The Art Of Public Speaking

There is something about a piece of artwork or music that moves you.  That is the very essence of the word “art.”  That’s exactly what the art of public speaking does…moves the audience.  It may motivate them to do something, or it may persuade them to buy something by moving them to do so. A good delivery of your presentation can give you a certain uniqueness and extra edge that will show there is value to it. 

Whether it is the first brushstroke of a masterpiece or the first note of music, first impressions of the piece are important.  When developing your presentation skills, don’t forget this.  You need to look confident and look like you know what you are talking about right at the start of the presentation in order for your audience to take you seriously.

The audience will make judgments about you even before you start to speak.  They will do this by way you come across and how you look.  The ability to look confident is important especially as you might be feeling nervous.  The ways in which you use your posture, gesture and eye contact can help you to control any bad habits created by nerves and create a much stronger presence.  Make sure that you are standing evenly on two feet with a strong but relaxed posture.

They will continue to form opinions about you by the way you speak.  So, building rapport with the audience is an essential ingredient in making a good impact.  Public speaking courses, just like art or music courses, can be taken to help develop confidence and delivery skills.  Speaking confidently is more than just being confident in the material you’re presenting.  It is one of key areas to creating a presentation masterpiece.  To do so artfully, you must:

·         Speak at the correct pace and not rush.

·         Speak clearly, and don’t slur your words together. 

·         Be sure to pronounce the ends of words clearly. 

The ability to sound interesting and not boring is also really important.  You might be passionate about what you are saying, but if this doesn’t come across well to your audience, they won’t be convinced.

To sound enthusiastic you need to use more expression in your tone of voice so that you avoid a monotone style.  You may also emphasize key words which will help to influence the overall meaning of your messages.

Placing pauses into your speaking also helps to create an impact as well as helping you to control your speed.  These controlled pauses make it easier for the audience to follow.

Eye contact is also very important to help you engage with your audience.  You can’t just stand and stare at them blankly and expect to connect.  You want to really connect with individual members of the audience while you are speaking with them.  It might sound a bit frightening to look directly at audience members, but it actually has the opposite effect.

Public speaking takes a lot of energy, even for a short time.  It’s important to use the proper voice and body language techniques and to practice them so that you build up your vocal stamina. 

When it comes time for you to prepare your next presentation, remember one important thing…you’re not creating a presentation…you’re creating a work of ART!


Would you like to become a better speaker? Would you like to overcome any speaking anxiety you may have?
My free video training shows you how to overcome speaking anxiety and is packed with presentation tips. Go to:

http://radicalpublicspeaking.com/

Fear Of Public Speaking

For some people even the thought of giving a presentation of any kind causes butterflies in their stomach or make them want to run and hide.  The art of public speaking doesn’t come easily to everyone.  If you have this fear, don’t worry.  You’re not alone.  In fact, it’s very common to feel this way.  A lot of people absolutely hate having to present, and are afraid of standing in front of an audience to speak. The potential for failure in front of colleagues or because of bad past experiences makes most people very nervous. 

There are some simple strategies you can apply before you start to speak to help control the nerves and make you feel more relaxed.

1. Preparation

·  Planning the presentation should always be done before you actually deliver the presentation. This is a very important area and it is also one that many people need the most improvement in.  You need to know your material.  This is more than just memorizing it.  Of course, memory is important, but it’s only one aspect. 

·         Knowing your audience is just as important.  The more you know your audience, the more you can understand them.  You’ll know what their preconceptions might be, and prepare your presentation to meet them.  Knowing the purpose of the presentation is important.

·         Then you begin to brainstorm.   What you do here is to write down everything you are actually going to say.  Then, put the information you want to give your audience in a logical sequence.  Your presentation should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

2. Practice

·         Another way to overcome this fear, is practice and rehearse your speech at home or anywhere you can be at ease and comfortable.  Practicing in front of a mirror, friends, colleagues or family can give you confidence.

·         Record or video yourself and listen to yourself. It will help you to see where you go off track.  The more comfortable you become with the speech itself, the more confident you’ll be presenting it.

3. Breathing Techniques

·         Relaxation is the key.  Most people don’t know it, but breathing techniques date back thousands of years.  You’ve probably heard of meditation, well, breathing is central to meditation. 

·         Controlled breathing can actually reduce your blood pressure.  There are several devices on the market that helps you reduce your blood pressure by helping you to breathe in a deep, controlled way.  Research breathing exercises and you’ll find it is a very powerful, yet simple tool to reduce stress, calm those nerves, and feel more in control.

·         Practice taking in a few slow, deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.  Make that out breath as long as possible without forcing it.  You can increase things as you go, but don’t do it too often at first.  It can cause you to feel lightheaded. 

·         Start by taking a few deep breaths before your presentation, and it will make a difference.  It can help control your nervous energy and to calm you down before you start speaking.

Now that you’re prepared, you’ve practiced and confident with the material, and are completely relaxed, you’re ready to put your presentation skills to work.  You might not get it right the first time, but with practice, you’ll be able to go out and WOW your audience in no time.



Would you like to become a better speaker? Would you like to overcome any speaking anxiety you may have?
My free video training shows you how to overcome speaking anxiety and is packed with presentation tips. Go to:

http://radicalpublicspeaking.com/

Presentation Skills

Whether you call it presenting or public speaking, talking in front of a crowd is not easy for everyone.  It is a skill.  To really succeed at presenting and build effective public speaking skills there are several key areas to focus on.  Once you’ve mastered these skills, you’ll be able to develop and present a clear message with confidence.

Know how to plan and write the presentation

·  Planning the presentation should always be done before you actually deliver the presentation. This is a very important area and it is also one that many people need the most improvement in. 

·  Part of the planning process is to research your presentation audience.  The more you know your audience, the more you can understand them.  You’ll know what their preconceptions might be, and prepare your presentation to meet them.  Knowing the purpose of the presentation is important.

·  Then you begin to brainstorm.   What you do here is to write down everything you are actually going to say and then structure it into an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Use your visual aids effectively

·  Once you’ve done your planning, if you want to use visual aids and you’re going to be using.   Often visual aids are put in for the sake of it.  Think about what you want to do, and why you actually need the visual aids in your presentation.  Using them effectively is a good public speaking skill.  You want to use the ones that are going to help you with your presentation and use only those needed to support your message.

Overcoming fear of public speaking

·  For some people even hearing the words speech or presentation causes nerves to kick in and they forget all the public speaking skills they’ve learned.  There are techniques and things you can do to help you to control your nerves and build your confidence.   

·  Knowing your material inside out will make you more comfortable.  If you have this fear, you can practice and rehearse your speech at home or anywhere you can be at ease and comfortable.  Practicing in front of a mirror, friends, colleagues or family can give you confidence.  Record or video yourself and then watch it to see what you do right and wrong.

Deliver the presentation confidently

·  Think about how you’re actually going to deliver your presentation.  Know the techniques and skills you can call on to help you speak confidently, keep the audience’s interest, really engage with them and create the presence that want to have.  Personal resources are important when you deliver your presentation.

Answer questions competently

·  Interacting with your audience and dealing with any questions that your audience might throw at you is also an important skill to learn.  Try to think of questions they might have in advance, and know how you’ll answer.  Even with all the preparation in the world, you still have to expect the unexpected.

These are the five key elements for building and delivering a successful presentation.  Work on these skills.  Take public speaking courses if necessary.  Once you build your skills, apply them.  You’ll be surprised how much easier public speaking can be once you acquire the right skills.


Would you like to become a better speaker? Would you like to overcome any speaking anxiety you may have?
My free video training shows you how to overcome speaking anxiety and is packed with presentation tips. Go to:

http://radicalpublicspeaking.com/