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Tips On Public Speaking

The following tips on public speaking will set you on your way to changing your life. Speaking in public, or making presentations at work will increase your confidence and open up many avenues for advancement you did not believe existed. Public speaking is the most valuable life skill you can have.

Begin to overcome your fear and move you life forwards. The following tips on public speaking will help you to begin or perhaps remind you of things you know should be done but are forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Prepare well before making a presentation.

Preparation is the key to any well delivered presentation. Ensure you know where you will speak, the layout of the room, the size of the audience, the background of the audience and any technology that may be available.

Do not leave anything to chance. Consider all of the alternative scenarios for things that may go wrong and prepare your response in advance. Forward planning will bring you confidence and leave your audience feeling that you are a well organised professional which will increase the confidence they have in you and your message.

Although you should not memorise your material you should be very familiar with the message you intend to deliver. Trying to write a speech can leave the delivery very stilted unless you happen to be a very experienced public speaker. Know your material so that you can deliver a polished performance without constantly referring to notes.

If you are using any props, overheads or power point presentations ensure they are prepared and you are very familiar with them. Poor use of props while giving a presentation will simply make you appear unprepared and educe your confidence.

Know something about your audience. This will enable you to tailor your presentation accordingly and use appropriate humour. Inappropriate humour will destroy the effectiveness of a presentation very quickly

Practice your presentation.

Amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they cannot get it wrong.

Practice, practice and then practice again if you wish to deliver a presentation you are happy with. Practice the gestures you will use and the props you will employ. Practice using any technology you are taking advantage of. Practice your response to questions and any problems that may arise. The more you practice the more confident you will feel and the better will be your presentation.

Have a back up plan.

Things go wrong even for the best and most well prepared presenters. Computers fail to work or you forget what you were going to say. Something will go wrong so have a backup plan. If you are using a computer to deliver a power point presentation also put your presentation on a disk. If your computer fails you can always borrow another laptop and use your disk. Prepare notes that will help you find your place in the event that you forget a point you were supposed to cover.

Prepare a backup plan for the things that can go wrong and you will reduce your worry and increase your effectiveness.

Relax

Relax before you start your presentation. Take time to compose yourself by thanking whoever has introduced you. Then take a few moments to look around the room, make eye contact with people and smile at them. This will put both your audience and yourself at ease. You will appear to e calm and relaxed – even if you are not – and your audience will become more relaxed and receptive. Take a few deep breaths and begin to speak.