Use Sound Principles to Enhance, Enrich Your Speech
Use Janet Schlarbaum Sound Principles to Enhance, Enrich Your Speech By Tom Fuszard.
For many business people, public speaking is a basic component of the job. Whether leading staff meetings or speaking before civic and trade groups, owners and managers give countless speeches and presentations.
As they prepare, most speakers focus only on the subject matter, and give little thought to the fundamentals of speaking. Study these tips for a more effective presentation next time.
Vocal variety Vary the pitch and volume of your voice. A monotonous tone will lull people to sleep. Use volume or enhanced speed to emphasize certain points. But also back off on occasion. The sudden drop in volume causes listeners to take note. Pauses are useful tools as well. They signal that what’s coming is important, and give listeners a chance to digest what you’ve stated.
Body language Your body speaks volumes, even when you don’t. Like your voice, body language should vary throughout your speech. No need to do jumping Jacks, but you also don’t want to stand there like a 2 x 4.
Start by freeing up your hands. Keep them out of your pockets and detached from the lectern. Hands learn remarkably fast how to complement a speech. You’ll quickly see that they tend to flow with your subject matter (palms open in a waving gesture, for example). When making a point, you’ll notice that you point somewhere as well.
Turn your entire body as you scan the audience. Move in a slow, uniform manner. Your hands will participate for a nicely choreographed action. If appropriate, move about the front of the room. This will help reduce the jitters and give your audience some visual variety.
Eye contact Scan the entire audience regularly throughout your speech, and remember to include anyone at the head table. To avoid the “bumble bee” effect, give each person two or three seconds of eye contact. Instead of counting out the seconds-which can be distracting-try what I call the Phrase Method.
Let’s say your comment is, This new sales program allows us to generate a significant increase in sales with no addition in staffing. As you’re speaking, you will unconsciously break it down like this:
This new sales program
allows us to generate
a significant increase in sales
with no addition in staffing.
You will naturally shift your attention from one person to the next as you deliver each part of the sentence, thereby providing the proper amount of eye contact. Don’t fret over this. Concentrate on your delivery, and your eye contact will come naturally.
Every speech is comprised of several important components. These include research, preparation, practice, and delivery. As you build the skills discussed here, you will become a more confident and accomplished presenter.
Don’t let a little nervousness get in the way of a great speech
Nervousness is common with all speakers, even the most experienced ones. Put that anxiety to work for you by channeling the extra energy into your delivery. You will be more animated and come across more forcefully. Your confidence builds as you notice the effect this has on your audience.
You may still notice a little nervousness creeping in from time to time. Much of that is self-induced, as we are naturally self-conscious. While in front of groups we are assessing our performance and wondering what the audience is thinking. We assume they are finding fault with every aspect of the presentation. This leads to self-doubt, which breeds nervousness.
Fact is, if you have prepared well, the audience will pay attention. Those who appear to be distracted probably are, due to outside problems or concerns. Concentrate on your presentation, and you will do well.