The basics of public speaking are easy to learn but can make a huge difference in your ability to communicate effectively. Fortunately, with a few helpful tips and tricks, you’ll be able to communicate more clearly with your audience.
So what are some key principles of public speaking?
First off, it’s important for you as a speaker to engage your audience. As a speaker, it can be easy to talk to your audience instead of with them. You may begin to feel like the information you’re relaying is obvious and that your presentation is redundant. But you need to remember: Even if what you’re saying seems like common knowledge, this isn’t necessarily familiar (or useful) information for everyone. So, even if you’ve given a presentation on the same topic before, it’s crucial to reintroduce the key points every time.
In addition to being mindful of your audience, you must also be clear and concise in your speech so that people can understand what you’re saying. When giving a presentation don’t overwhelm your audience with too much information or get distracted from your main points. You also want to try and keep things simple when possible, so avoid complex words or statements that people may not understand.
As a speaker, you should be present in the moment so that you can truly engage with your audience. This means to stop thinking about what comes next in your presentation or how you look while speaking. The only way to get your ideas across is by being in the moment and focusing on what you’re saying.
When preparing for a presentation, it’s important to remember that practice makes perfect! Visualizing yourself giving your public speech beforehand can be helpful so you know how much time you have for each key point. You should also make sure to time your speech and gauge how long it takes for you to say each statement. This will help you keep things on track during the actual presentation.
And finally, always do a last-minute check of your equipment and surroundings! Make sure that any visual aids or other products that you’re using work properly and that nothing is distracting or hazardous. Also, double-check where you’re supposed to be on stage, and remember that it’s important for the audience to see you- so do a quick scan of the room beforehand!
By following these key principles of public speaking, you’ll be well on your way to clear and concise communication with your audience.
The 5 basic public speaking tips
Some people are born with the natural ability to speak in front of a crowd, but others relish the opportunity. However for most people it’s not easy, and that is where these 5 basic public speaking tips come in useful. By following them you will find yourself becoming more comfortable when asked to speak in public, which will make everyone present feel at ease.
1. Learn the material inside-out
This is probably one of the most important public speaking tips you can get, learning your lines inside out makes it possible for you to be comfortable with what you are saying when in front of a crowd. No matter how experienced a speaker you are if you cannot recall what is written down you will find yourself floundering. You may have developed a rapport with your audience from previous speaking engagements but without the correct information it is this connection that could falter.
Being able to recall what you wrote down verbatim also helps with stage presence, as you are confident with your delivery you are more likely to appear at ease in front of a crowd.
2. Know your audience and adapt the material to them
Preparing what you are going to say is only half the battle, as all speakers must be flexible when it comes to adapting their talk depending on who they are speaking in front of. If you know somebody from your local area is planning on attending then how about referencing something that happened there? Will everyone present understand a joke with a play on words or will they see your use of language as being pretentious? There are no easy public speaking tips for knowing what jokes or references might land so it is best to keep things simple. It may not seem as though these techniques will have any significant impact but if you speak in a way that relates directly to those present, all the while using language that is easy to understand, you will find it much easier to keep your audience on-side.
3. Don’t rush through what you want to say
When faced with people wanting to speak in front of a group of people some individuals try and get their message across as quickly as possible. Trying not to sound like an auctioneer certainly helps but rushing through a material does more harm than good. Even if you are speaking about something incredibly important it can be difficult for everyone present if the speaker drones on without pausing for breath. Rushing also makes things very hard for those who may be using notes or reading from a script as struggling to keep up means they too will end up floundering about.
By slowing down what you are saying, not only will the audience be able to follow along but it allows them time to reflect on your words. You can then pick up the pace when you get to what really matters at the end of your talk (remembering of course that there is no rush).
4. Speak with passion and conviction
One of the most obvious points on this list however also one of the most overlooked. It’s very rare for somebody to listen if they do not feel enthused about what they are hearing, but if someone has started speaking passionately about something then people will want to keep listening. It might sound like common sense but how many times have you watched a presentation or speech where you could barely keep yourself awake.
The easiest way to enthuse a crowd with your words is to approach the talk with confidence, people will follow if you seem sure of what it is that you are trying to say. Being knowledgeable about a topic also helps as it means you can speak without hesitation and therefore not seem hesitant in front of a crowd. There’s nothing worse than somebody who drones on when they have no idea what they are talking about or keeps going back over old ground just because they aren’t certain. Instead be strong and confident in your delivery and watch how much more engaged an audience will be compared to somebody who speaks without passion or conviction.
5. Connect with those present
A lot of these public speaking tips revolve around staying in control and keeping your message on track, but what about engaging with those present? By concentrating on the room as a whole instead of darting from one person to another you show that you are willing to put yourself out there. If it is a closed audience then connecting by calling people by name helps add intimacy. Being friendly with everyone in the audience shows not only that you trust them but also gives people a sense of responsibility towards your talk.
It is easy to get caught up in reading what is written down or thinking about how to form each sentence, however if you can connect with your audience members they will be more likely to follow along with what you have prepared. It’s not always possible when speaking at work or in public but certainly makes a difference if it can be achieved.
If you are speaking to your peers in an office environment then it might not seem so necessary, but whenever you get the chance always try and connect with those present. By doing this you will find yourself more relaxed when speaking which can only benefit your talk.
It is also helpful to remember that people came to hear what you have to say, not just see somebody on stage reading from a script or talking at them. Keeping things conversational never hurts as even if somebody is calling out questions they are still engaged enough to want to know what else you have prepared. Next time you are called upon to speak in front of others follow these 5 techniques for public speaking success and hopefully make a more memorable impression.
The 3 P’s of public speaking
There are few people in this world who enjoy public speaking. It can be terrifying, confusing, and quite frankly, boring to stand in front of a room full of peers who are disinterested in what you have to say. Public speaking is not something that should scare you though because it is certainly achievable if you follow 3 very simple rules: Preparation, Practice & Performance.
Speech preparation may seem daunting at first but once you get started it will be easy for you to pick up the process. Preparations start with picking your topic. You want to make sure your talk has an interesting subject that will keep your audience engaged while also giving them the information they can use or find useful when they leave the room. Once you’ve picked out your topic it’s time to do some research on the subject.
This is where you’ll get all your facts which you can share with your audience during your talk so they can see how knowledgeable you are about the subject. After you’ve done enough research it will be important for you to practice what you’re going to say and practice it out loud in front of people who will give feedback on things like: pace, volume, tone & language.
Once they’ve given their advice, it will be time for your performance! Make sure that when the big day comes around that you’re prepared and ready to give a great talk because if preparation has been completed appropriately, then there should be no reason why anyone should have anything to say about your public speaking abilities. You shouldn’t be afraid of public speaking because it can certainly be learned with the right amount of preparation, practice & performance!