Public Speaking: Seven Things You Should Know
Know yourself. If you're not comfortable with public
speaking, don't try to start by giving a speech to a hundred
people. Start small, and gradually challenge yourself, through
speaking in small groups; talking in larger meetings; making
short public presentations; then finally giving speeches. Get
used to groups of people wanting to hear what you have to say.
Always use language that you're comfortable with, and talk about
things you know.
Know your audience. Use language, examples and stories
that make sense to your listeners. Know what level of experience
they have with your topic, so you don't talk down to them or
go over their heads. And relate your topic to what they care
about, so you can show that it has meaning for them.
Know the situation. Different situations call for different
speaking styles-casual or formal, brief or in-depth, funny or
passionate. Fit your message to the moment. Also, be sure you
know how much time you have to speak-and plan on taking 25% less
(speeches always go long).
Know your goals. What do you want to accomplish by
speaking-to provide information? To change people's minds? To
get them to act? Be clear on your goals, and shape the speech
to achieve them. Generally, it's a good idea to keep to a few,
straightforward goals-don't try to do too much.
Know how to connect. When you speak, you are speaking
to people-so connect with them. Be friendly. Use eye contact,
comfortable body language, and gestures to keep their attention
on you. Setting your key points down on note cards or in an outline
works better than writing the speech (when you read a speech,
you're looking down and talking to the paper, not the people).
Use pauses in your speaking, to let the audience and yourself
breathe for a moment.
Know your message. Don't try to do too much in one
speech or presentation. Decide on a few key points, and repeat
them frequently, to help your audience remember them.
Practice. You've never learned how to do anything hard
without practice, and speaking is the same way. Practice the
experience of speaking, by frequently talking in groups or meetings.
Practice a speech or presentation several times before you give
it-practice with your group, with your friends or family, and
in front of the mirror. Practicing often feels awkward, but nothing
else will build your skills and confidence. When you stand up
to speak, you don't want to be stumbling through something for
the very first time-you want to be delivering a message that
you've already rehearsed. You owe that to your audience-and to
yourself.
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Speaking
with a purpose
Different speeches have
different goals, so you should shape your message in different
ways.
Information: Decide on a few (less than five)
main points you want people to remember. Repeat them often. Say
them in different ways. Use stories and examples the audience
will remember. If you use numbers or statistics, interpret them
so they make a point or tell a story. Consider giving handouts
that the audience can take with them.
Persuasion: Assume that your audience is
a group of smart, decent people with common sense. Use reasonable
arguments and passionate examples to connect with both their
hearts and their heads. Be positive. Avoid negative tactics,
like shame, criticism, anger or fear-these often backfire on
the speaker.
Setting a mood: A festival, a rally, a memorial
service-each situation uses public speaking to help a group express
a particular feeling. In these situations, speak to the audience's
hearts, not their heads. Don't tell your audience how to feel-show
them, through your own words and body language. And use stories,
memories, and examples to bring out that feeling in them.
Getting people to act:
This is one of
the most challenging goals for a speaker. It's very important
to know your audience and how to motivate them. You must also
be very clear on what action they should take. Your speech has
three parts: making it clear to them what they should do; showing
them how they can do it; and helping them understand why they
should act. Get them to picture themselves taking that action.
Remember, you have to make them care enough so that they'll follow
through even when your speech is done.
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