Better Public Speaking

Think of the last really memorable talk or presentation that you attended. Now, was that easy to do, or did you really have to rack your brains to remember one? Sadly, too many presentations are easy to forget. And that's a big problem because the only reason the presenter gave the talk was to communicate something to you.nnHowever, there are four basic things that you can do to ensure that your verbal messages are understood - and remembered - time and time again.nnAlthough somewhat obvious and deceptively simple, these are:nnUnderstand the purpose of the presentation nKeep the message clear and concise nBe prepared nBe vivid when delivering the message nnUnderstand what you want to achieve:nBefore you start working on your talk or presentation, it's essential that you really understand what you want to say, who you want to tell and why they might want to listen. To do this, ask yourself: Who? What? How? When? Where? Why?nnWho are you speaking to? What are their interests, beliefs and values? What do they share in common with others; how are they unique?nnWhat message do you wish to convey? One way of answering this question is to ask yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you have successfully communicated what you have in mind?nnHow can you best put across your message? Language is most important here, as are non verbal cues such as body language and expressions. Choose your words and non verbal cues while keeping your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-visual aids.nnWhen? Timing is important here. Develop a sense of timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as relevant to the issue or matter at hand. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.nnWhere? What is the physical context of the communication in mind? You may have time to visit the venue, for example, and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and visibility if you are using audio or visual aids.nnWhy? In order to convert hearers into listeners, you need to know why they should listen to you – and tell them if necessary.nnThe Importance of Simplicity:nnWhen it comes to wording your message, less is more. You're giving your audience headlines, too much information will overload and bore your listeners.. They are not expecting to become experts on the subject as a result of hearing your presentation, therefore simplicity is best.nnIf you're using slides, limit the content of each one to a few bullet points, a single statement or a very simple diagram.nnPreparation:nnFailing to prepare is preparing to fail. In fact, it is the most important factor in determining your communication successes. When possible, set meeting times and speaking and presentation times well in advance, thus allowing yourself the time you need to prepare your communications. Each minute of a presentation deserves thirty minutes preparation.nnOf course, not all communications can be scheduled. In this case, preparation may mean having a good, thorough understanding of the office goings-on, enabling you to communicate with the knowledge you need to be effective, both through verbal and written communicationsnnSuccessful Delivery:nnThe manner in which you deliver your speech or presentation has a lasting impact on your audience. Again, preparation is paramount here, in order to hold the listeners attention. Some useful tips for keeping your presentation vivid include:nnUse examples to bring your points to life nKeep your body language up-beat - don't stay stuck behind a rostrum nDon't talk to fast. Less is more here too. Pauses are effective. nUse a variety of tones of voice nUse visual aids. nnPresentations and public speaking, although daunting, can be a very enjoyable, rewarding experience, once adequate time is taken to prepare and rehearse them. An enthusiastic speaker who is confident with their material will make a lasting memorable impression on their audience.