When someone asks you to give a speech, what is your first reaction? If you’re like most people, it’s pure terror! But that’s pretty unfortunate. Because public speaking doesn’t necessarily mean speaking in front of a large audience. There are millions of people around the world who don’t strive for greatness on the podium. Instead, they have to speak to a small group of people as an office manager or team leader. But even this small task can send shivers down the spines of most group leaders. But the good thing is that with a little training and motivation, anyone can become a good public speaker. If you want to be successful as an effective public speaker, you must learn and apply certain public speaking strategies. Here are a few public speaking tips to help you shine on the podium.
1) Choose the right topic.You must choose a topic that you are familiar with and have strong feelings about. It’s really disastrous to talk about something that isn’t your domain, and you will very likely make a fool of yourself if you do so. However, if you step into familiar territory, you will feel comfortable and confident speaking about your topic.
2) Organize your points carefully and logically. Your speech must have a beginning – a brief introduction to what you are going to say; a middle where you elaborate on your topic; and an ending that summarizes what you just said.
3) Practice your speech in private. After you’ve planned your presentation, it’s time to practice the presentation. Better if you do it alone. Remember that you are not starting a discussion here. You must speak alone and logically represent what you want to say. So you would do well to practice in front of the mirror like a seasoned actor. Be positive and try to “see” and “hear” the positive feedback you will receive once you have them under your control.
4) Don’t resort to lengthy notes. No ready-made speech can sound spontaneous. You’re damned if you do that. At best, you can make short notes of just a few words that will guide you to your goal.
5) Be kind to your audience. Don’t be formal and stuffy. Start your conversation with a simple conversational style. Use humor as much as possible, but only in the right places. And please avoid stale and worn out jokes that will only add to the boredom.
6) Bring your speech to a climax. Your closing words must be carefully worded so that they continue to ring in your listeners’ ears after the end. Challenge them, admonish them to a course of action and leave them wanting more. In other words, end with a bang.
The age-old adage “practice makes perfect” also applies to public speaking. In fact, the more you practice, the better you get. So whenever you have the opportunity to speak up, don’t be afraid. You will gradually develop your confidence and public speaking skills as you focus on the point. If you follow my public speaking tips sincerely, you will surely become a good public speaker.
Thanks to Kajol Shafiq | #Public #Speaking #Tips #good #public #speaker
