Public Speaking
Confidence Public Speaking Confidence
Hypnosis MP3
Banish public speaking fear by
re-educating your
unconscious mind to respond to presentations with
confidence, energy and enthusiasm,
not anxiety and nerves! Enjoy
Giving Presentations
Increase IQ
Get The Latest Brain Health News,
Breakthrough IQ Techniques Brain Teaser, Puzzles and IQ
Software
Making
Friends with the Microphone
Dressing
for Success
How to
Use Humor Appropriately
Selecting
the Right Word Choice
Good
Posture and a Positive Personality
How to
Effectively Use Props
Don’t
Forget to Breathe
Add
Some Feeling
Get
Moving
Controlling
Your Hands and Arms
Body
Language—Is Your Body Saying More Than Your Mouth?
Dealing
with Questions
Introductions
Keeping
the Audience on Their Toes
Last-Minute
Checklist
CHAPTER 5
Types of Presentations and
Speeches
The
Toast
The
Acceptance Speech
Giving
a Sales Pitch: Being Persuasive
Speaking
on a Panel
The
Roast
Master
of Ceremonies
Making
a Rebuttal
The
Welcome Speech
The
Tribute Speech
The
Meeting
In
Front of a Class
Television
Appearances
Speaking
on the Radio
Impromptu
Speaking
Bibliography
CHAPTER
1
Why Public Speaking is Scary
If you’re going to stand up
and speak in front of a roomful of people, you are probably going to be
nervous. If you’re not, it means that you’re either a very experienced
public speaker, not fully aware of the speaking situation, or just
plain out of it.
So why does just the
thought of speaking in public make so many people nauseous?
It’s natural to want to
make a positive impression on other people. People go to great lengths
to make a good impression on others, from taking classes in speech,
manners, and presentation skills to shopping for the right outfits and
even undergoing plastic surgery. Billions of dollars are spent every
year on products and services to help us look and sound better in front
of our peers. And to make things worse, the media is constantly
featuring attractive people who look and sound remarkably at ease in
front of the camera.
Speaking in public
emphasizes those feelings of wanting to make a good impression. We feel
our own insecurities being magnified, and we are keenly aware of being
judged. In addition, we want to sound intelligent, poised, and
professional as we definitely don’t want to make fools of ourselves.
With all of that at stake, it’s no wonder we are so scared of speaking
in public.
But yet, thousands of
people get up and speak in front of others every day. How is that
possible if we have so much to lose? It’s easy to do—simply change your
way of thinking. Of course, that’s easier said than done. However, if
you change your attitude from “What if I make a fool of myself?” to
“What if I really do well?” you’re already on the right path to a more
positive mindset. It’s amazing how many people will dwell on the
potential negative scenarios in contrast to how few will visualize
people walking up to them after their speech or presentation and
saying, “Nice job” or “I really enjoyed your talk.” The thought of
impending disaster overshadows the potential positive feeling of a job
well done. If a baseball player visualized striking out more often than
rounding the bases, he probably never would have stuck with the sport.
Why not put the same positive imagery to work for yourself?
If you stop and think about
it, you’ll probably find that 99 percent of the public speaking
engagements that you have been to have gone just fine. The question
isn’t whether the speakers were great orators, but simply how many met
with disaster. For the vast majority of speakers, their clothes didn’t
suddenly fall off, birds didn’t swoop down and take away their notes,
and they didn’t forget their speech (and even if a speaker missed a
line or two, or ten, chances are you didn’t even know it). It’s safe to
say that you probably cannot remember a real public speaking disaster
that you’ve seen.
The key to successful
public speaking is preparation. If you are confident that you know your
material and can clearly explain it to the mirror or to a friend or
colleague, then most likely you are ready to speak. At that point, the
number of people watching or listening should not matter. Your
presentation is ready, and you’re ready. The audience will enjoy,
appreciate, be entertained by, or be educated by what you have to say.
And, if not, that’s no longer your concern—you’ve done your part. You
cannot control your surroundings, but once you are well prepared and
have rehearsed, you can get up there and speak with confidence.
We tend to think that the
audience is 100 percent focused on how we look and what we have to say.
But the truth is that unless you’re giving the State of the Union
address or accepting an Academy Award, all eyes and ears typically do
not remain on you as you speak. In fact, surveys have shown that
audience members usually remember very little of a speech or
presentation. At least a few of the people in the front rows have to go
to the bathroom and are wondering how they can get out without being
noticed. A good number of the people in the middle rows are half
listening and half daydreaming, while the people in the back rows can’t
see you very well and are busy studying the people in the seats around
them. So, in other words, no one is 100 percent focused on you. If, in
fact, you do so well up there as to make them forget their other
concerns, then you have succeeded beyond your wildest hopes. If not,
you’ve simply succeeded in delivering your message.
The old saying “You are
your own worst critic” is especially appropriate when it comes to
public speaking. It is mainly what is going on in our own minds that
make us so nervous about speaking in public.
It is well known that many
famous speakers and performers such as Winston Churchill and Carly
Simon had stage fright. Yet they rose to the occasion and channeled
that fear in a way that helped them give a stellar speech or
performance. You too can channel your nervous energy through positive
imagery and think, “I’m going to wow them.”
CHAPTER
2
Learn to Relax
It’s been said that the
only thing scarier than death is speaking in public. But it doesn’t
have to be that way. This book is designed to give you the basic
information needed so that you will feel more confident and comfortable
when speaking in public. The goal of this book is to help you overcome
your fear by first learning how to relax, prepare, and practice.
You’ve probably heard it
many, many times before, but the suggestion that you should picture the
audience naked does actually have some value. You’re standing
vulnerable before them—feeling naked, in a way—so imagining them
literally naked can make things feel a little more equal. True
confidence, however, comes not from how you picture them but from how
much you believe in yourself, what you have to say, and how you present
it.
To get you started on the
right track, the next several pages present some exercises and
techniques to help you relax, prepare, and practice.
Relaxation
will help you eliminate negative energy and open the door to positive
visualization and positive energy. Instead of harboring your stress,
your mind and body will focus on the task at hand - communicating.
Preparation
is the cornerstone to speaking success. Researching, planning, and
organizing will make your job that much easier. You will have more
confidence if you are properly prepared to speak.
Practicemay not make you perfect, but it will help you eliminate
mistakes and familiarize yourself with the material. It will also help
you hone your communication skills. Practice also provides a time to
experiment.
Of course it won’t come all
together with one session in front of the mirror, but in time, using
some or all of the techniques listed, you can start the process that
will improve your public speaking abilities.
The type of speaking you
are preparing to do is somewhat irrelevant at the initial practice
stage. Later you will refine your skills with more specific types of
speaking engagements in mind. For now, you just want to get comfortable
with the general idea of speaking in front of other people—being seen,
being heard, and connecting with your audience.
AN IMPORTANT STEP
First of all, you need to
tell yourself, “There is no reason to be afraid of speaking in public!”
People speak in public
every day—in front of business colleagues, friends, family members and
large audiences of strangers. They do it, they survive, and more often
than not they feel very good about having spoken.
WHERE TO START
A quiet, relaxing place,
with minimal distractions, will allow you to focus on the initial
relaxation and breathing exercises. It will also allow you to close
your eyes and visualize, as well as to gather your thoughts as you
structure and build your presentation.
After you have been
practicing for a while, it is beneficial to find a place where you can
set up a video camera to tape yourself. Later, shift to a noisier
place, since there are usually distractions around you when you speak
in a public setting. Finally, look for someplace that resembles the
setting in which you will be speaking.
A FEW THINGS TO ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND
As you set off on the road
to more comfortable, polished public speaking, you should take with you
ten tidbits of advice that will serve you well:
If you’re worried about
speaking in public, know that you’re not alone.
You don’t appear as
nervous as you think you do—most people can’t even tell.
The audience is usually
on your side. They want you to succeed.
It’s okay to express
vulnerability—in fact, it’s typically well received.
You don’t have to be
perfect. If you mess up or make a mistake, just keep on going.
Set time aside to
prepare.
Set time aside to
practice.
Don’t forget to breathe
when you speak.
Remember to make eye
contact with your audience.
Try to have fun!
Remember,
most people are scared when it comes to public speaking. With that in
mind, try to muster up all of your nervous energy and just do it. Once
you step away from the microphone and one person walks up to you
afterward and tells you that he or she benefited from what you had to
say, you’ll no longer feel like a scaredy cat—you’ll feel like a great
speaker.
Basic Relaxation Exercises
Relaxation exercises come
in handy whenever you feel stress about speaking in public, whether you
are preparing to speak in a month or going onstage that evening. The
following sequence of relaxation exercises is a simple way to calm your
nerves.
RELAXATION
Stand comfortably, arms
at your side, and take several deep breaths (wear comfortable,
loose-fitting clothing).
Feel the air as you
release each breath. You can close your eyes if you like.
Breathe at a normal
rate and allow your body to relax.
HANG
YOUR HEAD
Let your head hang down
with your chin touching or nearly touching your chest.
Drop those shoulders
too!
ROLL
IT
Gently and slowly roll
your head in a circular motion several times.
Stop and let your head
hang limp again.
Slowly lift your head
up, breathe deeply three or four times, and open your eyes.
FACERCIZE
Tense the muscles of
your head and face. Clench your teeth and tighten your jaw, stretch
your cheeks, and scrunch your brow.
Now relax your facial
muscles one by one.
Slowly (so that you
don’t hurt your neck) let your head slump down to your chest.
Sit for a few minutes
and enjoy the relaxed feeling.
STRETCHING OUT
Sit comfortably, arms
at your sides, in a straight-backed chair and stretch your legs out in
front of you. Keep your legs relaxed.
Lift your arms slowly
and stretch them out in front of you.
TIGHTENING
Tighten your arm
muscles and point your hands straight out.
Tighten your leg
muscles and point your toes straight out.
LETTING GO
With your arms still
tensed and extended, turn your right wrist and hand back and forth as
if you were turning a doorknob, trying hard to open a door. Tighten
those fingers around the doorknob. Do it several times.
Count down from three:
three, two, one. When you reach one, keep your right arm tense but let
your hand drop and your fingers hang limply. Then let your arm drop
limply.
Now do the same with
the other hand, fingers, and arm.
BASIC DEEP BREATHING RELAXATION EXERCISE
Many athletes and
performers use this simple means of breathing properly to relax before
a competition or performance. You can use it to reduce stress before
you speak, thus allowing you to focus better on the task at hand.
Preferably standing
(but this can also be done if you are sitting) with your shoulders
straight, take a very deep breath through your nose. Hold it for ten
seconds and then release it with force through the mouth. Feel your
stomach expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale.
Repeat three or four
times.
Visualization
Visualization is a tool
that can help you relax almost anywhere. While a quiet room is
preferable, you can also practice visualization while waiting in line
at the store or while sitting in a traffic jam.
BASIC VISUALIZATION EXERCISE
Picture yourself:
Walking into a room
full of people comfortably seated
Walking to the stage or
the podium
Looking from the stage
or podium out at your audience
Beginning your speech
or presentation
Seeing the audience
sitting quietly and attentively and looking at you as you speak
Making eye contact with
a pleasant face in the crowd, perhaps someone you know
Concluding your
presentation and walking from the stage or podium
Hearing them applaud
Feeling a sense of calm
at having completed your presentation
(Hint: After you visualize
this scene from your perspective on the stage or podium, picture
yourself from the perspective of your audience, as though you are
watching yourself on tape.)
Add more details each time
you do this exercise. For example, add more details about how the room
looks, the size of the audience, or any materials you will be using.
Repeating this
visualization several times will make the mental experience more
comfortable and familiar. This will carry over into your real
presentation, keeping you calmer and more relaxed.
SIMPLIFIED VISUALIZATION EXERCISE
In case the previous
exercise seems too intimidating at first, begin with a simpler version.
Picture yourself
standing up in front of two or three people you feel very comfortable
around—friends, your spouse, your children—and telling them what you
have to say. Don’t present your material—just talk to them. If it’s
easier, start with all of you seated, then picture yourself standing up
as you talk.
Now add on a few more
people that you know. Again, just talk to them. The more you can liken
the situation to more casual communication, the less nerve-wracking a
speaking engagement will become.
See them looking at you
as you speak. Picture them smiling, even laughing as you make a joke.
Picture yourself
completing what you have to say and sitting down, feeling relaxed and
good about having spoken.
POSITIVE VISUALIZATION
A standard and very popular
relaxation method, known as positive visualization, can be done almost
anywhere. It works well if you can let yourself get lost in your visual
imagery.
Sit comfortably and
close your eyes.
Select a peaceful,
quiet place such as a beach or a park.
Picture yourself in
that place and very clearly visualize each of the elements around
you—sand, grass, breeze, scents, and so on. Focus on each detail of the
setting, letting all of your senses take in the imagery.
If you see something
that doesn’t belong, simply take it out of the picture.
After a few minutes,
tell yourself it’s time to leave, and slowly open your eyes. Sit for a
minute looking around. You should feel much more relaxed.
Positive visualization has
helped numerous speakers, athletes, and performers. In fact, some
people are said to be so good at it that they can visualize themselves
on a beach and, when they’re finished, walk away with a tan.
Increase IQ
Get The Latest Brain Health News,
Breakthrough IQ Techniques Brain Teaser, Puzzles and IQ
Software
CHAPTER 3
Preparing to Speak
in Public
Planning and preparing for
any type of public speaking engagement can make a world of difference.
Very few speakers can truly wing it. The better you know your topic and
the better prepared you are to present it, the more comfortable you
will feel. The fear of making a fool of yourself will greatly diminish
as you gain confidence in your ability to present the subject matter.
You may even come to look forward to speaking in public.
Planning
Architects have blueprints,
chefs have recipes, and teachers have lesson plans. Speakers too should
have some kind of plan whether it be an outline, an overview, or a
summary in whatever form makes you most comfortable.
Presentations will vary
greatly depending on the audience, subject matter, and occasion.
Someone making a toast at a wedding reception, a person making a
presentation in front of the board of directors, and someone conducting
an orientation for new college students are going to be taking very
different approaches.
Before you begin planning
your presentation, you need to ask yourself two questions:
Why are you speaking?
To whom will you be
speaking?
Later we’ll look more
closely at different types of speaking engagements.
REASONS FOR SPEAKING
So, just what is your
reason for speaking?
To persuade
To inform
To resolve a problem
To entertain
To debate
To motivate
To demonstrate
To honor, pay tribute
to, or present an award to someone
To introduce or welcome
someone or something
To accept an honor or
award
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
The more you know about the
people you will be speaking to, the easier it will be to tailor your
presentation. Therefore, you will want to get an idea of who will be in
your audience.
For example, a speech at a
retirement dinner for a colleague will likely be in front of people who
know a great deal about the guest of honor. This allows you to make
relatively subtle references to the honoree’s habits or traits. On the
other hand, at a sales presentation to introduce a brand-new product,
you will have to explain the product in detail. Audiences often have a
basic level of familiarity with the subject of your presentation but
are there to learn new or specific details.
To determine whether you
need to start with the basics or can dive right into more advanced
details, ask yourself:
Does your audience know
a fair amount about this topic, or is this an introduction to the
subject?
Will your audience be
composed of specialists, or will it be a general audience?
To determine their level of
interest and enthusiasm ask yourself:
Are audience members
here solely by choice, or were they sent by their employer, for school
credit, or for some other reason (such as a court ordered parenting
class)?
Will they be there for
the entire presentation, or will audience members be coming and going
throughout the presentation?
To determine the level of
language to use and, more importantly, what common reference points to
include, ask yourself:
Is the group of a
similar age and similar level of education, or is it very diverse?
Do audience members
have a common interest?
If you are speaking in an
effort to persuade others (such as a political speech or rally), ask
yourself:
Is the audience made up
primarily of supporters, opponents, or both?
Is the audience well
informed on the topic?
Answers to the above
questions will help you prepare for your speaking engagement. Do some
research on who will be attending. If you are in front of an audience
and not sure who is sitting out there, you might ask a general question
or two in order to determine who is out there and what they know. You
might even tell a joke (a tasteful one, of course) to see how they
respond.
THE AUDIENCE DOESN’T HAVE TO LOVE YOU
One mistake too many
speakers make is trying to please everyone in the audience. The truth
is, it simply can’t be done. If you speak before a hundred people and
one dozes off while two others walk out, you cannot take it personally.
In most public speaking
circumstances, the majority of your audience will be rooting for you to
succeed. If not, they’re likely to be, at worst, indifferent. This is
not a reflection on you; it may simply mean that people have other
things on their minds. For that matter, the person who walks out when
you are speaking may have just realized that if he doesn’t leave at
that moment, he’ll miss the last train home. There are many reasons
whey audiences respond as they do—just don’t take them personally.
Part of preparation is
telling yourself, “Not everyone will love me…and that’s okay.” Even the
finest actors and speakers of our time have received bad reviews. It
happens!
Some people will not want
to like you from the minute you are announced because of the mood they
are in on that particular day. On the other hand, others may love you
not because of anything you’ve said but because you remind them of
someone near and dear to them or because they love your choice of
shoes. You cannot possibly address all the reasons why people like or
dislike a speaker. The best you can expect from an audience is respect,
which means that they remain quiet unless some response is warranted.
Whatever you do, just
remember they don’t have to love you!
CONNECTING WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
While you cannot be all
things to all audience members, you can make some effort to connect to
your audience (however the larger the crowd, the harder this is to do).
Politicians try to do this in obvious ways by taking on the look of the
crowd in a respectful way (such as wearing a certain kind of clothing),
eating ethnic foods, and so on.
For instance, when speaking
to young children, using exaggerated expressions and gestures can help
one hold their attention. Sharing an anecdote that the group
specifically relates to can work well. For example, if you’re speaking
in front of a group of veterans, an anecdote from your days in the
military may go over quite well. If you are speaking to college
students, you will likely want to take a more casual approach, while
doing the corporate thing calls for an entirely different sort of
presentation.
The more you speak in
public, the more easily you’ll be able to adapt to your surroundings.
From your choice of words to your choice of clothes to your body
language and gestures, you’ll learn to give the people what they want.
Getting Organized
No matter how much research
you may need to do, in the end you will want to narrow it all down to
3-by-5 index cards.
First write down your
objective—why you are speaking—and prop the card in front of you. You
might even want to keep this on a sticky note.
Next, brainstorm about
ideas you could present to your audience, and write each on a separate
card. After you have come up with many possible ideas, sort the cards
into four piles:
Ideas you definitely
want to talk about
Ideas you may talk
about if you find enough information or have enough time
Ideas you can eliminate
or may use only if trying to stretch
Ideas you will eliminate
Once you’ve sorted your
ideas, take the ideas you most want to use and conduct research on each
of them. Even if you think you know all about a topic, it can’t hurt to
look up some of the latest developments or find a recent article from
which to quote. Of course, the less you know about a topic, the more
you need to research. Being unprepared makes public speaking infinitely
harder. And audiences can usually tell pretty quickly if they know more
about the topic than you do.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH
Primary research refers to
data that you generate yourself, through surveys, questionnaires or
interviews. Secondary research refers to material you gather from
books, magazines, newspaper articles, or the Internet. You can use
either or both.
IMPORTANT ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE
To make any type of public
speaking more informative and enjoyable, try to include some of the
following elements:
Facts and
figures. Make sure they are accurate and current. Double
check your sources, especially if they’re from the Internet. And unless
you’re running for political office, try hard not to bend the truth.
Quotes.
Make sure quotes are accurate, and attribute them to the correct
sources (explaining who they are if they aren’t well known). Bartlett’s
Familiar Quotations and other collections of quotations are prime
references. But don’t overdo it. This is, after all, supposed to be
your speaking engagement.
Stories and
anecdotes. The longer the presentation, the more effective
stories or anecdotes will be, since they break up the speech. Keep them
concise, and make sure it’s clear why you included a particular story
or anecdote in your presentation.
Examples.
Instead of stories and anecdotes, you may simply cite examples to
clarify what you are talking about.
Jokes.
Use only humor that’s appropriate for your audience—the joke about the
two nude sunbathers may not be the one to tell at a church social. If
you’re using a joke from a joke book, try to find one that you don’t
think everyone has heard a million times. If you’ve written an original
joke, try it out on a few people before using it—jokes can be very
hit-or-miss.
Props.
Unless you need a prop for a specific demonstration, use props that are
easy to explain and are manageable. Also, keep in mind the size of the
room. Steve Martin used to get laughs by announcing that he was going
to do the disappearing dime trick in a 19,000-person arena.
The Anatomy of a Speech
It doesn’t matter if you’re
speaking for two minutes or two hours—you must have a method to your
madness. Make sure your presentation has a specific beginning, middle,
and end.
The beginning.
Establish your reason for speaking early on, for example:
“Tonight I’m going to
explain the benefits of the new XL2 super-ultra-micro-mini computer
chip, which you can see here on my thumbnail.
“I’d like to thank
everyone for this great honor…”
“Sales have been down
this quarter, and today we’re going to address why that is and find out
who is responsible.”
You don’t have to state
your reason for speaking in the very first sentence. However, somewhere
in the early part of your presentation you need to state your purpose.
Remember the objective that you wrote down on an index card or sticky
note? Incorporate it into a purpose sentence—a concise line that
introduces why you’re speaking.
“My purpose is to
explain new security procedures that are being put in place around
campus.”
“My goal is to welcome
new members to our local community organization.”
You may have a special
opening line that precedes your reason for speaking and grabs the
audience. Lou Gehrig began his memorable speech upon retiring from
baseball with “Today I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.”
Opening lines can be very
effective. But somewhere early on, you need to make it clear why you
are up there.
The middle.
This is the guts of your presentation, where you present your key
points. Here’s where you use the facts and figures you dug up with your
research to tell them, sell them, teach them, persuade them, dissuade
them, or communicate whatever message you have come to deliver. List
all the points you want to cover, and make sure to allot enough time
for each point.
The end.
The longer you talk, the more likely it is that you will need to
summarize. Keep in mind that most audience members will remember what
you opened and closed with more than anything else. Therefore, make a
strong final statement that sums up or enhances your reason for
speaking. Many a speaker has saved a mediocre speech with a great final
line.
Make sure your audience
knows that you’re coming to the closing:
“So, what have we
learned here tonight?”
“In summation…”
“In conclusion…”
“Let me leave you with
this thought…”
“And finally…”
Or you may opt for a more
entertaining way to signal that your speech is coming to an end:
“Okay, so you’re
probably wondering why I’ve been standing up here rambling for the last
half hour.”
“At this point I’ve
completely run out of things to say, so…”
“Before they get the
hook and drag me off, remember…”
No matter how you do it,
plan an ending and try to leave the audience with something they’ll
remember. Don’t just keep talking until someone comes to get you or
everyone has left the building.
Practice Makes Perfect
The only way to improve
your speaking is to practice. Rehearsing before a public speaking
engagement will help calm your nerves and build up your confidence.
BREATHING PRACTICE
Proper breathing is
important for successful public speaking—it helps you pace yourself, it
allows you to maintain a steady volume, it prevents you from trailing
off at the end of sentences because you are out of breath, and it helps
relieve anxiety.
To practice breathing
correctly:
Stand with your
shoulders back and your back straight, not leaning to either side.
Push your shoulder
blades back; this will move your chest forward.
Try lifting your chest
slightly while keeping your head straight.
Let your lower jaw drop
naturally while opening your mouth slightly.
Inhale deeply. You want
your first breath when speaking to be a good one, so you can begin with
a strong voice.
Just as you finish
inhaling, say, “Good evening. Tonight we’re going to talk about several
subjects of interest to all of you,” as you naturally and slowly
exhale. You’ll see how the words come out smoothly and clearly as you
breathe properly.
PRACTICING WITH THE MIRROR
Although you don’t always
need to practice in front of the mirror, it is a good way of assessing
how you will appear to others as you present your material.
Playing around in front of
the mirror can help you loosen up and get comfortable with expressions,
body movement, and distractions. This will translate into more
confidence when you’re up there in front of a crowd.
Try the following:
Practice the alphabet
slowly in front of the mirror. Not that you don’t remember it, but you
want to become comfortable saying each letter and making each sound
clearly. Move those lips.
Practice the first
three to five lines of your presentation in several different ways:
As stone-faced as
possible
With a cheerful
expression and a frivolous manner
While jumping rope,
dancing, or moving in any manner
While impersonating
someone you like, saying the lines the way that person would
While making
exaggerated gestures
With the radio or
stereo playing—don’t drown yourself out, but give yourself some noise,
as there may be some when you are speaking.
Try any
or all of the above. The point is to become so familiar with the words
and the many ways in which they could be presented that you will be
very comfortable with what you are going to say. You’ll have recited
the words in so many different styles that a natural, relaxed tone will
come much more easily. You’ll be able to say those lines even in the
face of distractions. You’ll also have some fun with the presentation,
making it much more likely that you’ll actually enjoy it.
Pick the tone that best
fits the occasion and practice once more, letting any gestures or
movements come naturally. It will be that much easier and probably a
lot more fun! Once you’ve done that, practice again without the mirror.
PRACTICING WITH A VIDEO CAMERA
Practice several times in
front of a video camera. Have the camera on a tripod or ask a friend to
tape you. Get a full-body shot of yourself, unless you know you will be
standing behind a podium. Focus on your words as you speak. Record
yourself several times. When watching the tape, look for:
Fidgeting with your
hair or clothes
Excessive hand movements
Toe tapping
Blocking any visuals
you may be using
Leaning to one side,
forward, or backward
Slouching, especially
if you are seated
Rigid body posture
Looking off to one side
too often
Looking down when you
talk
Touching your clothes,
your body, or the microphone
Any other distracting
habits or gestures
GESTURES AND MOVEMENTS
If you stand there stiff as
a board, you will look and feel tense. If you try to script hand
gestures, they will look fake and awkward. Therefore, you need to
practice freeing up your hands while you talk—ultimately, you will
become comfortable using natural-looking hand gestures.
Each speaker will use
gestures that fit his or her personality. Typically, an extroverted
speaker will make more dramatic gestures, while more introverted
speakers tend to use simpler gestures. Nonetheless, gestures should be
as natural as possible.
To get comfortable with
gestures, you might intentionally use more exaggerated gestures to get
them out of your system. Then return to focusing on your words, and
allow yourself to use more typical gestures.
You can also practice
moving around the stage while speaking. Though your movement will be
limited by your surroundings, you don’t want to appear to be too stiff.
Find a central point on the
floor and mark it with a piece of tape. Then practice walking while you
talk. Remember not to stray too far from your mark, and keep looking at
your audience as you move around.
PRACTICE WITH FRIENDS
After rehearsing a few
times on your own, have a good friend or two listen to you speak. Ask
your friends to stand in the back of the room; if more than one person
is on hand, have them spread out.
After you speak, get some
feedback:
Are you speaking loudly
enough?
Are you speaking
clearly?
Are you doing anything
distracting while talking?
Are you looking down
too often?
Are you talking too
quickly or too slowly?
Are you talking in
monotone?
Are they getting the
general idea of what you’re talking about?
Are your examples clear?
Do your stories and/or
anecdotes help clarify what you’re saying?
Are you asking too many
questions?
TIME YOURSELF
Often you will have a
limited amount of time in which to speak. Time yourself to make sure
you stay within the allotted period. If you use a watch or stopwatch,
try not to look at it once you get started—this is distracting and
makes the audience feel that the speaker is anxious to leave. Position
your watch, stopwatch, or timer so that you can see it without
obviously having to look away.
Even if you don’t have a
specific time allotment, you should get a general idea of how long you
will be speaking. The amount of time for presentation will depend on
the reason for speaking, the setting, and the number of other speakers.
SPEAKING GAMES
Once you’re more
comfortable with the idea of public speaking, you may want to try these
games to improve your speaking skills. Don’t take them too
seriously—they’re meant to be fun. If you really want to find how you
did, try audio-taping yourself instead of videotaping. A video can get
you too caught up in watching yourself instead of paying attention to
how you sound.
Write down five
subjects of interest to you on five pieces of paper. Throw them into a
hat and pull one out. Set your alarm clock or a stopwatch for five
minutes, stand up and talk on the topic for five minutes straight.
Don’t worry if you stammer and stumble a bit, it’s just a way of
getting used to speaking off the cuff.
Same as above, except
give yourself five minutes to find information and jot down some notes
before speaking. While you’re speaking, try to refer to the notes as
little as possible.
With three or more
people, have one person select a short, prepared piece of material such
as a magazine article or a passage from a story. Then give the same
material to two speakers to study for fifteen minutes. Each speaker
will then present the material (notes are allowed, but no copying of
the full text). Anyone who’s not speaking serves as a judge, deciding
who gave the best speech. Use a ten-point scoring system, with a 1 to 5
points for knowing the material and 1 to 5 points for presentation.
Ideas for Instant Public Speaking
Here are some ideas for
practicing instant public speaking:
Ask a question at a
public event, such as a town council or PTA meeting.
Make a suggestion or
ask a question at a business meeting.
Give a short
presentation in a school. Schools love volunteers, and you can speak
about your profession or even read a story to a class.
Give a short toast at a
party.
Take a class and
participate frequently.
Volunteer at a hospital
or similar setting to read to disabled children, to the blind, or to
seniors in a group setting.
Join a school or church
choir.
Call a radio talk show.
Any appropriate situation
that offers you a few seconds or a few minutes in front of a group of
people can be beneficial, as it gives you a chance to prove to yourself
that you can speak in front of others without stress. Look for
opportunities in which you are with several other people and can speak
up—even telling a story at a dinner party is an example of speaking in
front of others.
CHAPTER
4
Helpful Hints
It seems fairly easy
speaking in front of a mirror, doesn’t it? But you’re still probably
concerned about the real thing—speaking in public. Let’s see if we can
alleviate some of your worries by helping you solve several common
problems, beginning with the biggest—stage fright.
Stage Fright
Stage fright shows up in
many forms. For example, you may experience:
Sweaty palms
Dry mouth
Upset stomach
Shaky knees
Increased heart rate
Light-headedness
Nausea
An uncontrollable urge
to leave the premises
The physical symptoms you
may experience come from the emotional fear that you will get up and
fail in front of others. This fear can be very great and very real.
After all, there are a lot of stress-related what-ifs being tossed
around in your mind: “What will people think of me? What if they don’t
like me? What if I forget what I want to say? What if I’m boring? What
if I sound foolish or stupid? Even worse, what if I look foolish or
stupid? What if they mock me or rebut what I have to say?”
In short, we fear that in
the brief amount of time in which we stand before other people, we will
be captured in the eyes of the audience on a blooper reel that will
last forever. It all may seem incredibly scary, but stage fright can be
overcome.
First, acknowledge your
symptoms—dry your hands, take a drink for your dry mouth. Then sit is a
comfortable position and focus on your breathing. Use relaxation
exercises to slow a racing head. Remember, you tense the muscles, and
then relax them.
The key is not to buy into
the physical symptoms and allow them to take over. Remind yourself that
these symptoms are not going to stop you from getting up and speaking.
They are not going to defeat you.
IDEAS FOR COMBATTING STAGE FRIGHT
Here are some proven ways
to combat stage fright:
Be very well prepared,
and be positively prepared. That means not just knowing your subject
matter, but having a positive attitude about your topic. You’ve got
something to say, and you really want to share it.
Plan for a
nonstressful, relaxing period before you speak. You might even develop
a simple pre-speaking routine for yourself, as many performers do.
Rehearse several times
in conditions that simulate what you’ll experience while speaking—with
distractions, in front of other people, and so on.
If possible, visit the
place where you will be speaking. Walk onto the stage; sit in one of
the seats and see the stage from the audience’s perspective. Get
comfortable in the setting.
Take a few minutes
before you speak to be in a quiet place. Whether it’s the green room or
the restroom, find a place to do some breathing exercises,
visualization, and quiet thinking about your topic.
Watch the audience
beforehand. You might even want to mingle as they come in, and get to
know a few people. If you do, chances are they will be among your
biggest supporters. Start liking your audience, and chances are they’ll
like you.
Remember, you do not
have to be perfect. In fact, tell yourself you will not be perfect. If
you make a mistake or something goes wrong, make a joke about it. Go
with the proverbial flow and use humor as a tension breaker.
Avoid stimulants such
as coffee or soda with caffeine. Likewise, tranquilizers will give you
more than a southern drawl, and alcohol may cause you to give a
performance that you may not remember in the morning, and may not want
to.
Stay in the present.
Forget about the piano recital thirty-two years ago that didn’t go very
well. You’re older and more experienced now. That was in the past.
Remember, 90 percent or
more of the people in the audience would be just as nervous as you and
would do no better or worse if they traded places with you.
Many speakers and
performers put their nervousness to work for them. This means taking
that nervous energy and using it to carry you through the presentation.
Starting Your Speech or Presentation
It’s time for the real
deal. You walk up to the podium or microphone and you’re still nervous.
It’s time to speak, but nothing is coming out of your mouth. What can
you do?
Look around for a
friendly or familiar face.
If there is a podium or
place to put your notes, water glass, or anything else you need,
arrange those items.
Take a sip of water to
make sure your mouth isn’t dry.
Make a joke about being
nervous.
Stall for a moment by
adjusting the microphone slightly, even if it doesn’t really need to be
adjusted.
Imagine that you are
speaking to one person. One stand-up comic used to name his audience
George and imagine he was just having a conversation with George.
Oops—Can We Start This Over?
Since one of the biggest
fears is that you screw up, why not prepare for the occasional foul-up?
A wrong word or slight flub will probably not even be noticed, so you
can just keep on going. Larger flubs will require some attention.
Johnny Carson, the king of late-night talk shows, would have his
writers intentionally prepare lines called “savers” that he could use
during his monologue when a joke fell flat.
The larger the mistake, the
more you need to acknowledge it:
Immediately tell
yourself, “Oops, I messed up. It happens to everyone.”
You might step back
from the podium or microphone for a second and regain your composure.
If you’re holding the
microphone, you might lower it and take a deep breath, then continue
with something like; “As I was trying to say…” or “Let’s try that
again.”
Unless something goes
so seriously wrong that you need to stop speaking and call for
assistance, you can usually laugh it off or make a joke.
Sometimes an action
will break the tension. Note, however, that if something draws the
audience’s attention away from you, such as a waiter dropping a tray of
drinks at a dinner party, then you need to stop, make a comment, and
essentially meet the audience at the point of their attention—in this
case the dropped tray—and bring their attention back to you.
The Importance of First Impressions
It’s a common belief that
the first impression you make is critical. And it’s true that in the
first few seconds, even before you open your mouth, your audience will
form an opinion of you, for better or worse. Fairly or unfairly, people
rush to judgment.
The reality, however, is
that first impressions are somewhat overrated. Many marvelous
presentations have started off slowly and ended with a bang.
Nonetheless, it’s nice to get off to a good start, if for no other
reason that it helps you to relax.
WAYS TO MAKE A BETTER FIRST IMPRESSION
Calm your nerves by
visualizing yourself walking out or getting up to speak shortly before
it’s your turn.
Take a quick look in
the mirror to make sure your hair, makeup, and clothing are as ready to
go as you are.
Arrive early enough to
scope out the room and the audience, and then make an opening comment
about something current regarding the group you are speaking to or
perhaps about the room where you are speaking.
Walk in with pride and
confidence. Keep your shoulders straight, look at the audience, and
smile.
Take a slow, cleansing
breath as you approach the podium or microphone.
Make eye contact from
the start.
Welcome your audience.
Remember to set
yourself up in a positive manner from the start. Keep your feet apart
and your head straight but not too stiff.
If the situation calls
for it, an appropriate opening joke or a unique entrance can help ease
the tension and make the audience smile.
Memory Tips
How do actors remember all
of the lines of an entire three-act play or movie? They learn it scene
by scene. You can do something similar—break your material down into
sections or chunks and get to know the key points of each section.
Remember, unless you’re reciting Shakespeare, in most situations you do
not need to memorize your material word for word. No one will know if
you go off track as long as you remember your next important point and
get back on track soon.
Break your material up
into manageable parts. Look for changes in your subject matter or
logical points to break it up. Mark each segment, or maybe even
highlight it.
Associate key words or
phrases with chunks of material.
You may also insert
stories, anecdotes, or jokes accordingly.
Practice several times
using your cards and key words. In time you won’t need them, but you’ll
still likely keep them around as a form of reassurance.
If you find yourself
going so far off on a tangent that you need to call AAA to get back on
the road, go for your notes. You may want to stall for time as you find
your place.
Remember to make sure
your notes are in the proper sequence.
It is always acceptable
and quite common, to take out material to read if you are specifically
quoting from another source.
Use any memory prompts that
you feel can help you. Just try to make your presentation flow
smoothly, whether reading or from memory.
Making Friends with the Microphone
The bigger the room, the
greater the need for a microphone. The modern microphone may be
cordless, but it still needs to be handled with care—feedback does not
enhance a presentation.
Follow these tips to make
sure you get on a friendly basis with your microphone:
Always make sure the
microphone is turned on. The switch is usually on the side near the
mouthpiece.
Adjust a standing
microphone to your height. Hint: Put one foot on the base as you adjust
it.
You should hold the
microphone six to ten inches away from your mouth. If possible, do a
sound check before the audience arrives.
If you take the
microphone out of the stand, the stand does not need to be there—move
it to one side.
If you’re holding the
microphone, try to keep your arm straight, with the elbow down.
Clip-on microphones
should be fastened to your clothing and then ignored. The same goes for
the type of microphone that hangs around your neck. Be careful not to
fidget with your clothes or any object near the microphone—it may pick
up the sounds.
When seated, remember
to keep your head straight; the microphone will still pick you up.
THE MOST COMMON MICROPHONE MISTAKES
Looking as though
you’re going to eat the microphone. You don’t need to hold it extremely
close to your mouth to be clearly understood.
Not believing the
microphone is working when it is. Don’t tap on it.
Gesturing with the mike
in hand. No one will be able to hear you if the mike’s three feet away
from your mouth.
Believing a microphone
is overly powerful. It usually won’t pick up questions from the
audience.
Not adjusting the mike
properly. Position it so that you don’t have to stretch or bend to
reach it.
Being afraid of the
mike. Don’t stand so far away from it that it won’t pick up your voice
properly.
Forgetting the
microphone is on. Be careful what you say!
Dressing for Success
From the red carpet outside
an awards ceremony to the hallway leading into the boardroom, people
are looking at what you wear and how you look. Therefore, a neat,
clean, well-groomed appearance is to your advantage, unless you’re
fronting a punk rock band.
TIPS FOR DRESSING
Unless the occasion
calls for it, don’t wear clothes that are louder than your speech.
Coordinate so that you
don’t blend into the background.
Don’t wear anything
that can jingle.
Don’t wear something
for the very first time on the day of your presentation. If you want to
wear a new outfit, try it on and wear it for a while in advance—you
want to feel comfortable.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Women, if you are going
to be seated on stage, be conscious of the length of your skirt.
Men, remember to wear a
tie clip if you’re going to take off your jacket.
Don’t wear anything you
might be prone to fidget with. Also, empty your pockets before hitting
the stage…two pounds of change in your pockets can be distracting.
Most of the time, you will
want to dress a notch above the audience. Therefore, if the audience is
wearing sport jackets or blazers, you might want to go for a suit. If
they are dressed casually, you might opt for somewhere between casual
and dressy. It doesn’t hurt to keep up with the latest fashions.
How to Use Humor Appropriately
Inserting a little humor
into your presentation can relax an audience, brighten up your speech
and make it more memorable, and build your confidence…so as long as
your jokes work. Humor, however, can be a tad bit tricky. So stick to
the suggested guidelines below:
Unless you’re doing a
comedy routine, plan to use humor sparingly.
Plan your humor ahead
of time. Even the best comedians are well prepared. This isn’t to say
you can’t ad-lib on occasion, but don’t depend on it.
Humor needs to fit the
crowd. The slightly tasteless joke you heard at work is probably not
the one to tell in front of the PTA or your church group. Also forget
the inside jokes unless you’re sure everyone in your audience is an
insider.
Think of reference
points. A joke about a typewriter probably won’t work in front of a
sixth grade class because they may not even know what a typewriter is.
Ask yourself, “Will they know what I’m talking about?” Many speakers
have bombed when using the wrong material for a given crowd.
An excellent rule of
thumb is that you cannot joke about a minority or ethnic group unless
you are part of that group. Even then, make sure you’re not stepping
over the line of good taste.
If you choose to tell a
funny story or anecdote, make sure you clearly set the scene. Don’t
just assume they know the details and jump to a punch line.
It helps if you’re
enjoying the story or the joke you are telling. Smile.
Puns and riddles
typically do not work.
Try to work humor into
your speech so that it flows. Don’t blatantly announce an upcoming joke
with something like “And now I’d like to tell a joke.”
Focus on humor that
people can relate to from everyday occurrences.
Don’t be afraid to tell
a funny story or joke about yourself. You do not need to be
self-deprecating, but it’s okay to laugh at yourself.
If a joke doesn’t get a
laugh, just keep on going. You can comment on the joke not working, but
never get upset with your audience if they didn’t laugh at what you
thought was a great line.
Humor is definitely tricky.
It is a fabulous way to break the tension, but you still want to
maintain your credibility. Therefore, you have to know when it fits and
when it does not belong. Too many speakers have tried to force a joke
in when it isn’t the right time or place. Sprinkle humor into your
presentation like a chef adds seasoning to a dish.
Selecting the Right Word Choice
As you prepare your
presentation, you need to think very carefully about the words you will
use. Many people like politicians, news broadcasters, and radio
personalities have gotten themselves in trouble for failing to select
their words carefully. For that reason, they then spend an inordinate
amount of time correcting and explaining their previous statements.
So then, how do you choose
what to say?
Use
conversational words. Whether you are speaking at a formal or
informal gathering, you want to speak naturally. For example, “Within
the past several days, it has come to our understanding that there has
been some discourteous conduct displayed by a portion of our student
community” sounds far more awkward than “We have recently learned that
some of our students have been behaving poorly.”
Consider your
audience. Will they understand your choice of words and
phrases? An audience of medical practitioners will understand more
complex medical terminology than a general audience. Likewise, teens
speak their own language.
Consider the
formality of the gathering. If people are paying $1,000 a
plate for a black-tie dinner, they’ll expect higher-priced words.
Try to avoid
using slang, dude.
Double-check
and triple-check that your wording won’t offend anyone. While
you can’t guarantee that no one will be offended by what you say, you
can try to be politically correct.
Make sure that
you are consistent. If you said you didn’t have a
relationship with an intern in your opening statement, then don’t turn
around and say you might have had such a relationship a few minutes
later.
Select words
that are inclusive of your audience. Speeches that have too
much emphasis on I, me, or my can become quite self-indulgent and
alienate your audience. Instead you might use phrases like “We can all
benefit from…” or “You’ve probably all seen this type of thing before.”
Even a rhetorical question such as “How many of us use deodorant every
day?” can hook the audience.
To repeat or
not to repeat? It can be awkward if the speaker uses the same
word repeatedly for no apparent reason. On the other hand, a
catchphrase or buzzword can be effective. You might also repeat a word
or phrase for emphasis. For example: “We need to get involved in our
children’s education! We need to get involved in local planning issues!
We need to get involved in our neighborhood cleanup!”
Avoid words
you have a hard time pronouncing. Tape yourself and listen
closely. If you find yourself saying “ax” instead of “ask,” you need to
work on your pronunciation, or find another word.
Don’t use
words you don’t understand.
USING TRANSITIONS
Have you ever noticed how
some speakers are able to move from one subject to another so smoothly
that you didn’t even notice the transition? On the other hand, you’ve
probably seen speakers who get so lost trying to make a transition that
they practically need to send up flares to find the next topic.
Making a smooth transition
is a key part of public speaking. Smooth does not always mean unnoticed
or subtle. If the audience is taking notes or they are there for the
purposes of learning or training, you’ll want them to pay careful
attention to the fact that you are talking about something new.
Here are some ideas for
making transitions flow smoothly:
Use a bridge or
connecting word or phrase, such as “In addition,” “Meanwhile,” or
“Let’s also consider…”
Telegraph points from a
list: “Our first topic is…” ”The second point we want to discuss is…”
This is not subtle, but it can be very effective when making a
presentation or when teaching.
Insert a short phrase.
Ask a rhetorical
question.
Use movement. You might
walk out from behind the podium or sit down on the edge of the desk
when starting on a new subject.
Take a momentary break
for questions: “Before I continue, does anyone have any questions?”
Note that asking for questions is effective only if you take a couple
of questions and save the rest for the end of the talk. Otherwise,
you’ll lose your continuity completely.
Be careful not to use the
same transition repeatedly. Some people use the same word, such as anyway,
so, or okay, every time they move on to
something else. Awkward repetition gives the impression that you didn’t
plan very carefully.
Good Posture and a Positive Personality
The manner in which you are
standing can convey your energy level and enthusiasm. Posture and body
language is an important part of public speaking, thus special
attention is needed.
Shoulders back and chin
up indicates confidence and makes it easier for you to project through
deep breaths.
Looking down or
slouching gives the impression that you really don’t believe in what
you’re saying.
Sitting can be tricky.
Dangling legs look awkward and a bit childlike, which is adorable if
you are four years old, but not if you’re forty-five. If your feet
don’t reach the floor from a fully seated position, then perch on the
front portion of the seat and put one foot flat on the floor.
In a
small, casual gathering you can sit back more comfortably. But always
remember to sit up straight. Sit well back in the chair with your feet
flat on the floor. Or if it makes you feel more comfortable and will
help you avoid the temptation to tap your toes, cross your legs at the
ankles. Don’t cross your legs higher up as it tends to lead to foot
wiggling or playing with shoes or socks.
Sitting
tends to cause people to take more shallow breaths and thus to speak
more softly. Keep this in mind and don’t let it happen to you. Remember
to take in a good amount of air and project yourself.
It’s okay to rest your
hand or arm on a podium, desk, or table, but do it so that you look
relaxed and informal while maintaining good posture. Note that leaning
does not mean slouching. And don’t hang on too tight, or your audience
will see that you are nervous.
EYE CONTACT
Too often speakers lose
their audience because they are not establishing a rapport with them.
Making eye contact with your audience will help solve your problem by
enhancing the lines of communication, especially as you begin your
presentation. It also gets the audience involved, and projects
confidence and a sense of authority.
Conversely, looking away
from your audience projects insincerity and conveys a sense that you
don’t really care if they are listening or not. So don’t spend too much
time staring at your notes or at the microphone.
Practice making eye contact
while talking with friends. Be careful, however, not to stare. If you
keep your gaze fixed on someone for twenty seconds, that person will
become a little uncomfortable. And if you stare at someone for two
minutes straight, he’ll probably get a restraining order against you.
To emphasize a point, you
may lean toward or even step toward an audience member.
Look for a friendly or
interested person. Ask them a rhetorical question, smile, make them
part of your speech.
It is important to note
that the larger the audience or the brighter the spotlight, the less
likely it is that you will actually be able to make eye contact with
audience members. Nonetheless, you want to look at the people you can
see. Choose a friendly looking person in the middle of the audience,
not in the first row, otherwise the people in the back rows will be
looking at the top of your head.
How to Effectively Use Props
Props or visuals of any
kind can enhance certain presentations and destroy others. If you are
doing a corporate presentation, leading a training session, or
conducting a demonstration of some type, props—anything from a flip
chart to a prototype of a product—may enhance your speech. In the
middle of a commencement speech or at a political rally, on the other
hand, a prop might seem awkward. Know the crowd and the occasion. Then
make sure that whatever you want the audience to focus attention on is
being included for a good reason.
If your prop is large,
such as a flip chart or chalkboard, position yourself to the side and
be careful not to block anyone’s view.
Face your audience, not
your props. Talk to people, not to objects.
Reveal your visuals
only when you’re ready to refer to them.
Stop talking when you
write on a chalkboard or flip chart. When you’re done, turn back to the
audience and continue speaking.
When you’re done
referring to a visual, turn your flip chart to a blank page to move the
attention of the audience back to you while you continue talking.
Handheld props can
sometimes help you illustrate a point. Use them sparingly and hold them
at about chest level.
Depending on the room
and the equipment provided, have screens or other major props to the
side of the stage, not in the middle. This way you maintain center
stage and remain the audience’s main focus.
Don’t Forget to Breathe
Sometimes a two-second
pause while speaking in public will seem to last forever. However, it’s
worth it if it makes your presentation more effective. Pausing at the
right time can:
Provide your audience
with a moment to digest the information (this is particularly helpful
when teaching or presenting new information)
Allow you to catch your
breath or to gather your next thought
Allow you to change
topics more easily
Help you emphasize a
point
Comics typically pause
before a punch line momentarily to help emphasize the punch line to
follow. Other speakers will pause after a key point in a story to make
sure it sinks in. Don’t be afraid of the silence.
Add Some Feeling
Very often it is not what
you say but how you say it that makes the difference between a so-so
presentation and a great one. Consider the various ways in which you
can say the following sentence and the difference in meaning.
“I think this
presentation will be valuable to everyone in attendance.”
“I
think this presentation will be valuable to everyone in attendance.”
The emphasis means the speaker is going out on a limb to imply that
this is his or her personal opinion.
“I think
this presentation will be valuable to everyone in attendance.” The
emphasis signifies that the speaker isn’t certain about the value of
the presentation for the group.
“I think this
presentation will be valuable to everyone in attendance.” The emphasis
states that this specific presentation, as opposed to others, has value.
“I think this
presentation will be valuable to
everyone in attendance.” The emphasis signifies that there has been
some doubt about the value of the presentation.
“I think this
presentation will be valuable to everyone
in attendance.” The emphasis here implies that some might doubt the
value of the presentation to all present.
Clearly, emphasis matters.
Emphasize not only with your words but with your expression and
gestures.
Get Moving
Are you too stiff on stage?
Is someone from a museum building a glass case around you? If so, then
it is time to start moving!
Movement helps the audience
say attentive while helping you stay relaxed. After all, your muscles
start to tense up if you stand in one position for a long time. If you
are limited by a lectern or podium, try moving off to the side if
possible when you are trying to make an important point.
Other tips:
Always face the
audience as you move.
Draw your audience in
by moving forward—it makes it seem as though you are talking to them
more personally.
Remember to stay
centered when moving around—you don’t want to give your presentation to
only one side of the room.
Don’t overdo it. A
little movement can enhance a presentation. But pacing back and forth
can become distracting.
Controlling Your Hands and Arms
Many speakers are more
comfortable at a podium or lectern because it blocks their lower body
and provides a place to rest their hands.
A microphone stand also
gives you someplace to put your hands. However, it doesn’t look natural
or relaxed. If you’re not comfortable holding the microphone, place one
hand on or behind the stand to keep yourself centered. Leave the other
hand free for gesturing. Hold on gently to prevent feedback.
Suggestions for taming your
limbs:
Hard as it may be to
do, keeping your arms loosely at your sides makes it easier to gesture
and harder to fidget or distract the audience.
Gently holding your
hands in front of you at your waist can be a comfortable alternative
and still allow you to make hand gestures as you talk.
When you have a
wireless microphone or are mikeless, you still need to figure out what
to do with those arms. Putting your hands in your pockets makes you
look as though you are nervous or trying to hide something.
The hands-on-the-hips
posture gives the impression that you are either waiting for someone or
are annoyed.
Keeping your hands
behind your back makes it look like you’re either hiding something or
ice-skating.
Crossed arms make you
look disinterested and your audience will pick up on this.
Wringing your hands
will make your audience as nervous as you are.
Some speakers hold a
drink or another object. However, if you are going to hold something
other than a drink or note cards, chances are it will draw attention,
and you will therefore need to mention it.
Arms hanging straight
down can cause you to drop your shoulders. Don’t forget to lift your
arms to gesture.
TYPES OF GESTURES
Descriptive
gestures help you clarify your words, help create a visual image, or
define a measurement: “It wasn’t this big in the catalog!”
Emphatic
gestures emphasize a point or a need, such as for unity: “To win this
election, it is up to you.”
Suggestive
gestures present a thought, idea, or emotion. For example, you can
easily convey that you don’t know the answer.
Prompting
gestures are used to get a specific response from the audience: “Let’s
hear it for John Clark!”
Face it, most of us talk
with our hands. Unless you’re driving, it really does help the
communication process. When speaking in public, gestures should be (or
at least appear to be) natural and spontaneous. Gestures should be made
with the arms away from the body. Arms held too closely to the body
will make you appear uncomfortable or robotic.
Be careful not to gesture
with the hand holding the microphone. And try to avoid using the same
gesture over and over again. Repetition can become monotonous.
This is somewhat a
Catch-22—you want to practice making unrehearsed, natural gestures,
which is, of course, a contradiction.
Body Language—Is Your Body Saying More Than Your
Mouth?
Have you ever been accused
of saying something without even opening your mouth? Sure you have—it
happens all the time. From flirtation to fury, body language can speak
volumes with the use of any actual words. In fact, studies at the
University of California have shown that as much as 55 percent of a
speaker’s influence comes from his or her body language. So what
exactly is your body saying?
If your posture is
somewhat slouched and you have your hands in your pocket, you are
probably conveying the message, “I really wish this was over.”
Crossing your arms or
puts your hands on your hips could be saying to your audience, “I don’t
really care what you have to say, but go ahead and ask your stupid
question.”
The more you speak in
public and the better prepared you are, the more you will become aware
of what your body is saying.
If you’re sitting in a
chair, but look as if you are lying on a sofa, you body is saying, “I
don’t care about this!”
If you’re sitting
straight up in your chair, smiling, and making good eye contact, you
are letting others know, “I’m interested.”
When standing straight
up with your arms to the side, shoulders back, and smiling, you’re body
is telling others, “I’m confident and ready to tell you something.”
Dealing with Questions
When responding to a
question, focus your attention on the person asking the question, but
don’t exclude the rest of the audience entirely. After you hear the
question, look around the room to see if the other audience members
took in the question. If there seems to be any doubt, repeat the
question. The bigger the room, the more important this is.
Typically, you will have
control over when questions may be asked. Often a speaker or presenter
will make it clear that they will field all questions at the end. If
you’ve already done that, stick with the game plan.
Some suggestions for Q
& A sessions:
Direct the microphone,
if you are using one, to the person asking the question, but only if
you can get close enough for it to pick up what the person is saying.
Prepare in advance for
some commonly asked questions on your topic.
Call on audience
members from different parts of the room.
Answer the questions in
a concise manner if possible. Try to avoid going off on tangents.
Set up a stopping
point. You can indicate how many more questions you’ll take, or state
clearly that this is going to have to be the last question.
If the person asking
the question is right in front of you, you might opt to move a few
steps away while still maintaining eye contact. This helps eliminate
that one-to-one feeling that alienates the rest of the room. You’ll
notice that talk show hosts do this.
If you are on a panel
or there are other speakers, don’t feel obligated to answer every
question unless it has been directed at you.
If you know people have
different viewpoints that differ from yours, be brave and let them ask
questions.
If you’re not sure of an
answer, let them know that you’ll find out the answer later. You might
also pose the question to the audience. This is perfectly acceptable,
provided you don’t do this with every question—which indicates that you
were not prepared for a Q & A session.
Introductions
Sometimes if you want
something done right, you need to just do it yourself. This is very
true when it comes to a proper introduction. From mispronouncing the
name of the speaker to neglecting key credentials, introductions have
gone awry many times over.
Write out your own
introduction clearly and give it to the person introducing you several
minutes before you are scheduled to speak. This will afford enough time
for the person to read it through a couple of times, but not enough
time for him or her to lose the card.
WHAT TO WRITE
Your introduction should be:
Brief.
You don’t want an introduction that is longer than the speech.
Easy on the
ears. Don’t try to dazzle them with a title like “resident
co-executive associate director of therapeutic linguistic diagnostic
intervention.”
Applicable.
If you’re about to address a Little League team, the fact that you have
a master’s degree in labor economics and industrial relations is
probably not relevant and doesn’t need to be mentioned.
Current or
recent. Unless your claim to fame was childhood stardom,
stick with your most recent accomplishments.
Keeping the Audience on Their Toes
Have you ever been sitting
in an audience and noticed that one or two (or more) people were
starting to dose off? Have you ever been one of those people? How do
you keep your audience awake? Easy—you dazzle them, include them,
surprise them, and keep them on their toes.
Besides juggling flaming
torches or swallowing knives, you can grab an audience’s attention in
numerous ways:
In a small crowd, you
might get audience members involved in the presentation.
Give away inexpensive
but appropriate items that go with your presentation.
Vary your tone and
pitch. Even shout at some point if it helps and is appropriate.
Shift positions or move
to a different location if possible.
Do something unexpected.
Find a new way to
present old material.
You should also respond to
the needs of your audience. Are they dozing off because it’s too hot?
Ask someone to open a window. Are they having trouble hearing you? You
may need to speak louder or have the volume on the microphone turned
up. Perhaps after listening to you discuss new payroll tax accounting
methods for two hours they need a break. Give them one…and black coffee.
Last-Minute Checklist
Before you arrive at the
podium, run through this last-minute checklist to make sure you haven’t
forgot anything:
Check your outfit—can
you move comfortably? Are you having a wardrobe malfunction? Is your
zipper down?
Make sure you are not
wearing any noisy jewelry of other items with which to fidget.
Have your flip chart,
PowerPoint presentation, chalkboard, and other props all set up.
Check your hair and
teeth.
Remember to wear
deodorant with antiperspirant.
Make sure you have your
notes and make sure they’re in order.
Did you give whoever
will introduce you your introduction?
Focus on shoulders
back, head up, eyes out to audience.
Remember to breathe as
you speak.
Speak clearly and not
too fast.
Don’t forget that
pauses are good things.
Allow yourself a moment
to relax and gather your thoughts.
Think positively: You
can do this!
CHAPTER
5
Types of Presentations and Speeches
In this chapter, we will
look at the specific components that make up each of several types of
public speaking situations.
The Toast
The toast is a short
ceremonial tribute, a heartfelt moment of celebration and honor. It can
be a lyric, a poem, an anecdote, a recounting of some significant
moments involving the honoree, or a simple memorable line. It only
needs to reflect the moment, the person, the theme, and express
sentiment or goodwill.
Preparation:
If you know ahead of time that you will be giving the toast, you should
write down several key attributes about the person or people being
honored. Think of a tasteful, possibly funny story that, in the end,
displays a positive attribute of the guest of honor. If you are
honoring someone at a tribute dinner, retirement party, or birthday
celebration, list several of the person’s achievements and
accomplishments. Then narrow down your list to those that best
exemplify the individual or his or her role on a team. Toasts should be
brief and touch the audience in some manner—make them laugh, make them
cry, but most of all make them think about the honoree. Remember, it’s
about the person being honored, not about you.
If you are toasting a
couple at their wedding, think of how they met or what they’ve said
about one another. Often a best man or maid of honor will include in
the toast a few one-liners about the couple—make them tasteful and
don’t journey into questionable territory (for example, if the bride or
groom had a one-night stand with the stripper at their bachelor or
bachelorette party).
Toasts should always be
uplifting. They should always end on a sincere note, and you conclude
by raising your glasses and taking a drink.
Tone:
Cheerful, upbeat and sincere. Display a good feeling about the honoree
in your manner, and dress to honor them.
Presentation:
The toast is your way of leading a roomful of people in a celebratory
moment. You want to use that moment to capture the audience’s attention
and share it with the honoree(s).
Talk to both the audience
and to the honoree. Be eloquent. Don’t rush the toast—let your audience
have a moment to laugh if you’re telling a joke or humorous story. Then
pause before the final sincere moment and end with “Here’s to …” or
“Let’s drink to…” Raise your glass as you finish. Whether you speak for
ten seconds or two minutes, make it memorable with the right words and
the right sentiment,
Final thoughts:
Toasts are a great way to practice speaking in public because you can
do a sincere thirty-second toast and then sit down.
The Acceptance Speech
The acceptance speech is a
way of saying thank you to those who have honored you in some way.
Preparation:
Prepared remarks should acknowledge those who are responsible for our
receiving the honor. Be humble and be gracious, but do not belittle
your accomplishments or apologize for them.
If you are one of many
people receiving awards, you need to be brief. Create a short list of
people to thank, and begin thinking of other remarks you want to make.
Quoting someone of stature might help you describe your feelings about
this accomplishment. You may choose to briefly state what the award
means to you or how you got to this point. Time yourself, and trim down
such comments by eliminating unnecessary words or lines.
Should you be speaking at a
dinner specifically in your honor, you will be expected to speak for a
longer period of time, in which case you can tell the story of how your
work came to be honored. Again, seek out the highlights and include a
relevant anecdote or two. Speak about what this award means to you, but
remember to be humble, and don’t overuse the word I: “Then I did this,
and then I did that, and I, I, I, I …” You may acknowledge others in
the audience who have played an instrumental role in your reaching this
moment.
If you are being honored or
accepting an award, you have done something to reach a certain plateau
of excellence or have benefited a business or a community by your work.
Whether it’s providing a college with the funding for a new gymnasium,
topping all salespersons in your company for the past year, or devoting
hundreds of hours to helping abused and neglected children, you are in
a position of respect. Preparing, therefore, means appreciating and
passing on the knowledge or experience you have learned or gained.
Tone:
Fit the tone and language to the situation. Don’t be persuasive if this
is a lifetime achievement award. A joke or two at your own expense is
okay. Conversely, you need not make a tear-jerking acceptance speech if
you’ve received a trophy for winning a pie-eating contest. The occasion
should warrant an informal conversational tone combined with your own
personal sentiment.
Presentation:
Your body language should exude pride, not arrogance. Remember, keep
your head straight, not in the clouds, and walk with confidence, but
not with conceit. Shake hands or hug whoever is handing you the award,
and take a moment to gather your thoughts when approaching the
microphone.
Should be elected or
appointed to an esteemed position, whether it is a local political
position, president of the PTA, or grand poobah of your moose lodge,
you’ll need to thank those responsible for helping you reach this
position, and address what you hope to accomplish while in office.
Remember, be humble, be
sincere, talk slowly and with confidence—and try not to make promises
that you can’t keep.
Giving a Sales Pitch: Being Persuasive
Whether you’re trying to
sell a product, a service, an idea, or a campaign platform, you’ll need
to learn how to make a persuasive argument if you want members of your
audience to take a desired course of action.
Preparation:
Know your subject area well. You can’t sell what you don’t know. Do
your research and get behind what you are trying to convince others to
buy or do, whether it’s a product or an idea.
You also need to know the
demographics of your audience. Know their age range, their interests,
and their attitudes. How much do they know about the subject matter? Do
they have strong opinions? Are you introducing them to a new idea or
trying to bring about a change in a conventional way of thinking? The
more information you can gather on the mind-set of your audience, the
easier it will be to prepare your persuasive argument or sales pitch.
Keep in mind younger people are often more easily persuaded to make a
change or try something new than an audience of older people, who may
be set in their ways.
Prepare a strong case for
why the audience should act the way you would like them to. Include the
strengths of your product, service, or idea. Explore potential negative
responses in advance and have answers ready. Most importantly, people
want to know what’s in it for them.
Presentation:
You need to be convincing and radiate confidence without appearing
arrogant or cocky. You need to be forceful, but know when to pull back
and show some vulnerability or add some humor. Audiences today are wise
and won’t take kindly to a pitch that sounds like the stereotypical
used-car sales approach.
Accentuate the positives;
be upbeat and use examples, studies, case histories, and research to
back yourself up. Persuasive words and phrases such as “save you time
and/or money,” “improve,” “proven,” “will see results,” “healthier,” or
“safer” can be useful.
Be approachable. Selling
means talking to people, not down to them or at them. If the audience
has grasped the concept, then move on. Use gestures and movements to
hold their attention and emphasize your key points. Remember, to
persuade doesn’t mean to beat them over the head with your idea.
Save some material for a
question-and-answer session. This lets the audience participate, and
such interaction gets them involved in the program. Watch your
audience. If they’re tired, bored, busy, too hot or losing interest,
take a break. It’s very hard to persuade people who aren’t in the mood
to be persuaded—just think about the calls you get at dinnertime from
telemarketers.
Final thoughts:
If you make something sound too good to be true, people will start to
have doubts and will very likely back off.
Speaking on a Panel
If you’re asked to speak on
a panel, usually the discussion is on a topic with which you are
familiar. Panelists generally make statements to present information,
join in a general discussion, and/or field questions on the topic.
Preparation:
In some cases you will be introduced. In other situations you may be
asked to introduce yourself, meaning you’ll provide your name and title
on the credentials that landed you on the panel.
If each panelist is
afforded a few minutes to speak, prepare your remarks to fit within the
given time frame. Notes are always helpful. Tailor your remarks to fit
the discussion. Since others will be speaking and may cover some of
your intended speech, prepare a couple of alternate routes that you can
take so as not to repeat the previous speakers. You should also prepare
to answer the most commonly asked questions on the topic.
Tone: A
panel discussion usually takes on a professional tone, where you are
being called upon to demonstrate expertise in a particular field. Even
if you disagree with other panelists you need to allow them the right
to present their material or voice their opinions. It’s important to be
courteous and respectful.
Presentation:
Most panels are intended to provide varying views on a topic. You may
be one of several people in the same profession providing a specific
take on a topic. Listen carefully to what is being said by other
panelists and how they respond to questions. Try to present a
distinctive voice rather than just reiterating what others have said.
Remember that unless the question is directed at you, or unless you
have an important point to add, you do not need to answer every
question posed to the entire panel. Too many repetitive answers or
statements can slow a panel discussion down.
While you may be addressing
the audience, you can refer to what other panelists have previously
said by gesturing. Often panelists stay seated and speak. Try to sit up
and be the visual focal point of the panel when you are speaking,
answering a question, or listening to a statement directed toward you.
Final thoughts:
A good panelist needs to be a good listener, since this is a group
setting. Don’t dominate the discussion, and don’t forget positive body
language, even when you are not speaking.
The Roast
A roast is a humorous
variation on the old tradition of toasting an honored guest. The
popular New York Friars Club, frequented over the years by numerous
great comedians, made roasts famous, and they continue as an
entertaining type of tribute.
Preparation:
Combine what you know about the honoree with research and make a list
of his or her most intriguing, fascinating, unique, or quirky
accomplishments and characteristics. Then select those that are best
known to the audience and try to present them in a funny manner,
whether it’s in joke form or story form. You can introduce some new
information, provided it’s not too personal and fits the individual.
Prepare a speech that flows
from one thought to the next. Even individual jokes need a common
theme—put them together under subheadings, such as Bob’s love for golf,
his incessant need to be neat, the fact that he’s still driving a
fifteen-year-old car, and so on. Know the boundaries, however. If Bob’s
supervisor is present, it’s probably not a good idea to mention that he
really hates his job.
Use comedy-writing basics
to create your speech. Take real stories and embellish them to
emphasize your points. Use exaggeration—“Bob is so compulsive that
he……” You might also take stories from the news or from an organization
to which the roastee belongs and guess how this person would act in a
given situation.
Test your speech out with
someone who knows the honoree to make sure that the references can be
understood, that nothing crosses the line, and that your material is
funny.
Presentation:
A roast usually follows a set formula in which each speaker is allotted
a certain amount of time. Listen to the previous speakers and be ready
to do a little last-minute editing so that you won’t say the same thing
as the person before you. After all, you’re all writing on the same
topic. Sometimes a simple prop can help.
Time yourself when you
rehearse, and allow for some extra time for laughs.
The dry humor of a roast
usually means that you approach the event in the manner you would a
tribute, with a somewhat serious demeanor. However, you’ll want to
emphasize your punch lines, which sometimes means a brief pause before
them. No matter how you deliver your lines, make sure they are clear
and that you give the audience a moment to digest a joke. If you talk
right through the laughs, the audience will miss the jokes.
Look at the audience and
occasionally at the honoree. Also gesture in his or her direction.
Final Thoughts:
Have fun up there. Ride the wave of the other speakers if the mood is
already boisterous. However, if the speaker ahead of you bombed, then
try a new approach, perhaps being louder, more uplifting, or more
boisterous.
Master of Ceremonies
The master of ceremonies is
the facilitator of the evening’s festivities. A good MC can stay in
control of all that is taking place and hold the attention of the
audience—which may mean keeping them awake after a humdrum presentation
or stalling while a late-arriving performer gets their act together. It
may also mean announcing when dinner is served, leading the pledge of
allegiance, introducing the house band, or even letting the owner of a
purple Volkswagen know that the car’s lights are on. In other words,
it’s a busy job, but someone has to do it.
Preparation:
As master of ceremonies, you need to be very familiar with the program
for the evening. You need to have as many details as possible to keep
everything running smoothly.
An MC also needs to know
what to say and when. This includes introducing each speaker or
presenter and ad-libbing when necessary. The best way to prepare is to
have a copy of the evening’s program and develop remarks for those
times when you will have the opportunity to speak. Keep your remarks in
the spirit of the evening. For example, a light-hearted introduction
may fit a roast or a ceremonial dinner but would be inappropriate at an
event paying tribute to the victims of a disaster.
Use discretion, and make
sure you have the proper title and pronunciation of each person you
will introduce. If possible, talk with speakers or others who will take
part in the program and confirm what they will be doing, and how much
time they will be on stage.
Tone:
Most MCs also have to serve as cheerleaders for the evening’s upcoming
events. This means making everything that is coming up sound important,
interesting, or entertaining. As an MC, you should be likable and
convey warmth, sincerity, and decisiveness. Let the audience know they
can count on you.
Presentation:
Start by introducing yourself and noting why you are gathered together
for the evening. The MC should not be the center of the attention but a
central point of focus. It is you they turn to for order. MCs have been
known to be the bright point in a dull presentation or put a jolt into
a slow-moving program. Make sure to provide a strong introduction for
each speaker or guest.
Two common mistakes new MCs
make are drowning someone’s introduction rather than projecting it, and
announcing someone and then walking away. Always speak clearly, and
after you introduce someone you should lead the applause and wait until
the speaker gets to the microphone before leaving.
An MC needs a strong stage
presence. This means making eye contact with your audience, and
sometimes communicating with them. If you talk with audience members,
keep tight control over the conversation, do not relinquish the
microphone, and don’t let the conversation go off on a tangent. Expect
the unexpected. MCs often have to deal with any problems that may
occur. While it’s hard to prepare for the headliner showing up late, a
sudden rainstorm, an air-conditioning system that doesn’t work, or a
sudden swarm of bees, it’s part of your job to deal with whatever
happens.
Final thoughts:
Show up early so you can find out about any last-minute changes in
plans—there are always a few. Make sure the speakers, presenters,
and/or performers have arrived, and double-check your introductions.
Finally, try to stick to your planned routine, while keeping your eyes
and ears open.
Making a Rebuttal
Sometimes you have time to
prepare for a response, and other times you’ll have to talk based on
your gut reaction. When responding before an audience, make sure your
audience knows what you are responding to.
Preparation:
If you have time to prepare a response, you need to carefully read or
listen to the previous arguments or statements and list the points to
which you most want to respond. Remember, you should be responding to
the ideas or arguments that have been presented, not attacking the
people making the argument.
The longer the body of
material you are responding to, the more you will need to reiterate
specific points. For example, when the party not holding the presidency
responds to the State of the Union address, the speaker is careful to
cite specific points in the speech before responding to them—this
serves as a guide for the audience. If, however, you are responding
immediately, without much time to prepare, you should select only a few
key points. Don’t try to respond to everything that has been discussed.
If possible, take notes while the speaker is talking.
Presentation:
Take your time and be deliberate. Even in a timed debate, you’re better
off making valid points slowly and with strong emphasis than trying to
pack a ton of information into a narrow time slot and making little
sense while doing so.
Emphasize your key points.
Get arms and hands into action as you speak. If you are asked to
respond and you generally agree with what’s been discussed, then try to
add a valid point of information. Build on what’s been said—don’t just
agree or rephrase an earlier speech. If you disagree, don’t let anger
or emotion overshadow good judgment. Remember that sometimes your body
can respond before you even open your mouth.
Leave the audience with
your strongest point of agreement or disagreement, and if you have
enough time, summarize briefly before you are finished.
Final notes:
A good response or rebuttal is usually like a hard, well-placed return
in tennis—you make a significant statement that takes some of the wind
out of the sails of the initial speaker or presenter. You want to put
the ball deep into their court so that they will need to think
defensively, or in this case respond rather than attack.
The Welcome Speech
The welcoming speech is
typically given to start off a program, conference, convention, or
similar type of event. Your job is to set the tone for the event.
Preparation:
Typically, you’ll have a few minutes to welcome everyone and make a few
remarks. Make reference to the occasion, and say something appreciative
about the group responsible. Depending on the nature of the event, you
might make a couple of appropriate jokes that fit the occasion. An
appropriate anecdote may also fit nicely. Know your audience.
Be sincere in the greeting:
“It is an honor to welcome the graduating class of 2007.” “It is a very
special privilege for me to introduce tonight’s marvelous program.”
You’ll also want to welcome
those in attendance, make reference to the reason you are all gathered
together, and perhaps provide a brief overview of what will follow.
Depending on the nature of the group and the event, you might choose to
prove some facts about the location, the organization, or the
festivities to follow.
Presentation:
Upbeat, energetic, and with a little pizzazz is typically the way to
start off most programs. Know your time frame (usually a few minutes)
and, like an MC, be prepared with an introduction for whoever will
follow you.
Often you will find
yourself in the awkward position of trying to welcome everyone while
they are still talking, finishing dinner, or finding their seats. Go
slowly, speak up, and try to connect with your audience. In some cases
they will be immediately attentive, while at other times you’ll have to
talk through interruptions as you draw them into the event.
Final thoughts:
Sometimes a welcome speech may be basically fluff, but it is flattering
fluff that ultimately makes people feel good. And since your welcoming
remarks will often be the first impression that sets the tone for the
entire program, try not to open with “I’ve had a really, really rotten
day…”
The Tribute Speech
From a retirement party to
receiving the Nobel Prize, speeches of tribute or honor are significant
milestones for the honoree.
Preparation:
First and foremost, know the person being honored. Do some research,
talk to other people who know the guest of honor, and build a theme
that fits this person. And make sure your facts and stories are
accurate! There’s nothing worse than talking about the honoree’s
heroics in World War II only to find out later that he fought in the
Korean War.
While you don’t want to
pour it on to the point where you embarrass the honoree and make the
audience queasy, you do want to highlight the accomplishments that have
made this person the recipient of this special tribute. Showcase the
honoree’s virtues without overdoing it. Tell stories that demonstrate
his or her key attributes, rather than just listing them; mix touching
stories with humorous ones and inspiring ones. If you are one of
several speakers, you can pick one thing to discuss, such as the
honoree’s career in business, her love of sports, or her collection of
antique dental instruments. Go with a theme. If, however, you are the
one and only speaker, try to cover the different sides of the honoree
with an emphasis on what he or she is being honored for.
Write material that comes
from the heart, and remember as you put your remarks together that this
is not about you. In essence, a tribute is an extended toast.
Presentation:
By looking at the audience and at the honoree, through your gestures,
and of course through your words, you can reinforce the connection
between them, serving as the middle person. Be sincere and deliberate
in your manner. Let yourself sound as if you’re breaking from your
prepared speech to tell a story about the honoree. The story may
actually be part of the speech, but it seems more informal if you come
out from behind the podium or change your demeanor to a more casual
manner, as if to let the audience in on a more personal side of the
honoree.
Talk long enough to arouse
emotions from the audience but not to the point where you are repeating
yourself. Also listen to the stories that the other speakers share so
you do not repeat their stories about the honoree.
End with “Congratulations,”
“Best wishes,” God bless,” “We’re going to miss you,” “We all love
you,” or some such closing statement.
Final thoughts:
Don’t overdo it, but don’t under do it either. Often highlighting your
relationship with the honoree is the best route to go, since it can
include both personal and professional memories.
The Meeting
While there are one-on-one
meetings, in this case we are referring to meetings with a roomful of
attendees. Meetings are an excellent place for honing your public
speaking abilities, since most of the people on hand are wrapped up in
their own personal reasons for being in attendance and wondering when
there will be a lunch break.
Preparation:
The goal of any meeting is supposed to be to accomplish something,
whether it’s a new sales strategy for a Fortune 500 company or deciding
on how to best run a church bake sale. Therefore, you need to focus
first on that goal.
If you are running the
meeting, you’ll need to prepare an agenda that includes all of the
necessary items to be covered that evening. You’ll also need to do all
the preparations, such as finding and securing a meeting location,
making sure there are enough seats, inviting all necessary attendees
(too often people are asked to attend meetings that the have no
legitimate reason to be attending), arranging for refreshments, and
overseeing all other necessary arrangements. You’ll want to plan the
seating arrangement to optimize effective communication. For example, a
circle might be better than rows of chairs if it’s to be a
brainstorming session.
Additionally, you’ll need
to script your opening remarks, setting the tone, introducing the
subject matter, and explaining what you hope to cover. You’ll also want
to introduce newcomers and take a moment to hand out any necessary
materials. Prepare all of this in advance.
If you are attending a
meeting, know why the meeting is being called, and do some research if
necessary. Speak up on topics you see in the agenda that you have an
opinion on or specific ideas about.
Presentation:
If you’re running the meeting, be sure to follow your agenda, and try
to stick to your timetable. Restate all key points and be as
professional as possible, meaning:
Always be courteous.
Stay on topic and don’t
go off on tangents. Also, never gossip about people who aren’t there.
Make sure to speak up,
and double-check that the people in the back of a big room or a room
with poor acoustics can hear you.
Look at all of the
attendees as you talk.
Use movement and
gestures to keep it interesting.
When it’s time for
others to participate, try hard to include everyone—don’t let a few
people dominate the meeting. If people are going way off on tangents,
look for a way to chime in and reel them back in.
If you are attending a
meeting, speak up when called upon or join in when brainstorming. Speak
as if you are talking to the person farthest away from you (though you
don’t need to look at that person); this way you will project. If it
will help you be heard, stand up or at least sit up.
While speaking, look at the
various people in the room, not just at whomever is leading the meeting
or at your boss. You don’t want to direct remarks to one person, nor do
you want to ignore everyone else. Make concise points, and then turn
the meeting back over to the leader. Have an end to your comments
clearly in sight whenever you start to speak.
Final thoughts:
There are books written about planning and conducting meetings.
Participating in a meeting is a great way to build confidence in your
public speaking ability. You have the bonus of being completely in
control of your time element, meaning you can speak for five minutes or
five seconds, depending on what you have to say and your level of
comfort.
In Front of a Class
Technically speaking, you
do not need to be in front of a class to teach. There are many
situations in which we impart knowledge and provide training.
Presenting reports, giving demonstrations, and even running a
show-and-tell session are all informative speaking engagements.
Preparation:
Unlike a persuasive speech, where you are trying to elicit an action,
in the informative speaking situation, you are simply trying to present
information in a clear manner that can be understood by your audience.
If anything, you are trying to stimulate learning.
As with other types of
presentations, you need to know your audience. In this case, your
concern is their level of knowledge and understanding of the subject
matter. This will tell you at what level to start. Are you teaching
basic math or advanced calculus? An advanced training program will
presume a greater level of knowledge about the subject.
Use a variety of reference
sources, including books, magazines, the Internet, and interviews, to
help you gather your materials. Then develop a logical sequence to
explain the information. Use quotes, charts, graphs, surveys, handouts,
visuals, or anything else you need to support and enhance your
presentation.
Start off simply and
gradually move on to more complex materials. Don’t assume what the
audience knows. Have the backup data available should you need to fill
in the blanks or answer any tough questions.
Presentation:
Many leading experts know a great deal about their subject of expertise
but have a hard time teaching or explaining the material to other
people. We’ve all met very smart people who cannot teach. The problem
is often that the individual doesn’t know how to look at the topic from
the perspective of the audience members. You’ve probably come across
someone who knows the ins and outs of computers but can’t help you
repair yours because he or she is speaking in “computerese” and you’re
not fluent in that high-tech language.
It helps to present
information in increments, modules, or sections, which explains why
teachers’ lesson plans are divided up into discrete parts. It allows
the audience to digest information in comfortable doses. The more
complicated the material for a specific audience, the more you will
need to slow down, pause, reiterate, and take breaks.
A good teacher knows how to
read the faces and expressions of his or her students. When trying to
inform, you need to have a sense of how much information is getting
from your mouth into the minds of those listening. You need to know
when they’ve stopped listening.
Final thoughts:
Talk to your audience before launching into the material. If you can
establish a rapport, it becomes easier to teach. Answer questions that
are general in scope and save more specific or detailed questions for
after the class, session, or demonstration.
Television Appearances
If you are going to be
appearing on television, you’ve made the big time. Congratulations!
Television is a powerful medium. You need to be very well prepared and
well rehearsed if you’re going to make a good impression. After all,
the camera does not lie.
Preparation:
First, you want to dress correctly. The camera can add several pounds,
so avoid the doughnuts in the green room before going on, and if you
have slenderizing clothes, wear them. You also don’t want to wear
complicated patterns or bright colors that will distract the audience.
Solid colors and pastels work well. Don’t wear anything that will
reflect the bright lights, including shiny jewelry. While you want to
look good, you also want to dress in a manner that is camera-friendly.
Watch the program you will
appear on in advance. Get familiar with the tone of the show. Unless
you are in an acting role with a prepared script, you will likely be
there to answer questions in an interview. In some cases, you will be
able to suggest the questions, and in most cases you will know what you
will be asked to talk about.
Prepare short answers that
are conversational, informative and entertaining. Practice beforehand
so that you articulate your answers clearly. In addition, practice
sitting up or standing in a comfortable position with your shoulders
back, yet not too stiff.
Presentation:
Limit hand gestures, since they may not be on camera, but don’t forget
facial expressions as they may be accentuated through close-ups.
Make eye contact with the
interviewer as you respond, but don’t stare. Keep your body and head
facing the camera. Be aware of which camera is on—note the red light on
top. If you are speaking directly into a camera (for example, taping a
public service announcement or making a charity drive appeal), look at
the camera as if you were talking to another person.
Be careful not to focus on
your image on the monitors; your eyes need to be on the camera. Keep
your eyes relaxed—don’t stare, and don’t squint even if the lights are
bright.
Since the camera can get
closer to you than your typical audience, touching your face or
fidgeting in any manner can be that much more obvious. Be conscious of
positive body language. Remember that you will breathe better and speak
better if you are sitting up.
While it is not your
responsibility to make sure the show is running on schedule, you may
need to be aware of time cues.
If you are on television
for promotional reasons, make sure to present your message clearly, and
reiterate where and when your audience can buy it, sell it, or see it.
Should you be presenting
information, which could include giving a demonstration, be personable,
upbeat, and confident in what you are teaching or explaining. Unless it
is your show, you’ll need to talk to both the host and the camera.
Also remember that
entertainment value is part of the lure of television, even on
informational and educational programming.
Final thoughts:
Don’t play with the microphone. Don’t fidget. Don’t swivel in the chair
if you are seated. Don’t use words that cannot be said on network
television. Wear makeup—both men and women. Also, make sure your hair
is just as you would like it to be. If needed, ask for help with hair
and makeup.
Speaking on the Radio
Although looks and gestures
are not factored into your radio appearance, every little um, ah, or
unnecessary noise may sound like a ton of bricks falling down.
Preparation:
In several ways, speaking on the radio isn’t like public speaking
because you are not literally speaking in front of the public. The act
of sitting behind a microphone in a small studio and talking is far
less intimidating than staring out at an audience that is seated before
you. However, the reality is that you may be heard by a very large
audience, many of whom are ready to change the station if you are too
boring.
To prepare for radio, you
need to write out your presentation and practice until you are smooth.
While you can read from a
prepared script, unless you’re reading news or advertising copy, you’ll
want to have a more natural, conversational manner. Therefore, you’ll
want to paraphrase your own words or speak from notes or index cards.
If you’re in a group
setting, you want to avoid talking over others. Signaling is allowed.
Typically, the flawless sounding talk show is the end result of a lot
or preparation and experience in the medium. Even someone like Howard
Stern does plenty of preparing for a show and works closely with his
staff.
Use audiotapes to listen to
yourself and see if you can eliminate unnecessary utterances between
key words or phrases. Also try to be aware of words you use over and
over, and cut them way back. You should do this before any type of
public speaking, but especially for radio, where all you’ve got to work
for you is your voice, and the occasional sound effect.
Work on pronunciation and
correct word choice: It’s ask, not ax;
hundred, not hunred; nuclear;
not nuculer; and regardless,
not irregardless.
Presentation:
The sound technician will be responsible for getting the right level
for your microphone. Arrive early enough to get used to talking and
hearing yourself while wearing a headset.
Be aware of the time
factor. Like television, radio typically works on a tight time
schedule. However, unlike television, you can look at the clock or your
watch often.
Keep in mind that while no
one can see if you slouch, it can affect how much energy you have when
you speak. Therefore, you might sit up for better breathing.
Since you can’t rely on
your good looks and pearly white teeth, you’ll have to sound
intelligent, entertaining, amusing, controversial, and/or engaging to
keep the audience listening. Whether you like him or despise him,
Howard Stern is a master when it comes to holding his listeners’
attention by building on a theme, no matter how crude and always
leading listeners to believe something more outrageous is coming up
next. The more engaging you are, the more they’ll want to keep
listening.
Final thoughts:
Avoid dead air—always keep talking. Be aware of cues to go to a
commercial break or at the end of the program. If you are reading
scripted copy, practice it several times and underline words or phrases
that you need to emphasize.
Impromptu Speaking
At a meeting, in a class,
or perhaps at a workshop, you may be called upon to speak.
Sometimes impromptu
speaking is a blessing in disguise, as you have no time to build up
stress and worry. Other times it can be a disaster if you’re not paying
attention. Remember the time when the teacher called on you when you
were trying to sleep in chemistry class?
Preparation:
The best preparation for impromptu speaking in a group setting, such as
a meeting or classroom, is to be a good listener. Follow the discussion
and formulate ideas and opinions just in case you’re called upon.
If you are asked to step up
and speak on a topic or fill in for someone who is absent, you’ll want
to take the first few moments to stall while gathering your thoughts.
Thanking the audience for coming and letting them know how pleased you
are to be speaking are simple ways of stalling while you decide what to
say.
Don’t apologize and tell
them you’re not prepared. Understand that the audience does not expect
you to produce something like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream”
speech. They simply expect you to do your best under the circumstances.
Use your few seconds of
preparation (or stalling) to think of three key points on the topic.
Then think about why the audience is here and see if you can meet their
needs in some manner. Do they want to learn something? Are they here to
be motivated?
One way in which you might
structure an impromptu speech is to use a chronological approach to
talk about the subject, such as:
When you started at the
company
The present state of
the company
Where you see the
company going in the future
Ideas you have for
change or progress
Presentation:
If you weren’t supposed to speak, then no one will be expecting
anything from you. Therefore, the pressure is off.
Take a deep breath, speak
slowly and deliberately, and focus attention on being enthusiastic and
upbeat. You’d be surprised at the little amount of substance you need
if you are truly likable. While you may not want to say it aloud, keep
telling yourself, “They like me—they really like me!”
It is most imperative in
these circumstances that you rise to the occasion by telling yourself
not to panic. In some cases, if you just relax and let your thoughts
unwind, you can actually get on a roll and talk for several minutes on
a subject. You may find that you did well up there but can’t remember
anything you said. Impromptu speaking can be exhilarating.
Final thoughts:
Remember it’s okay to be vulnerable. If you start struggling or
fumbling, laugh or make a joke or comment about being tongue-tied.
Audiences are usually very forgiving.
Bibliography
Carnegie, Dale. The
Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. New York: Pocket
Books,
1962.
Esposito, Janet E. In
The SpotLight: Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking and
Performing.
Connecticut: In the Spotlight, LLC, 2000.
Kushner, Malcolm. Public
Speaking for Dummies. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing, Inc.,
2004.
Laskowski, Lenny. 10
Days to More Confident Public Speaking. New York: Warner
Books,
2001.
Macinnis, Lyman. The
Elements of Great Public Speaking: How to Be Calm, Confident,
and
Compelling. California: Berkeley Press, 2006.
Mintzer, Rich. Public
Speaking for Wimps. New York: Sterling Publishing Co, 2005.
