Public speaking is the act or process of presenting a presentation to an audience. Public speaking has long been recognized as a skill but today there are so many options to choose from it is hard to know which one will work best for you. Many people who have the opportunity to find they use more than one technique when delivering their speech. A speech can consist of several components. Here are some of the key factors to consider when planning your first public speaking experience.
First, find a way to make your presentation memorable and captivating to the audience's attention. It can be easy to get lost in the technical details of your presentation if you have little to say. For this reason, focus on the story you want to tell about yourself and your business. Focus on your experiences and expertise in your particular field of expertise. You might choose to speak about your children or how you met them. If you are speaking about yourself, you may want to focus on your personal growth, achievements, goals, and challenges. You may even want to share an experience that has made an impact on your life that will inspire others to do the same.
Second, you want your public speaking experience to be fun. It can be difficult to keep your audience engaged in your presentation if you spend the majority of your time talking about technical details. It can also be challenging if you're not able to present yourself as someone who can communicate effectively in front of an audience.
So, choose your techniques and strategies carefully and try to give your audience a sense of pride and accomplishment after listening to your presentation. "When you are presenting, remember you will be the storyteller, not the speaker" says Dan Smith of KeynoteSpeakers.info. Your speech is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, experience, and skills so you need to be able to let others know you're confident in what you are saying.
Third, prepare for the public speaking event before the event. In order to avoid any last minute surprises that could put you off, be sure to research your target audience. You want your speech to go over well and be remembered by those who attend the event.
Fourth, choose your language wisely when delivering your public speaking speech. If you are giving a lecture at a university, consider using a neutral tone and style. If you are speaking in front of an audience, consider keeping the conversation light and fun.
Public speaking does take some practice, but with time and effort you'll master it. You may even become known for your skills at the public speaking event.
Look at individual audience members
One of the worst trials of speaking in public is holding the gaze of your audience. Typically, people who are uncomfortable “protect themselves” in two ways:
By fixing their score sheet or their Powerpoint presentation ;
Looking in the dark or turning your head from right to left continuously.
Unfortunately, this is the best way to disconnect from your audience , who will feel that you are not really conversing with them.
So try to successively look the members of your audience in the eye for several seconds, the time to make a sentence or formulate an important idea of your presentation.
Focus on your "supporters"
An audience is a heterogeneous crowd, in which you will find “positive” individuals who play along and encourage you in your presentation, but also more discouraging viewers, who will openly display their boredom or disagreement.
If you focus on these, you are very likely to lose confidence in yourself and miss the boat.
Instead, focus on the first ones, those who nod when you make a proposal, those who have a smile on their face… In short, those who give you confidence and enthusiasm.