You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the
message of your heart.
Thank you very much! We have had a great response to the posts on public speaking. We will revisit public speaking again in the future, but to bring this short series to a close, I have chosen to add one unplanned post about some things to remember while you are giving your speech.
When delivering your presentation, what you have to say is very important. But, you must keep in mind that your non-verbal behavior and cues, your body language, will often communicate so much more than your words do, that you should be aware of these as well. Make an effort to control your body language and present the right impression to those watching your presentation.
Eye Contact
As you step up to begin, you may very briefly forget everything you prepared. This is fortunately usually a temporary effect, but it can lead you to an over-reliance on your written notes or speech.
You will want to make eye contact with the audience because this will help to get them involved in what you are saying. It is perfectly fine to glance down periodically, but your primary focus should be on the crowd.
Avoid looking (and feeling) awkward by knowing your speech well. In this way, you can focus on maintaining eye contact with your audience without bobbing your head up and down constantly to refresh your memory. As a result, your audience will come to see you as an authority on the subject and trust what you have to say.
Move Your View Around the Room
When making eye contact with your audience, try to make sure that every section of the crowd gets your attention. Rather than focusing your gaze on one particular person, try to move from section to section, picking a person at random and making eye contact with them.
Talk (Rather Than Read)
When you have your speech in front of you, it becomes very tempting to look down at it and read it.
If you are an author and you are doing a public reading of a new work, you may be able to get away with this for extended periods of time. Otherwise, talk to the crowd as if you were inviting them into a conversation about your subject matter.
In order to connect with your audience, it is important that they can see your face. So, try to look down at your notes seldom and only for brief moments. Holding the speech in front of your face is ineffective, will muffle your voice, and hide your smile. Talk to your audience like you would a friend discussing your topic. Just think of it as a conversation.
During your speech, look around to every section of the audience so that each member of your audience is engaged with you and with the subject matter. Try to move your eyes instead of your whole head so that your movement appears more natural and less forced.
There are many benefits of learning to speak in public. Most of all, you will gain valuable experience in stepping out of your comfort zone, rising to the challenge, and conquering your fears.
Remember: Prepare well, trust in yourself, and make the most of the opportunity to present your ideas and persuade others!
Thank you for sharing.
Photo Credit: Renato Ganoza via Compfight cc
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