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Public speaking is an important skill in the information age. We may spend more and more time staring at our computers, but we cannot allow our communications skills to lapse as we stare at the screen. Success still comes through the people we know and influence. Developing our ability to write and deliver presentations is vital no matter what discipline a person concentrates on for a career path.
First, it is important to be current. The software packages available are valuable tools in making an impression. A software engineer related a story of his company making a presentation with an overhead projector and transparencies. The other company made their presentation with the PowerPoint Software Package that moved along smoothly with the click of a remote and a computer projection set-up. There was no comparison. You need to be current with the methods available. It is also important to make certain you are not using archaic sexist language, politically incorrect jokes, or racist slurs in presentations.
Practicing your delivery is extremely important. Make sure you are familiar with your visual aids, or technology that you are using in your speech. Tape your speech and pay attention to the pitch and volume of your voice. Listen for repeating phrases such as: Uhhhs, hmms, you know, etc. These can be distracting to the listener, and make a speaker appear uncertain. Practice in front of friends, family and pets. Time yourself, and make sure you are not speeding through your speech. If you give yourself time to practice, nervousness and stage fright will have less of an impact on your delivery.
In Dave Ellis’s manual, Becoming a Master Student, a few suggestions are given on presenting speeches. When writing a speech it is important to pay attention to what you say first. It is possible to lose an audience in the first few words that leave your mouth. People use jokes, famous quotes, striking statistics, and attention grabbers to get the audience’s attention right away. Whatever it takes make those first few sentences count.
Body of the speech is where the majority of the information will be presented. Some of the worse speeches I have ever heard are those that ramble on in infinite unneeded detail, and delineate points only to warn the audience that there will be five more points before the end. This type of speech is impossible to listen to and most of the information is lost in the paralyzing boredom felt by the audience. To avoid this in your speech follow the following rules:
1. Involve your audience by asking them thought provoking questions.
2. Recap points throughout the speech making connections for the audience.
3. Use facts, expert opinions, statistics, and other dynamic resources to hold attention and drive points home
4. Anecdotes make information personal and push emotional buttons to make speeches memorable.
5. After a deep emotional point is made, use comic relief to return the listener to a normal state so learning and retention of material can be greater.
The conclusion of your speech is where you bring it all together. This is where you dramatically conclude your information. This is the time to drive the point home and leave them with a bang. If the conclusion is not strong people will leave scratching their head, as though they missed the ending of the movie. Your last words should be the ones that repeat themselves in a person’s head, and make them think 3 days after delivery. A straight forward and succinct conclusion will come across as hard-hitting and well thought out. This is what you want as you leave the audience.
Before actually giving the speech, take a minute for visualizing. Close your eyes and see yourself confident and capable in front of a group of people. Visualize the people attentive and impressed with your speaking ability. See yourself speaking in an engaging manner, making points, telling jokes, and speaking with charismatic clarity. Include applause and approval coming from the audience as you finish you speech and sit down. If you can see it in your mind you can make it happen on the podium, in the meeting or wherever the you are speaking with success and skill.
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