Savvy speaking
Tongue-tied? Don’t know what to say or how to say it? You’re not alone when it comes to public speaking.
Many otherwise savvy business men and women shy away from stepping up to the podium and making themselves heard. There’s a big difference between talking to yourself in the mirror and facing a live audience, eager to hang on every word.
Practise doesn’t make perfect, but putting in a bit of time to prepare will help you deliver a better speech. Here are some tips from Metropol to help you:
Practise and prepare
The best way to overcome anxiety is to go over your notes several times, then practise. Record yourself or have a friend listen to and critique your performance.
Identify your audience
Before you start to write your speech, consider who the message is aimed at. Learn about your listeners so that you can determine your choice of words.
Create a framework
Create the framework for your speech. Write down the topic, general purpose, specific purpose, central idea, and main points.
Open and close
Start with an interesting statistic, anecdote, or quotation. Conclude with a summary and a strong, memorable statement.
Use audio visual sparingly
Audio visual presentations should enhance and clarify your speech content. Too many can break the direct connection to the audience.
Adapt to feedback
Keep the focus on the audience. Gauge its reactions, adjust your message, and stay flexible.
Other top tips:
- Be yourself and let your personality shine through.
- Use humour, stories and effective language.
- Don’t read your speech; use cue cards to jog your memory.
- Enrol in a Toastmasters Club, www.toastmasters.org.nz
