|
Home / Speaking
YOU as a Public Speaker!
By:John Neyman, Jr.
Preparing for a presentation with the use of visual aids can often overlook the obvious visual, You. That's right! The speaker. Other forms of visual aids are just that, aids to help interpret your presentation. It is important that you are the main visual. Image is everything!
Focusing on the following areas will prepare you to be the main attraction.
Mental and Physical Preparation
Physical and mental preparation goes hand-in-hand. When you are nervous, your mind is usually racing, causing your words to jumble as they try to keep up with your thoughts. Physically slowing down your mind by relaxing your body helps eliminate this problem. Gather your thoughts through deep breathing and stretching to calm your nervousness. Mental imagery is a tool for a speaker to minimize or eliminate any negative thoughts or fears about speaking. Visualize that you are a dynamic and confident speaker who has valuable information to give.
Proper Attire
What is the first thing your audience will notice about you? Most likely it will be what you are wearing. Pay close attention to how your dress is representing you. Check with the event organizers to be sure that you won't under or over dress. Do not wear anything that takes away from your presentation such as big jewelry, loud colors, or excessive makeup unless it is part of your presentation.
Body Language
1. Eye communication
The best way to use eye contact is to make eye contact! Do not overlook your audience when you are nervous. Find friendly faces and connect with the audience. This builds confidence in you as the audience senses your sincerity. You can use eye contact to seek feedback from your audience. Are they attentive and interested?
Too little eye contact is interpreted as being impolite and disinterested. Too much makes someone feel uncomfortable and victimized. Try to focus on connecting with your audience and eye contact will become comfortable.
2. Gestures
Gestures should be natural and represent what you are feeling and thinking at that moment. If you are excited, and grand gestures are natural for you, go for it! Your audience appreciates sincerity verses a rehearsed robotic gesture. Although different countries and cultures define gestures differently, there are general gestures which convey a certain message to the audience.
Negative or closed gestures:
- Hands on the hips can be perceived as judgmental and authoritative.
- Hands in pockets show that you are nervous or complacent.
- Hands clasped behind you (reverse fig leaf or regal position) infer that you are hiding something, may cause distrust. This may also show nervousness.
- Hands clasped in front (fig leaf) convey tension.
- Crossed-arms may portray you as defensive and unopened.
Positive or open gestures:
- "At ease stance" (feet about shoulder width apart with toes pointed forward).
- Gestures should be appropriate and flowing, not quickly and jerky.
- Vary your gestures so that you do not bore the audience.
- Palms open show that you are non-threatening.
- Appear natural by matching your words, thoughts, and feelings to your gesture.
3. Posture and Movement
- Proximity and orientation.
- The social norm in North America is about one-and-one-half feet to four feet between two people. Standing too close to someone can cause them to feel uncomfortable and infringed on. Standing too far can cause them to feel disconnected and disinterested.
- Stances/movement - a neutral stance is usually best. Feet slightly shoulder width apart and toes forward. Movement is dependent on your situation. Pacing is distracting however, showing a visual by moving back and forth may be warranted.
- Head nodding can be perceived positively showing your audience that you are interested in them. It can also be perceived negatively if you are shaking your head in a disapproving or demeaning manner.
4. Facial expressions
Be extremely aware of your facial expressions. Do your facial expressions convey a different meaning than what you are thinking or feeling? Or, are they conveying exactly what you are thinking or feeling (i.e. tiredness, boredom)? Always remember to smile at the audience. A good time to do this is when people are first coming into your session. Greet them with a smile. This helps relax you and helps the audience warm up to you before your formal presentation. It is easier to give a presentation in front of a relaxed and inviting crowd rather than a cold and judgmental one.
Remember, you may have the most dynamic presentation slide show with the latest technology, however, all that hard work will be discarded if you do not prepare yourself and the main visual. Make your next presentation a high-impact one with a lasting impression of YOU.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Dr. John E. Neyman, Jr. has been speaking everyweek for the last 21 years. He is writing a book called Designing Speeches. mailto:John@LeadersExcel.com http://LeadersExcel.com
|
|
| Top Speaking Articles |
- 1). 8 Tips to improve your comunication skills By : John Khu
If you often have difficulty in starting conversations and maintaining the interest of people you are speaking with, you are just a member of what is probably the largest group of humans on this planet – “nice people with less than perfect communication skills”.
Your upbringing and life experiences may have made you defensive or even negative about most people that you meet.
|
|
|
- 3). Fluent Speech And How To Achieve It By : blueboy
This article is all about how to achieve fluency and looks at the specific speech impediment known as stammering/stuttering. My name is Steve Hill, I suffered with a stutter from the age of four and despite regular conventional speech therapy, continued stuttering until the age of twenty-two.
I found life with a stutter extremely frustrating as at times I could speak very well.
|
- 4). How to Develop a Dynamic Story By : Barbara White
Story telling is a very effective way to get your point across. Here are some tips to help you develop a dynamic powerful story.
• Decide on the purpose for the story. What is the main point you want to make? Slant the telling of the story so that that point is clear.
• Create the backdrop. Describe the scene so that the audience can picture it in their minds.
|
- 5). Eulogy Speeches: Use A Story To Help You Get Started By : Tom Antion
So you "have" to do a eulogy speech... or maybe you "want" to get a chance to express in public all the deep feelings you have for your loved one who has passed away.
Yes, I know it's a tough time to write a eulogy speech or anything else for that matter. Yes, I know you're probably distraught and having a hard time focusing. That's OK. I'm going to give you an easy tip to get going.
|
|
|
|
|
- 8). speaking precisely By : gmcMatch.com
You can express yourself better if you learn the proper words to use for each situation.
You can pick up these words by reading good books and articles. Just be careful you don't pronounce something incorrectly in your head, and then speak that way in public. People will think you're ignorant.
I remember listening to a radio talk show one time when a man called in and mispronounced a word.
|
- 9). Public Speaking Tips By : Simon Oldmann
Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make you speech and as you plan to meet your audience.
Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences, you may think of politicians.
|
- 10). Three Easy Steps To Be Good In Public Speaking By : David Idle
Throughout the history of human civilization, people have been expressing their confidence and strength, not only by force, but also by the noble art of public speaking.
The orators of ancient Greece were highly respected and valued in the community. Likewise, today’s world leaders are admired and esteemed when they have the power to address the public with poise and conviction.
|
| New Speaking Articles |
- 1). Public Speaking - The Art of Speech Making By : Robin Chandler
How do you speak naturally while all those people are watching you? This document covers hints and tips on public speaking, dealing with anxiety, public speaking skills and techniques and public speaking training.
|
- 2). Eight Steps to Better Public Speaking By : Robert Scheer
How public speakers can overcome nervous and stage fright. How to prepare your speech beforehand. The best time to rehearse. How to psych yourself up before going onstage. How to make an audience like you.
|
- 3). Top 7 Ways to Succeed in the Business of Speaking By : Sandra Schrift
Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to me. Thank you.
______________________________________________
Top.
|
- 4). Public Speaking Fear? You Should Be Afraid By : Paul Evans
Like most pubic speaking consultants, I usually hammer all the reasons a person should not be afraid of presenting. However, the more coaching I do, the more I realize the fear is legit. People should be afraid of getting in front of a group.
While there is a lot to gain from speaking publicly, there is also a lot to lose. Here are seven reasons to be scared…
Number One: No skill.
|
- 5). Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking By : Sandra Schrift
Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email me where you publish. Thank you.
___________________________________________________________
TITLE: Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
COPYRIGHT: ©2006 by Sandra Schrift.
|
- 6). Argumentation: Turn It from Adversarial to Educational By : Jonathan Steele
Argumentation is usually associated with debate. Using argumentation in public speaking does not require being adversarial. To use it effectively can enhance the experience for the listener.
Your first thought might be to avoid it, especially when trying to persuade. The kind of argument being discussed here is not bickering or being obnoxious or even debate.
|
|
|
- 8). Public Speaking Tips By : Simon Oldmann
Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make you speech and as you plan to meet your audience.
Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences, you may think of politicians.
|
- 9). Public Speaking, Why All The Fuss? By : Tomas Morkenson
When asked, the majority of people in the US would claim that there greatest fear is getting up in front of a crowd and giving a speech. People 100 years ago would not say that public speaking was their worst fear, but they had more threatening things to worry about right? I’m talking about things like war, and wild animals, and rampant crime without great law enforcement.
|
- 10). A world of presentations without PowerPoint By : thomsonchemmanoor
Most of the presentations made nowadays are made with the help of PowerPoint. There are also class teachers and lecturers who use PowerPoint to make the teaching and learning process more interesting. However, it is the professional who makes presentations without the use of PowerPoint, while following some of their age-old beliefs for presentations.
|
|
|
