Public Speaking 101: Everything You Need To Know
Public Speaking 101: Everything You Need To Know
Public speaking can be considered one of the five scariest things people can do. Many people rank it ahead of death on their fear list. Therefore, it is important that you prepare in advance. Use the following information to help you with your public speaking.
When you speak in public, it is important to be prepared in order to make a great impression. Know what you're going to say. Perform research for supporting your statements, if you can. Take notes of whatever you have to say. Rehearse your comments until you master them. Being well-prepared can improve confidence when it's time for your actual speech.
Being prepared - understanding your topic is key. Have a broad general knowledge of the topic including statistics, facts and anecdotes. Work them in where you think they fit and will engage your current audience. In addition, you can rely on them during the question and answer period or during follow-up conversations.
Try to relax before and during your speech. Breathe deeply and remember that you are well-prepared, so you have nothing to worry about. Some say that it helps to envision your audience members in their underwear to help you relax. This sort of visualization can help you look and feel more relaxed while speaking.
If you are asked to speak about an unfamiliar subject, be sure to make the most of your research time. Study a wide variety of texts, videos and actual examples of your topic. Talk with people who know about it. When you speak, you can choose to talk about your research and share what you have learned rather than attempting to present yourself as an actual expert.
Do not be afraid to let your audience know that you have no idea of the answer to some of their questions. People will respect your honesty and understand that you are human. This is much better than rambling on trying to convince them you know what is going on when you don't.
Know your topic well. Take the necessary time to research your topic and learn all you can. When delivering your speech, try to be flexible. Allow participants to ask questions. If you do not know the answer, tell them that you do not know, but you will find the information out and make it available to the group at a later time.
When preparing a speech that contains large amounts of information, don't be too proud to use note cards. Even the most gifted orators recognize the usefulness of notes. It is preferable to quickly glance at your notes rather than cite information incorrectly or omit key points. This works especially well when the topic includes specific figures, such as dollar amounts, percentages, and dates.
Many people start a speech with a joke in order to grab the audience's attention, so keep this in mind as you are figuring out what to say. If you are going to tell a joke, make sure that it is tasteful and on topic. Otherwise, you risk alienated some of them.
Some people rate public speaking as more terrifying to them than anything, including dying. However, do not allow this phobia to control you. Use the tips you've just been given, and you will become an effective and confident public speaker.