Use a timer to know how long your written speech is. This will allow you to edit your speech to keep it within the necessary time constraints. If your speech is too short, research and find more information to fill in the time. Finally, do not rush when giving your speech.
Preparation is key when it comes to making a good impression when speaking in public. Know what you want to say. Do research to support your statements if necessary. Write down what you want to say. Practice your remarks over and over until you know them by heart. Being well prepared allows you to feel confident when the time comes for you to make your actual speech.
If you are preparing for a public speaking engagement in advance, memorize your speech first, before anything else. Once you can recite your speech from memory at any point of day, then you can work on delivery. Having your speech memorized in advance also gives you a chance to ad lib comfortably on the stage.
Know your material as best you can. Even when you memorize your speech, it is good to know facts, figures and even jokes and stories related to your topic. Work them in on the fly depending on how you gauge your audience. Also use them to reinforce your speech in questions and answer sessions or follow up conversations.
Once you have initially memorized your speech, practice it repeatedly. Practice often to tweak your speech as needed. Also master breathing and pace. Make sure that your speech time allows some open space for interruptions, which are hopefully applause. Whenever possible, practice your speech on the very equipment you will use.
Make sure that you know your audience. If possible, find out some of the individuals that will be in the crowd. If you can, greet some of them as they walk in the door and learn their names. Having a personal familiarity with a few people in the crowd can make it a lot more friendly feeling.
Preparation is key when it comes to making a good impression when speaking in public. Know what you want to say. Do research to support your statements if necessary. Write down what you want to say. Practice your remarks over and over until you know them by heart. Being well prepared allows you to feel confident when the time comes for you to make your actual speech.
If you realize you missed a sentence of your speech, just keep going. By stopping in the middle of your speech to go back to the missed sentence, you may blow the whole speech. Plus, people are less likely to realized you skipped a sentence if you do not bring any attention to the matter.
It is important to know your material if you want to feel confident about speaking in public. Choose a topic that genuinely interests you and one that you have personal experience with. Keep your tone conversational and you’ll impress your audience with your knowledge instead of confusing them with complicated jargon.
Practice your speech daily. This will really bolster your confidence because you will know your material inside and out. Although you may have your speech memorized, you should always take your notes to the podium with you. That way if you forget what you are to say, you can glance down at your notes and refresh your memory.
One way to become more effective at public speaking is to concentrate on telling a true story. Outline your story before your speaking engagement. Your story should have a clear beginning middle and end for better communication of your ideas. Make sure your story is based on a real life event and your words will come off as authentic and natural.
Once you have prepared your speech, practice it as often as necessary until you have it memorized. Practice in front of a mirror where you can try using various hand gestures and facial expressions to help make your points. Get feedback from family members or friends by doing a dry run for them. They can help you make improvements to the content and delivery of your remarks.
If you want people to remember your speech, try to make them ending as memorable as possible. While at parts of your speech are important, the ending is what people will probably most remember. Ending with something boring is not going to keep your speech on their mind for too long.
A strong, clear voice is critical when speaking to large groups. If possible, keep a glass of water within reach during your engagement. Avoid drinking sodas or dairy beverages the day of your speech. These fluids thicken your saliva and may even stimulate mucous production. A cup of hot tea before your speech helps to relax your vocal cords.
If you realize you missed a sentence of your speech, just keep going. By stopping in the middle of your speech to go back to the missed sentence, you may blow the whole speech. Plus, people are less likely to realized you skipped a sentence if you do not bring any attention to the matter.
Ask Questions
Do not make people wait until the end of your speech to ask questions. They may forget what it is that they want to ask. People will appreciate you much more as a speaker if you allow them to ask questions whenever they like, so give them exactly what they want.
Get your head in the right zone. It is okay if you are feeling nervous. Everyone feels nervous before a speech. It is not okay if you are thinking negatively. If you think you will bomb the speech, you probably will. Know you are going to do well, and you will.
If you are anxious about public speaking, practice deep breathing techniques. Taking a few deep breaths and exhaling completely before you begin your speech will help you get your nerves under control. Inhale through your nose for a four-count, and exhale through your mouth for a five-count. Repeat six times, and you will feel much calmer.
When you are nervous before you give a speech, imagine that you are a person in the audience. Would you point and laugh if the speaker made a mistake? Would you think any less of the speaker? If you make a mistake, it is not a big deal and you are your biggest critic.
Try not to announce to the audience that you are really nervous about giving your speech. Your speech will usually hold more weight without that confession. Many times, the speaker thinks that the audience can tell when they are nervous, but this is usually not the case. It is better to let them think that you are confident and in charge, even if you don’t feel that way.
Speed is very important when you are making a speech. Nerves will make you speak too fast and your audience will miss some important points. Slow your speech down too much and you audience is sure to be too bored to listen. Practice your speech many times to get the right speed perfected.
Avoid drinking alcohol before your speech. Although it may seem like a good idea to help bolster your confidence, it is a bad idea. Nothing is worse than getting up on the platform and forgetting what you are going to say because you have imbibed in alcoholic beverages before your speech.
from Personal Coaching Center http://ift.tt/1MPqISb
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