Whether for
a crowd of 50 or a crowd of 1, fear and embarrassment about speaking in public
can be overcome. Public speaking is a learned skill that everyone can master
with practice. Learn how to speak with confidence and add punch to your
presentation by using the power tools below.
Eight
Communication Power Tools
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Good
eye contact helps your audience feel more relaxed and builds confidence in your
speaking knowledge and ability. Maintain eye contact by knowing your speech
well enough that you need only occasionally glance at your notes.
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Find
a few friendly faces in the audience that react to your message and concentrate
on delivering your speech to them. Keep eye contact for four to five seconds at
a time, and then move to someone else.
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Good
posture portrays confidence. Square your feet shoulder-width apart and plant
flat on the ground. Swaying or too much movement can be distracting to your
listeners.
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A
natural position for your arms is relaxed by your sides. To emphasize strong
points you'll want to use movements that are deliberate and precise but look
natural and spontaneous.
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Be
aware of habits you might have like crossing your arms, leaning against a wall
or the podium or tapping a pen. This might also be distracting to your audience
or tell them that you are uninterested or unconfident.
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Practice
your speech in front of a mirror to evaluate your presentation style and body
movements and adjust accordingly. Try many different ways to find a comfortable
balance of gestures to use in front of an audience.
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Pleasant
facial expressions help to establish a warm and positive relationship with your
audience. A smile lets them know that you are human and trustworthy, giving the
audience more of a reason to accept your ideas.
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Expressions
in your face capture the mood of your speech and keep the audience involved.
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Good
choice of attire helps establish respect with your audience. Before you arrive
to give your presentation, ask others for their opinion on your choice of
clothing and appropriateness for the occasion.
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Sometimes
tone of voice can have more impact than the message. Put feeling and energy
into your voice by practicing vocal skills. You can add interest and variety to
your speech by:
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varying
the pitch throughout sentences to convey emotion (high and low)
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change
the speed of your words to dramatize the audience
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use
pauses and silences instead of ``uhs'', ``umms'' and ``you knows.''
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increase
and decrease the volume of your voice to emphasize main points and draw in the
listeners (soft and loud)
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add
vitality so your voice never sounds monotonous or emotionless
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Practice
vocal variety every day and soon it will become automatic. Tape your voice and
evaluate where changes may need to occur.
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Involve
your audience by: asking questions, talking to them directly (not to your
material) and sparking their interest. This helps establish a relaxed rapport
with your audience.
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Use
the content of your speech to involve the audience. Consider strong, catchy
openings, visuals or demonstrations or ask for a volunteer's assistance.
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The
objective is not to be a comedian but for you to establish a comfortable
atmosphere and have fun with your audience. Humor can make the difference
between an average and an outstanding presentation.
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A
little humor in your speech lets the audience know you are human and people
actually learn more if they are having fun. Try to incorporate personal stories
or current events to add fun to your speech.
8.
Controlling
the Butterflies
The number one fear of people in
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Just
before your speech do some deep breathing exercises to relax you
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Use
your nervousness to add excitement to your personality
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Remember
you're the expert - you were asked to talk because you had something worthwhile
to say
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Everyone
wants you to succeed
Speaking
in public is a skill you can learn with practice. Controlling your fear and
practicing the above skills in public speaking can give you that winning edge.