Public Speaking Tips: How To Make a Speech Like a Pro
If you are expected to make a speech or give a talk, check out the below article for 8 simple tips that will help things go smoothly. 1. Practice in front of a video camera or mirror, and rehearse enough times to feel confident…
——- Public Speaking Tips – Make a Speech Like a Pro By Judy Camp
Public speaking can be a scary thing the first few times you try it, but people who speak often have a few tricks that help improve their performance. If you are expected to make a speech or give a talk, here are eight simple tips that will help things go smoothly.
1. Practice in front of a video camera or mirror, and rehearse enough times to feel confident, without saying “um”. In between rehearsing, take a moment to close your eyes and visualize your audience smiling and enjoying your talk. Visualization might seem strange, but it has been proven that positive visualizing beforehand will create a positive experience.
2. Know the material well. The key to public speaking is not just to memorize enough for the presentation, but to really know it well enough to explain it without making a speech. That will make you much more comfortable and confident during your speech. Search out various sources of information, from different points of view, which might make your speech more colorful.
3. Think about your audience, and why they need the information, and where they are coming from. Figure out what they will find most interesting. Tailor your speech depending on the audience’s background, age, nationality and other demographics and psychographics.
4. Back up your points with solid facts. Don’t make accusations or speculate on points you cannot back up. If you do, and your audience does not agree with you, they will often stop listening entirely.
5. Create an outline and follow it. Your audience should not have a hard time following your thoughts or taking notes. Be clear when stating an idea about whether it is a main point or a subtopic.
6. Use visual aids, but keep them to a minimum. A simple slide show indicating the outline of your speech can help the audience follow along. But do not try to put everything into the visual aid, or it will be distracting.
7. Try to get comfortable with the setting. Take a look at the room in advance, if possible, and picture yourself giving your talk there. Relaxing is an important part of public speaking.
8. Perform deep breathing just before your speech, which will relax your body. If you can find a good place to do it, do some stretching exercises with your arms, head and shoulders.
By following these steps, you can remain confident during your speech.
Judy Camp is a writer for SolutionOriented.com, specializing in articles which offer business and career solutions for the small business owner or manager.
Public speaking is the number one fear for a large majority of people. To share the message you desire to get out there you need to be good in your presentation.
Do you rely too heavily on notes when speaking?
Do you avoid eye contact?
Learn how to steer clear of some common speaking mistakes that might alienate an audience…
Here are some common presentation mistakes that you should avoid when speaking:
Public Speaking Mistake #1 – Being Unprepared Preparation is key for an effective presentation.
Public Speaking Mistake #2 – Not Knowing Your Audience Tailor your presentation for relevance to your audience.
Public Speaking Mistake #3 – Not Having Clear Points Give your audience a simple take away from your message by breaking it up into smaller points.
Public Speaking Mistake #4 – Over Dependence On Visuals Don’t let your audience be victims of death by powerpoint!
Public Speaking Mistake #5 – Not Getting Honest Feedback The simplest method to improve your presentation skills is to ask for feedback.
Bonus Tip #1: Not Having Your Timing Right Comedians will tell you that the perfect joke relies more on timing than content.
Bonus Tip #2: Not Having A ‘Plan B’ What if… … your opening line falls flat, the microphone fails, or you are constantly interrupted? Create a contingency plan for a few worst case scenarios.
Don’t let your message be muted.
Youtube Video: Common Speaking Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some additional common speaking mistakes that you should avoid when doing your presentations:
1. Hiding from the audience. 2. Reading from your notes. 3. Offending your audience. 4. Not knowing your audience. 5. Obscuring your message.
For details, check out the below video about Speaking Mistakes to Avoid.
1. Not tailoring your message to your audience “Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.” “On the other hand, if you don’t talk to your audience about themselves, they most likely won’t listen.”
2. Eye dart “From beginners to veterans, the majority of speakers fail to maintain meaningful, sustained eye contact with their listeners. To visually connect, maintain eye contact for at least two to three seconds per person, or long enough to complete a full phrase or sentence.”
3. Distracting mannerisms “There are at least 20 common tics to tackle, including: clenching or wringing your hands, pacing back and forth, keeping your hands in pockets, jingling change or keys, twisting your ring, gripping the lectern, licking your lips, adjusting your hair or clothing, fidgeting with a pen, bobbing your head, placing your arms behind your back, and touching your face. As a remedy, record yourself speaking and watch the playback.”
4. Low energy “A boring delivery — evidenced by a low monotone voice, dull facial expressions, and overall lethargy — is their most disliked trait.” “To avoid losing your audience in a New York minute, crank up the energy level,” says Price. “Speak expressively, smile sincerely, move naturally, and enjoy the moment.”
5. Not rehearsing Most proficient presenters prepare. “That is, they know the topic, organize their content, design a slide deck, and study their notes,” Price says. “This bad habit results in the audience seeing and hearing the unrefined run-through, versus the finessed final performance.”
6. Data dumping “Ditch the habit of data dumping. It loses the audience and undermines your innate ability to inspire, connect, and persuade.”
7. Not inspiring “An engaging, memorable, and persuasive presentation is balanced with both information and inspiration.” “It speaks to the head and the heart, leveraging both facts and feelings.”
8. Lack of pauses “Many speakers have the bad habit of rushing through their content.” “The three times you definitely want to pause include: before and after you say something very important which you want your audience to remember; before and after you transition from one key talking point to the next; and between your opening, main body, and closing.”
9. Not crafting a powerful opening “The beginning is the most important part of the work. So, open with a bang. Invest the thought, time and effort to craft and memorize the most important part of the work.”
10. Using too much (or not enough) humor “You don’t want your presentation to be dry and boring, but you also don’t want to come off like you’re trying too hard to be a stand-up comedian. A good rule of thumb is to be yourself, and infuse a bit of humor when appropriate.”
11. Reading from your slides “The people watching your presentation can read, so giving them the exact same information verbally and visually can be boring and insulting. Use slides as visual signposts for the points you’re making rather than a written version or summary of those points.”
12. Making an excuse or an apology “Making an excuse or an apology sets a negative tone and gives people a reason to think your presentation was underwhelming.”
13. Ending with Q&A “It’s fine to invite the audience’s comments and questions; however, be sure to end strong.” “Craft an effective three-part closing where you deliver a strong summary; present a call-to-action; and conclude with a powerful closing statement.”
Need more public speaking mistakes to avoid?
Here are the Top 10 Presentation Mistakes mentioned in the below videos:
1. Little, if any, advanced planning and practice.
2. “Me” focused.
3. Lack of clarity and structure.
4. Too much information.
5. Lack of creativity or a Big idea.
6. Little client interaction.
7. Visuals: Too much, too many or none at all.
8. Reading slides or speech.
9. “Ums,” “so” and “you know”.
10. Weak opening/ closing or call to action.
Have you made any of the above mistakes in your presentations?
For details, check out the below videos for tips on top 10 public speaking presentation mistakes created by Marc Corsini…
1. Feeling nervous about speaking in front of groups “Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to make sure the technology is working. Practice your opening so you will feel more comfortable. Turn your audience from strangers to friends by saying hi. Focus on serving the audience.”
2. Not telling great stories
3. Having a voice that shakes “Warm up your voice before speaking. Breathe in through your nose, fill up your tummy.”
4. Avoiding humor
5. Picturing the audience “in their underwear” Stop doing that. Picture talking to your friends in the living room instead.
6. Worrying about what to say during the Q&A “Write down the possible questions people may ask you during the presentation. Practice answering these questions.”
7. Making a PowerPoint bullet-point data dump “People want to listen to you, not your slides. Storyboard your ideas with sticky notes. Find powerful images. Create engaging slides.”
8. Opening with “Good morning, everyone. Today I will talk about … “ “B-O-R-I-N-G. You only have seven seconds to grab your audience’s attention. A great way is to ask a rhetorical question.”
9. Believing “practice makes perfect” “Practice doesn’t make perfect; practice with feedback makes great improvement.”
10. Having a weak closing “To inspire action, summarize your key points. Repeat your message. Give a specific action step.”
Avoid making the above mentioned presentation mistakes and get over your fear of public speaking.
If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club.
You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.
“I once heard Jerry Seinfeld joke that, because the fear of public speaking outranks even that of death, the average person attending a funeral would rather be “the guy in the casket than doing the eulogy.” Put to you this way, you’d probably want to get over your fear of public speaking (if you have one) in a hurry. This is particularly true in the workplace where public speaking is frequently a part of office life. For some people, the thought of leading meetings or making formal presentations can be terrifying. Some are so terrified their muscles tighten and throats get so dry they can hardly speak when just having to introduce themselves to a group of their peers around the boardroom table…” Check out the below full article for more information.
If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.
—– Public Speaking Tips – 4 Ways to Avoid Presentation Disasters By Dr. Sandra Folk
I once heard Jerry Seinfeld joke that, because the fear of public speaking outranks even that of death, the average person attending a funeral would rather be “the guy in the casket than doing the eulogy.” Continue reading →
What is the best way to engage an audience? Check out the below article.
If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club.
You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.
Executive speech coach and award-winning speaker Patricia Fripp was recently asked, “What is the best way to engage an audience?” This is the advice she gave the attendee at her San Francisco Speaking school:
“The best way to engage an audience is to be prepared, personable, polished, practical, and profound.”
Prepared:
Know who you are speaking to: why are they there; what part of the agenda; what is the purpose of the meeting and expected outcomes of your contribution?
Is there a theme for the meeting?
What is the state of their industry?
What is the organization proud of?
What are their challenges?
What is a typical day in the life of the audience members?
Ahead of time, can you interview a few people who will be in the audience and find ‘sound bite’ quotes? Continue reading →
Public speaking is known as one of the most powerful ways to market your business.
In the spirit of constructive criticism and realizing there is always room for improvement with even the best speakers, the information in the following article “Public Speaking – Top 5 Mistakes Speakers Make While On Stage” is meant to help.
Even good speakers make mistakes. Knowing these top 5 mistakes will help you for the time when you get out there in front of a live audience so you can get more prospects, more clients, and more cash flow now.
Join Toastmasters and find a club that you like to practise your speeches in a friendly environments. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.
Public Speaking – Top 5 Mistakes Speakers Make While On Stage By Felicia Slattery
Public speaking is known as one of the most powerful ways to market your business. As a public speaking trainer, I have the opportunity to see many great speakers first-hand. Lately I’ve noticed more and more entrepreneurs using public speaking to market their businesses. And it’s great!
In the spirit of constructive criticism and realizing there is always room for improvement with even the best speakers, the information in this article is meant to help. Although I have had more than 30 years experience speaking in public, I know I’m not perfect, either. With that in mind, I have noticed some good speakers making some mistakes. Hopefully knowing these top five mistakes will help you for the time when you get out there in front of a live audience.
Mistake 1: Rambling
Plan you presentation. Have a clear and focused goal and point of your speech. Follow it. Help your audience follow you.
Mistake 2: Too-Crowded Visuals
Don’t write every word of your speech on a Power Point Presentation and call that a visual aid. It’s a crutch for you and difficult on the audience. You’re better off without it.
Mistake 3: Using Filler Words
A presentation should feel like a conversation with your audience, yes, but there are a few things that may be acceptable in one to one conversation that you should avoid in a speech. Filler words like “you know” don’t do much to enhance a conversation in general, but truly don’t belong in any speech.
Mistake 4: Being Too Casual
Some people downplay the importance of dressing the part of a successful professional. However it is appropriate to follow through on your branding. For example my friend, Carrie Wilkerson, calls herself the “Barefoot Executive” so when she kicks off her shoes during a presentation that works for her.
Mistake 5: Not Having ANY Offer
Not every speech should have the purpose of selling something, but it’s a mistake to leave the stage without offering your audience reason for them to stay engaged and allow you to follow up with them after the event has ended.
Public speaking is one of the most effective ways to market a small business. I invite you to discover how to create your own talk and the 5 easy steps you can take today to get started with this powerful marketing tool. Pick up a FREE recording where you’ll get all the secrets of marketing your business with a speech. Go now to http://www.SignatureSpeechSecrets.com
Felicia J. Slattery, M.A., M.Ad.Ed. is a communication consultant, speaker & coach specializing in training small and home-based business owners effective communication and public speaking skills so they can see more cash flow now.
Congratulations to Mike Carr, District 55, on becoming the 2020 World Champion of Public Speaking.
Congratulations to Linda Miller, District 37, on finishing in second place. Congratulations to Lindy MacLaine, District 32, on finishing in third place for his speech.
“Each year, thousands of Toastmasters, representing over 100 countries, battle for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking. This months-long competition culminated at the 2020 Virtual Convention as the 28 semifinalists competed for a title that transforms lives.”
1st place: Watch Mike Carr – the 2020 Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking – deliver his winning speech “The Librarian & Mrs. Montgomery.”
“With an inspiring speech titled, “The Librarian & Mrs. Montgomery,” Mike Carr, a 53-year-old Financial Analyst from Austin, Texas, won the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking on Saturday, Aug. 29. Carr, along with seven other final contestants, reached the championship level after several eliminating rounds that began more than six months ago with 30,000 participants from 145 countries…”
Linda-Marie Miller: 2nd place winner, 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking
Her speech is titled, “Pretending Not to Know.”
Lindy MacLaine: 3rd place winner, 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking
Her speech is titled, “Your Buried Story.”
Toastmasters International 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking
Experience the thrill as eight finalists compete to become the 2020 World Champion of Public Speaking.
Practice is the key to helping you improve your communication and presentation skills. Join Toastmasters and find a club that you like to practise your speeches in a friendly environment. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.
P.S. World Champions of Public Speaking Winning Speeches Playlist
“World Champion Speaker Reveals his #1 Key to Overcoming Fear Eliminating the Negative Self-Talk, and & Delivering a Clear Message…Even If This is Your Very First Speech.”
If you are expected to make a speech or give a talk, check out the below article for 8 simple tips that will help things go smoothly. 1. Practice in front of a video camera or mirror, and rehearse enough times to feel confident…
