In one of the posts, I discussed 4 common goals of public speaking. Today I will cover a few tips on how to hone this skill. Public Speaking is:
- talking in front of a group of people, usually with some preparation
- one of the forms of group communication
- less interactive, media-rich than group presentation
Here is are few tips on getting it right:
- Make your topic relevant and interesting to your audience
- Select appropriate style – formal, humorous, anecdotal, sentimental etc
- Take steps to minimize anxiety by breathing deep, pacing your speech appropriately and above all, practicing beforehand – in front of the mirror, before close friends, a bigger group
- Stress the key words in a sentence which carry the meaning
- Pause – after many of key words – and at the end of a sentence.
- Take care of your body language by standing centred, making eye contact with the entire audience and keeping your gestures controlled
- Avoid slouching, rocking from side to side and looking at the ceiling, at the back or at just one person
- Finally get feedback during your practice sessions – from peers, instructors or even technology; for example you can record your speech as you are practicing before the mirror and then play it back to find out how you’ve been doing.
Now that you have all the important tips on Public Speaking, seize that mike and own the crowd!