Public speaking can be downright frightening, but if you live long enough, chances are that you will be asked to speak to a group. Learn how to give a speech that will engage the audience. Giving a great speech is not impossible if you keep these public speaking tips and tricks in mind.
Don’t Let ’Em See You Sweat
Even if you feel like you are going to faint, don’t waste time apologizing for being nervous, because chances are, the audience won’t notice if you avoid the following:
- shaky voice
- fidgeting
- a death grip on the podium
- reading the speech word for word
Making eye contact, smiling, and controlling your breathing will go a long way in exuding confidence. On July 20, 2007, Sarah Pierce posted “The Perfect Presentation: Speaking” on entrepreneur.com. “Walk into a room like you belong there,” suggests professional speaker, Kelly Swanson. “Make your introduction warm and welcoming, but maintain a professional air that says you have control of this situation.”
Don’t be Derailed by Technology Glitches
Arrive early so you can check out the speaking facilities. Is there a microphone attached to a podium or a lapel mic? Do you have all the proper equipment necessary and does it work correctly?
On February 11, 2011, Bronwyn Saglimbeni from Bronwyn Communications posted “The 10 Biggest Public Speaking Phobias And How To Overcome Them” on Business Insider. She states, “make sure you know your stuff so thoroughly that if you had to get up and wing it without PowerPoint, or without your demo, or with a non-existent Internet connection, you could do so without breaking into a cold sweat.” It’s important to keep in mind that you will have very little control over technology glitches, so don’t allow them to derail your speech.
Don’t Put Your Audience to Sleep
Most likely you’ve had at least one experience attending a meeting or conference where you were bored out of your mind. You know what you were thinking or saying when you left the auditorium and you don’t want people thinking those things about you! So, get the audience’s attention with the first few sentences of the speech by giving a statistic or telling a joke. Even if the subject matter is less than arousing, don’t speak in a monotone voice. The overall speech can be a hit with the audience if mixed with humor or other interesting facts.
Do Have Something Valuable to Say
Great speeches contain information that the audience finds valuable. Know the purpose of your speech. Is it to showcase a new product? Is it to encourage leadership? Once the purpose is understood, the speech can be tailored to that purpose. What do you want the audience to remember from your speech? Try to limit yourself to three main points. Everything in the speech should revolve around these key points. Presentation slides should only be used to complement the speech and should not take your place as the focal point.
Do Interact With the Audience
Get the audience’s attention in the first few minutes of the presentation by retelling a story, asking a question, or by using humor. Keeping the audience’s attention and interest can be extremely difficult in the age of distracting mobile devices (some professional speakers use mobile devices to their advantage by allowing audience members to text questions during the show). Look for ways to involve the audience by asking individual questions or by polling them. You can even give out small prizes throughout the speech to individuals who answer questions as a way of keeping the audience engaged.
Do Practice to Make Perfect
On December 1, 2001, Utah Business featured Liz Sweeten’s article, “Hitting a high note with your Keynote Speaker.” Sweeten says, “Most skilled public speakers didn’t start out that way. Practicing your speeches not only familiarizes you with the material, but it can also help you determine pacing, time parameters, content that may be unclear, words you might stumble over and jokes that sound corny.” Practice in front of a friend, the mirror, or a video recorder. Practice enough so that you won’t be chained to your notes and you’ll feel much more confidant when it’s go time!
Communicating effectively is crucial to the success of business professionals. Giving a speech presents the speaker with an opportunity to shine. Pulling off an excellent delivery is a surefire way to get noticed and to gain the respect of your audience. In addition to gaining respect, you will likely gain new clients, a promotion, and if you are lucky, a pay raise!
