Public
Speaking: 5 Key Image Factors
Confident
public speaking puts
the audience at ease
and creates a good environment for them to
absorb the information you present. The speaker
who lacks confidence can make an audience
feel sorry for them so the audience ends up
concentrating on the speaker rather than the
message.
In
view of this, a professional image
is a very important ingredient in confident
public speaking. Use the five points below
to ensure your image enhances rather than
detracts from your presentation:
1.
Personal Appearance
Spend
some time on your personal
appearance
before making a presentation.
-
Are you dressed appropriately
for the audience you are addressing?
-
-
Is
your hair properly groomed?
-
Are
your hands and fingernails clean
and well kept?
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Paying
attention to these areas will convey a professional
image, give you credibility, and make you
feel confident in public speaking.
2.
Neat Equipment
In
addition to paying attention to your personal
appearance, also give thought to your equipment.
Arriving
in front of the audience with notes on folded
up pieces of paper looks amateur.
Make
sure your notes are neatly
kept
in a binder or plastic folder and well arranged
so you don't spend time fumbling for the page
you want.
3.
Visual Contact
To
ensure you have good visual
contact
with the audience, take a few seconds to make
sure your notes are positioned correctly on
the speaker's stand.
You
don't want them at such a distance that you
have to drop your head to look down.
If
possible, keep them at an angle that allows
you to just glance at them without moving
your head so you can keep good eye contact
with the audience.
4.
Stand Up Straight
Stand
erect so the speech organs in your body
can function properly. Slouching leads to
poor enunciation and muffling sounds with
the audience straining to catch what is said.
5.
Handle Interruptions Confidently
What
if members of the audience keep interrupting
you, or make loud comments on what you are
saying? Anyone who is not confident in public
speaking can be thrown by these situations
or at least look awkward and ill-prepared.
On
the other hand, here is an opportunity to
demonstrate
your professionalism
and keep control of yourself, your audience
and the situation. Here are two suggestions:
State
in a very kind, non-aggressive tone the following:
You appreciate members of the audience may
have other viewpoints or concerns. There will
be an opportunity at the end of the discussion
to hear them, either through a question and
answer session after the main presentation,
or by being on hand to speak personally to
anyone with a query.
Alternatively,
you may remind the audience there is a time
constraint, and as you have some very
important information to convey it will be
necessary to take
comments and questions later,
after the main presentation is finished.
Almost
every public speaker feels nervous at some
time. Some never conquer their nervousness
completely. Nevertheless, you do not need
to betray your nervous feelings to your audience.
By
paying careful attention to your image using
the five points above, you will make a positive
impact on
your audience and within yourself feel confident
at public speaking engagements.
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Next:
Public
Speaking: The 5 Step Starting Routine
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public speaking,
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