Tag Archives: Public Speaking Tips

How to Use Notes When Speaking In Public

“Public Speaking Tips – How to Use Notes When Speaking In Public”

Is it okay to use notes when speaking in public? Sure, as long as you don’t misuse them. The following article will show you the 5 Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to using notes in public speaking.

Enjoy!

If you are living in Singapore, you are welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC).

Yetti
Club President 2007-2008
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

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Public Speaking Do’s & Don’ts – How to Use Notes When Speaking In Public
By Nancy Tierney

Public speaking experts can become public speaking snobs when it comes to the question of using notes when speaking. The super snobs will tell you to never use them, that they are sign of weakness and lack of skill, that they disconnect you from your audience, that they make you boring and dull.

But this is not necessarily true. You can use notes in such a way that allow you greater skill, confidence and effectiveness. Notes can free you up to take risks, be conversational, and have a little more spontaneous fun because you know you can always refer to your notes if you need to get back on track.

If you use notes, use them well.

5 DON’TS:

— Don’t read your notes!
There is nothing more boring than someone reading their speech. Don’t stick your face in your notes and read them. You should know your speech well enough that you only need to glance at your notes once in a while to prompt you to the next point, story or interaction.

— Don’t fiddle with your note cards or paper.

Don’t hold your notes in your hands, fiddle with them or fling them about like a feather boa. Not only is this distracting, but it tends to distance you from your audience. You don’t want any object between you and your audience, whether it be your notes or a lectern.

— Don’t apologize.

If you need to refer to your notes, don’t apologize. Don’t say, “I’m sorry, I need to look at my notes.” Why are you apologizing? You’re not doing anything wrong.

— Don’t try to hide it.

Dale Carnegie states in his book, Public Speaking for Success, that if you have to use your notes, be sure your audience doesn’t see you doing it. That’s just nuts. Don’t insult your audience by pretending not to look while you’re looking. You never want to hide from your audience. It makes you appear untrustworthy.

5 DO’s:

— Make your notes user-friendly

Make sure your notes are easy for you to read and use. Use one sheet of paper that holds the outline of your speech with bullet points and short phrases. Just enough to remind you of what you want to say. Make the font huge so it’s easy for you to see.

— Keep them in one place.

Place you notes on a table or lectern and leave them there! If you need to refer to them, walk over, glance at them, and then continue with your speech.

— Know your speech.

Know your speech well enough that you could present it without notes. Your notes should only be used as a prompt, not a crutch, just in case you need a little memory jog.

— Be real and deliberate.

If you’re going to look at your notes, do so confidently and deliberately. Don’t try to sneak a look or pretend it’s not happening. Walk over to those notes with confidence and take a good look.

— Stay connected.

If you need to look at your notes, stop speaking, take a glance, then look up and be with your audience before you start speaking again. Never speak into your notes. It cuts off the connection between you and your audience. Take a glance and then be sure your eyes are with them before you launch into your next point.

Sometimes, just knowing you have notes available offers you enough extra security that you end up never having to use them. So, bring those notes along, use them well, and have a blast.

If you’d like more tips on how to be a confident speaker, sign up for my free monthly e-zine, Becoming Fearless here: http://www.unconditionalconfidence.com .

You can also get the 3 Secrets to engaging your audience any time you are speaking on the Engage Your Audience CD.

Nancy Tierney teaches entrepreneurs how to speak in public with confidence, ease and their own kind of charisma. You can discover how to be completely confident any time you are expressing yourself in any way by going to: http://www.unconditionalconfidence.com .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Tierney
http://EzineArticles.com/?Public-Speaking-Dos-and-Donts—How-to-Use-Notes-When-Speaking-In-Public&id=605479

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Public Speaking Tips by Wekie Tay

There are great postings on Wekie Tay’s Blog about “Proven Tips To Boost Your Public Speaking And Presentation Skills”.

You can click the below links to view the original postings. 

Wekie shares the following tips in the Part 1:

1. Give life and characters to the people in your speeches.

2. Explore depth rather than breath.

3. Trust yourself, no matter how unprepared you are.

4. Speak with your audience, than merely to your audience.

Here are the tips from the Part 2: 

1. Keep the speech generally positive if your purpose is to uplift the spirit.

2. Let us know what happened to the characters in your story.

3. Expand your body language with a purpose rather than to distract.

Wekie shares the following tips in the Part 3:

1. Harness the anticipation.

2. Shift the focus of your conclusion to your original purpose.

3. Cater your content to the audience.

Enjoy!

Yetti
Club President 2007-2008
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

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Public Speaking Tips – 10 Tips For Successful Public Speaking

10 Tips for Successful Public Speaking from Toastmasters International

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:

  1. Know the room.
    Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
  2. Know the audience.
    Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
  3. Know your material.
    If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.
  4. Relax.
    Ease tension by doing exercises.
  5. Visualize yourself giving your speech.
    Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
  6. Realize that people want you to succeed.
    Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
  7. Don’t apologize.
    If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
  8. Concentrate on the message — not the medium.
    Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
  9. Turn nervousness into positive energy.
    Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
  10. Gain experience.
          Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need. 

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If you are living in Singapore, you are welcome to visit our Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club (KSTMC).
It is free of charge. Just come and see what toastmasters are all about …

Yetti
Club President 2007-2008
Kowloon-Singapore Toastmasters Club

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