Someone on LinkedIn asked the question, “What are a few effective techniques people utilize when public speaking” I thought this was a good question and one worth talking about here.
Sales people, managers and leaders are prompted to speak publicly all the time. Whether asking or answering questions in a meeting, conducting internal meetings or preparing to present a proposal or solution to a potential client, speaking at one time or another is inevitable.
As a trainer I do this regularly so I thought I would share just a few ideas here on techniques that work for me.
Preparation is the obvious key to great public speaking. A few basic preparation steps are to understand your audience and to make time for practice. It is also important in practice to pay attention to voice projection, cadence, pace and inflection.
There is one thing we shouldn’t do in our preparation: If you write your speech word for word, that OK but don’t use those as your notes at the lectern. Doing so prompts the speaker to read which makes us sound… well… like we’re reading. Reading your speech can also be a disaster if you lose your place.
One thing I’ve found to be truly helpful is to break your speech into three’s. Most people can remember sets of three without reading. Turn your written information into bullets I call these “food for the brain” If you memorize anything, memorize your transitions.
Impromptu speaking is not something we can typically prepare for. I have many colleagues who struggle tremendously with those impromptu moments. Their heart rate increases and so does their nervousness, leaving them to struggle with the formation of cohesive sentences. The key here is to relax. An increased in heart rate is common. The key is to think of that nervousness as the high energy that your body is trying to give you. Think of it as embracing the energy and moving it forward not inward.
I also digitally record myself so as to critique, polish and visualize the outcome I want. Visualization techniques have always been effective in helping people attain important goals or outcomes. Not only does visualization help the speaker’s delivery, it also has a calming effect.
Let us know what techniques work for you.
