Public Speaking NOW

Half of delivering an effective speech is in the preparation. The other half is in the presentation.

The following article explores this latter half by offering presentation tips for public speaking in a way that delivers your message with impact, has the audience receptive to your presentation, and enables them to leave with a clear understanding of your ideas. Some say that body language is the “third half”. We will leave the whole issue of body language and public speaking for another article. Back to our presentation tips for public speaking…

Dress appropriately: First impressions are everything in the public arena, and how you first appear to the audience will set the stage for how (and whether) they listen to you. Take great care in considering your appearance ahead of time. Plan your outfit well before the day of the speech, making sure you pick clothes appropriate for the occasion, and that you have them cleaned and pressed before you wear them.

Project positivity: Confidence, body language and public speaking is part of it. But so is enthusiasm and calm. Show that you enjoy your topic and that you’re pleased to be there presenting it. Likewise, show that you are comfortable up there (even if you’re not) and relaxed in your person. You don’t have to genuinely Be these qualities that you’re projecting (though if you can be, all the better). But like an actor playing a part in a play, you do have to find a way to conjure up the appearance of these qualities in your body language and overall presentation. Projecting enthusiasm will make the audience enthusiastic about what you’re presenting. Projecting comfort, calm, and relaxation will make the audience feel more comfortable, calm, and relaxed listening to you. And projecting confidence will give you the kind of credibility and authority that will allow audiences to feel safe trusting you and listening to what you have to say.

Be appropriate: If your topic is solemn, be serious in your demeanor. If your topic is lighthearted and carefree, then show more frivolity and humor in your demeanor. In terms of giving examples of your points in a speech, present yourself as your prime example. Reflect the general prevailing attitude and sensibility of your speech in the way you present yourself to your audience.

Eye contact: Instead of trying to address the entire group before at once, address individual members of the group one at a time. The others in the group will still feel as though you are addressing them – just like we each feel like the interviewee in a 60 Minutes interview is addressing us despite that they’re not even looking at the camera. It’s hard to make a speech land when you’re addressing individuals as a collective mass. Address individuals individually and the entire group almost magically receives your message as though you were speaking to him or her and him or her alone.

Your voice is your instrument: Finally, remember to use your voice with intent. Besides projecting, consider tone quality as well. Don’t simply speak in your default manner, only louder. Speaker slower and with more pauses than you do ordinarily, and enunciate clearer. Additionally, speak with more variation in tone than you might otherwise, keeping people interested by varying pitch and cadence and other tonal qualities as you proceed. Avoid droning on tonelessly, monotonously. Avoid dropping off your words at the end of your sentences. Try to sound engaging without sounding aggressive over overbearing. Try to sound humble and open-minded without sounding apologetic and wishy-washy. Try to sound confident without sounding arrogant.

All of these presentation tips for public speaking are designed with the same goal in mind – to build rapport with your audience. For when you and your audience are in rapport, true and potent communication can occur.