10 Tips for Public Speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners. It is closely allied to "presenting", although the latter has more of a commercial connotation.
To enlighten the information in a structured approach, there are 10 tips that we can follow when we undertake public speaking.
- Know your material
Pick a topic that you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say
- Practice…Practice…Practice!
Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practise, pause and breathe. Practise with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
- Know the audience
Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
- Know the room
Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practise using the microphone and any visual aids.
- Relax
Begin by addressing the audience. It buys time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. (One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
- Visualise yourself giving your speech
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualise the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
- Realise that people want you to succeed
Audience want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
- Don’t apologise
Don’t apologise for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
- Concentrate on the message – not the medium
Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
- Gain experience
Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.
Therefore, Toastmasters is a suitable place to enhance our skills and increase confidence level for public speaking. Come and join us now!
To become a confident speaker, kindly contact:
Mohd Hadzrin Shah Mohd Hazim Shah
Ambassador, UEM Toastmaster Club
hadzrin.shah@uemnet.com
017-365 9599
Syahirah Sayed Romli
Vice President Public Relations, UEM Group Toastmaster Club
syahirah@uemland.uemnet.com
012-339 5562
Ahmad Faqrul Abu Bakar
Vice President Membership, UEM Academy Toastmaster Club
ahmad.faqrul@opusbhd.uemnet.com
03-2727 6507
|
