Public Speaking

The important areas of the presentation:

  1. The delivery
  2. The content
  3. The visual aids

The Delivery:

Body:

•  Stand straight up:

•  Helps voice carry.

Eyes up

•  No one wants to see you staring at your own feet.

•  No one wants to see the top of your head as you read your index cards!

No fidgeting:

•  You will probably be nervous.most people are (public speaking is the biggest fear of most people)! But try your best not to fidget. This will detract attention from your presentation and will focus that attention on whatever you are playing around with.

•  Use gestures and movement to reinforce the ideas of the speech - it will also increase your energy and ease your nervousness.

Easy, natural hand and body movements:

•  It's fine to move your hands and to even.move around the room! As long as it is natural. Don't force movement.

Eye contact:

•  If you can look around the room at your audience - that is great. If not, pick a spot in the at the back of the room in the center - this keeps your eyes up (it appears that you are looking toward your audience).

Voice:

•  Use a good speaking voice:

•  Speak clearly and concisely.

•  Don't speak too softly, but don't yell either. Judge your volume level by the size of the crowd and the venue at which you are speaking.

•  Use vocal variety in the loudness, rate and pitch (keeps away from monotone speech, while bringing attention to the particular concept/topics).

Know the words you are using:

•  If you are unsure of any of the words (how to pronounce them, the meaning, etc.), look them up or ask someone prior to the presentation.

•  Try to stay away from fillers:

•  Don't "um" and "uh" your audience to death. While talking, use real words.

Audience Attention/Involvement:

•  Use humor: just make sure your humor is acceptable and is natural. If you are not usually a funny person, then don't try to force humor.

•  Where possible, engage the audience and ask them questions: this involves your audience and lets you know if they are paying attention.

•  Bring the audience's attention back to you (mainly used in instruction): If your audience is not paying attention it is okay to employ methods to bring the focus back to the lecture. A few seconds of silence, a random question, the threat of a quiz!

The Content:

•  Make sure you have properly researched and written your presentation. This will show your audience that you know what you are talking about. It will also help if the audience asks you questions at the end of your presentation.

•  Make sure you go over your presentation the night before. This will prevent you from having to look down at your note cards, paper, etc. too often. This will also prevent you from stumbling over foreign words. You can even practice body movements, voice volume, joke delivery, etc.

•  Prepare note cards or note sheets. Make sure they are just key words and phrases and not your entire speech. Nothing is less fun than watching someone read. The information on your cards should strictly be used a prompts or reminders.

•  Practice, practice, practice.

The Visual Aids:

Two key things to remember when working with visual aids:

•  Don't let the visual aid overpower you. A visual aid is just that.an aid. It should not be your entire presentation.

•  If reading from a visual aid.treat it as if it was a note card. Look up, get your bearings and look back at your audience. Don't read word for word off of your presentation.

Some tips to combat STAGE FRIGHT!

•  Take nice, deep breaths. Believe it or not this will help calm you down.

•  Keep the length of your presentation in mind. Most aren't very long; they just seem long because you are afraid. Just keep thinking that it's almost over. Don't rush through it though!

Remember.PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Don't fear the presentation. The more you speak in public the easier it becomes.

 

Russell Conwell Center

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