughout the speech. This will help them appreciate you as a speaker.
Many people really don’t like the thought of speaking in public. However, with some tips, there is no need to fear. Hopefully, the article above has offered the necessary insights to demystify the process for reluctant speakers everywhere.
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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