Are you breathing? You need to ensure you do not fall sick or faint on the platform, so proper breathing is important. Sometimes speakers are tense and not aware of their shallow breathing, which can hamper a clear and smooth delivery. Deep breathing relaxes you and gives strength to your voice. Pause occasionally to take a breath—it not only provides you with more oxygen, but can also give your speech more impact. Speak passionately You must be an authority on your topic and believe in it. Be passionate and enthusiastic. People will see through you, and your emotions can be contagious. If you are bored about your speech or do not know or understand the material well, your audience will react accordingly. Be excited and emotionally involved …show more content…
• When using audio-visual aids, make certain all the necessary equipment is in good working condition and set up beforehand: lighting, sound system, flip charts, microphone, podium, computers, etc. Even if you are not the program coordinator, you want to verify that all are in place for you to shine! I have had to present at some functions and very little was in place before I arrived, so take nothing for granted! • A glass of water at hand would come in handy to moisten a dry throat. Nothing is wrong with taking a sip of water intermittently. • Most speeches follow this outline: State your facts, argue for them, and appeal for action. • Always start off your speech with a bang: maybe an inspiring or relevant quotation, some startling statistics, a question, or a story. Experts say storytelling always work well. • It’s equally important to end your speech with a bang; last impressions also count. What is said last is likely to be remembered the most. Your audience should leave electrified. You can end by summarizing, appealing to the audience to take certain action, paying them a sincere compliment, or building up a climax. You may also want to entertain …show more content…
• We've all been tortured by speakers who never want to stop talking. They go on and on, caring little for the audience's interest or comfort level. Don't be one of those speakers. Always leave listeners wanting more. In other words, know when to stop talking; don’t be a bore. • If possible seek some feedback on your delivery afterwards so you can improve the next time around. I have witnessed CEOs giving very poor deliveries, and persons of very modest backgrounds giving excellent speeches. Great deliveries boil down to self-confidence, passion, a friendly and humble attitude and a message with a mission. In other words, one’s background (age, qualification, etc.) has nothing to do with effective public speaking. It is about competence in the subject matter, and very importantly, the ability to connect (emotional intelligence!). People admire great public speakers; so do I. There is something fascinating about a person who can go on a platform and arouse positive emotions in a crowd through an intelligent speech. If you want to be admired and go for the stars, become a great public speaker. It’s one way to establish your presence on