Mastering
Public Speaking: 6 Advice Notes For Powerful Presentations
When
mastering public speaking, you need to pay special
attention to the first
few seconds
of your presentation:
Get
Attention
For
maximum effect and to ensure
you have the attention of your audience, when
you stand up to speak,
1)
take just one or two seconds to
look around
your audience,
2)
make sure your facial expression is relaxed
- SMILE!
Then
your first words will fall on an audience anticipating
something rather than on an audience that gradually
stops what it's doing as it becomes aware of the
fact you have started speaking.
Here
are some introduction ideas which will help in
mastering public speaking skills:
Six
Introductions
The
following two suggestions regarding illustrations
and examples are an essential ingredient in mastering
public speaking:
Use
Similes And Metaphors
Enrich
your presentation by using similes
and metaphors.
By just comparing two things, the subject under
discussion with something that has one or more
factors in common, will help you audience grasp
the meaning.
Metaphors
go even further by speaking as though one thing
actually was another. e.g. "All the world's
a stage."
Illustrations
When
thinking of illustrations or examples to include
in your material, try and draw from subjects that
are familiar to your audience.
If
you are making a presentation before work colleagues
for example, try and think of an illustration
from your workplace or to do with the industry
you are associated with.
Likewise,
before larger audiences, illustrations relating
to the town or city, or history of the area in
which you are speaking will find fascinated listeners.
They
will immediately feel
a rapport
with you as you obviously have taken a personal
interest in them and their background.
The
last two suggestions relate to voice and microphone
use. Mastering public speaking means you speak
in a way that captures interest. Additionally,
you also need to make sure your voice is heard
at all times:
Tone
And Pitch
Vary
the tone
and
pitch
of your voice and you will be interesting to listen
to.
A
musical instrument playing one note soon becomes
an irritation. A speaker with a monotone voice
can have the same effect. So learn to:
The
human voice has an amazing range.
Learn to explore the highs and lows of
your own voice in daily conversation and then
employ this range when you speak before an audience.
Microphone
Use
If
you move your head remember to stop speaking until
your mouth is directly in front of the microphone
again. And of course, avoid sneezing or coughing
into the microphone. Remember
to turn your head.
Additionally,
when using a microphone, make sure it is positioned
about 4
to 6 inches
from your mouth to avoid voice distortion.
Mastering
public speaking takes time, and much practice.
Keeping the above six advice notes in mind will
do much to aid your progress.
Transform
Your Presentation Skills With The Online Workshop
Tag:
mastering public speaking,
