Here are some tips for public speakers because public speaking isn’t easy. It can be daunting to downright terrifying. But, sometimes it’s necessary, so you will want to do it well. What can you do to make sure that your next speaking event is a success?
Be prepared. The Boy Scouts were right, be prepared. Even if you know your topic inside out and backwards, write down an outline of your talking points ahead of time. Being organized will do a few things. It will keep you on track. Even if the topic isn’t something you are expert on, being prepared will mean you’ve done at least a little research to educate yourself. Find compelling information and different perspectives. Use humor to convey points.
Be sure to practice. This a great tip for public speakers! Practice your presentation in front of a mirror, or out loud to a voice recorder. Listen to it and find out if you are saying things like “um” “ah” “like” or other vocal pauses. Ask others to listen to you present your speech and give you honest feedback. Have someone read your notes to see if there are changes that you should make in content or organization. Practice makes perfect and if you want a successful event one of the best ways is to be sure you know your speech.
Be there. Be present, meaning don’t be distracted by other things going on in your life. When you are speaking, be in that moment and present for your audience. And for goodness sake, turn off your cell phone and put it out of sight!
Know the purpose of why you are making the presentation. Is it something you love or are passionate about? If so, how can you give others great takeaways from your presentation? Make sure they know why it matters.
Be proactive. It goes along with be prepared, but in order to engage your audience, you need to involve them. Don’t just lecture them, ask them questions. Ask them thought-provoking questions. Ask them questions that will get them chomping at the bit to get involved. Tell them you want their comments and questions as you go. Tell them you can be interrupted for clarification. Get them involved. Good tips for public speakers here! Getting people involved with what you are presenting will ensure a successful event!
Be passionate about how you present your information. Keep the saying “People may not remember what you say, but they will always remember the way you made them feel.” So make them feel the same passion. Be genuine and be positive.