TIPS OF SPEAKING IN

THE PUBLIC

There are

some tips

when you

want to

speak in the

public

Be Prepared. Practice,

practice, practice!

Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe.

Know your material.Pick a topic you are interested in. Know moreabout it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.

Know the room

Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

RelaxBegin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nervousness. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

Don’t apologize

Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.

Concentrate on the

message – not the medium

Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.

Use body language

A speech may have great content, but if a speaker’s body language does not show confidence then the message cannot be delivered effectively. A speaker must exude confidence in their message.

Be confidentA nervous person can also be confident. The energy and adrenaline that causes nervousness can also help a person seem excited about a topic. It may even get them excited. Taking time to relax is also a good way for speakers to create confidence within themselves.

Connect with the

audienceLook at the audience directly when addressing them. Speak loudly and persuasively. Do not get bogged down in a prepared speech. If it is not working the way it was intended, be flexible and make changes where necessary.

Be Aware of Time

ConstraintsWhen practicing at home use a stopwatch. Cut the speech down to fit those time constraints and allow a little extra time at the end. Do not use an extraneous words or repetitive sentences.

References

http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp

http://publicspeakingtips.net/