Table of Contents

Introduction 3 Choosing a Topic 5 Where to Start 6 Your Opening 12 The Body of Your Speech 15 Using Humor 18

Your Closing 20 Benefits of a Written Speech 21 Public Speaking Without Fear 22 Body Language 27 Notes, Cue Cards, or What 29 Speaking with Flair 31 The Eyes Have It 32 How to Speak 35 Movement and Gestures 40

Broadcasting versus Conversation 42 The 4 C‟s 44 Finding the Right Voice 47 Making a Good First Impression 50 Impromptu Speaking 52 In General 54 Judging Yourself 58 Conclusion 60

INTRODUCTION

“Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the

clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they

have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what

course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me

death!”

– Patrick Henry

“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated

to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

- Abraham Lincoln

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out

the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons

of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of

oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by

the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious

racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little

black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white

boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.”

- Martin Luther King

“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and

the House of Representatives: Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was

suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

All of the above quotes are from famous speeches that have lived in the minds of people all over the world and are remembered

in nearly every history class. All of these speeches started as a few words jotted down on paper and were propelled into history by

careful composition and skilled delivery.

Writing and delivering a speech sometimes strikes fear into the

hearts of even the most experienced speakers. They wonder if they‟ll stumble over their words. They hope they can convey the

passion they had inside of them when they wrote it. They hope that

they may eventually pass into the ranks of a speaker to be remembered.

If you‟re finding yourself in the position of having to write and deliver a speech, don‟t fear. Giving a speech is just talking about

what impassions you. But the effect it can have is so much deeper.

When you write a speech, there are all sorts of things to keep

in mind as you are penning it. Once you get it just the way you want it, then you have to start thinking about delivering it.

Preparing and delivering your first public speech can be a daunting affair. You may find it difficult deciding what you want to say,

how to say it, or perhaps the thought of speaking before an audience scares you.

It's true that some people are naturally talented at public

speaking, but the good news is that with some helpful guidance, anyone can write and deliver a successful speech that will be

remembered for all the right reasons.

If you‟re unsure about your abilities or just don‟t know where to begin in the first place, don‟t worry. We‟re here to help!

We‟ll explore the entire process from text to speech and help YOU give the most captivating speech of your life!

CHOOSING A TOPIC

If you are giving a speech for a specific reason, your topic may

have already been assigned to you. If that‟s the case, the best you can do is get as much information about the topic as you can.

Do a “Google” search and start your research. Take notes. Get a blank piece of paper or open up a new Word document and jot

down everything that you know on the subject. Add to that what you learned from your research and start grouping all the

information together.

Try the website www.mindmap.com which is a great place to help you with brainstorming about a topic. It‟s also a great place to

just play around at.

If the topic you are given isn‟t something you give a hoot

about, you can probably at least link it to something you love. Show an interest in even the most mundane subject and your audience will

thank you later.

You see, not everyone is into the benefits of HMO‟s or effective

time management in the office. But if you can somehow make it interesting and even funny, at the end, they‟ll thank you!

If you are allowed the freedom of choosing your own topic, this is where the fun can really start. How do you choose? Start by

thinking of something you‟re passionate about. Love your topic, be excited about it, and have a strong desire to entertain audiences by

talking about it.

Talk about what you already know. If you are a self-taught expert about any topic, you probably can go on and on in a casual

situation talking about that subject. You can do the same thing

when you‟re giving a formal speech; you just need to structure it different!

Be sure and do deep research on any topic that you are giving a speech on. Googling a subject is a great start, but it‟s really not

enough. Go to the library and use their reference section. Talk to experts and quote them (with their permission, of course!)

In the initial stage be clear in your mind about the audience expectation. And deep studying of public expectations it would be a

lot easier for you to select a good subject matter. Selecting a subject matter and thinking of the sources of information regarding

the subject go side-by-side and always practiced by established speakers.

Ensure you select a known subject so getting material for the speech becomes easy. The more the subject is dark the more

difficulty you face gathering information about such subjects. This

does not mean that the subject covered in the speeches cannot be wide and have branches.

Then you can start preparing. Gather a rough idea and hone the boring subject into an interesting one. The topic is the subject of

a speech and should be stated as specifically as possible.

Do deep research on your topics for every possible source. A brainstorming research makes a subject an interesting topic. You

may go online for your research and hop from page to page regarding the chosen subject.

WHERE TO START

So you‟ve been asked to give a speech. Perhaps you‟re speaking to co-workers about the new 401K plan. Maybe you have

to make a speech for a class. It really doesn‟t matter why you are giving the speech, what does matter is that you are going to have to

make the speech. And you want to give the best speech you can. Where do you begin?

Your first instinct may be to sit down with a pen and paper and charge full steam ahead into the first line of your speech. Don't. You

will save yourself a lot of time and effort, not to mention much

frustrating re-writing, if you begin instead by devoting some time to careful planning of your speech.

Through effective preparation, you will answer all the questions

and doubts about your speech before they arise. The contents of your speech, and how you deliver it, are based on three important factors:

The Occasion

The nature of the occasion will obviously have a great bearing on

your speech. The occasion will dictate not only the content of your

speech, but also the duration, the tone, and the expectations of your audience.

For example, humor may be inappropriate during a business

presentation or a eulogy, while it may be welcome during a wedding speech, or a sports event. You should also be aware of your role and

any observances that you should make during your speech (For example, a Best Man ought to close his speech with a toast to the

Bride and Groom).

The Audience

Whatever the occasion, your speech must always be targeted at

your audience.

If you are familiar with your audience, for example if the occasion is a large family gathering, then your speech should

acknowledge and build upon your existing intimacy with your audience. The use of names and personal details of members of your

audience can help to engage your listeners.

If the speech is to an unfamiliar audience then an early goal of

your speech must be to build a degree of trust with the listeners. You must know who your audience is in order to best decide how to affect

your message upon them. Consider the following factors:

Audience - Who are the members? How many will be at the

event?

Understanding - What is their knowledge about the topic you will

be addressing?

Demographics - What is their age, sex, educational background, etc.?

Interest - Why will they be at this event? Who asked them to be

there?

Environment - Where will I stand when I speak? Will everyone be able to see me?

Needs - What are the listener's needs? What are your needs as a

speaker? What are the needs of the person who hired you?

Customized - How can I custom fit my message to this

audience?

Expectations - What do the listeners expect to learn from me?

Find out as much as possible about the people you will be

speaking to at the business meeting. Higher level managers will respond differently than those on the shop floor, for example. Tailor

the flavor of your talk, as well as the content, to your particular audience. Try to discern what they hope to gain by your speech.

Imagine how they can use the information in their jobs, and pinpoint special tips.

Talk to the person who asked you to speak to find out more

about the audience. Find out what others will be speaking about in order to make sure you don't overlap information. Ask about past

presentations given by other speakers to the group, and what was

successful.

The Purpose of Your Speech

By setting out a few clear goals before you start writing your speech, you will be better equipped to judge its progress and success

of your speech prior to its public airing. A hilarious Best Man speech may have your audience rolling in the aisles, but if you fail to give

tribute to the Bride and Groom you will have failed in your role.

By setting clear goals, you will be better positioned to judge

the likely success of your speech.

Here‟s a good way to structure your speech: P.R.E.P

No, it doesn‟t mean prepare, although that‟s something you should certainly do.

P.R.E.P stands for:

P oint

R eason E xample

P oint

Most audience members will only remember one or two key

points from a speech.

The sad thing is that most people tend to ramble on and on and on and on and on in their speeches while all the while the audience is

thinking “What‟s the point? Get to the point! You‟re all over the place. I don‟t know what you‟re trying to tell me. Arrrrggghhh. I‟m just going

to think about what I should eat for dinner.”

To avoid this, try to keep your point simple by saying it in one

sentence. (P)

When people hear your point, their next natural thought is “why?”

You must satisfy their thought by providing a good reason. (R)

Then you give a simple example to illustrate your point. (E)

Studies have shown that people will remember the examples in the speech and use that as a link to remember the point of the speech

(tortoise and the hare - easy example that everyone remembers and

the point is easily extracted from the example). So choose a good example.

Then reiterate your point for good measure. (P)

Include at the most 3 P.R.E.Ps. If possible, try to cut down the

number of points to one or two in your speech because the average

audience member will only remember one or two things from your

speech.

When preparing your speech, keep these points and examples simple so you‟re audience will fully comprehend your message.

You‟ll find that if you use this simple P.R.E.P formula, the

audience will easily be able to recollect the main points of your speech,

which is something very rare for audiences in general.

So here‟s the basic outline of your speech.

Intro - Like we‟ve said, use an attention grabbing intro. Use a funny anecdote, or something you noticed in general, or whatever you

can come up with. I leave this up to your creative mind. Case in

point; get their attention so you can tell them about:

Point #1: My point is…What I‟m trying to say is….etc..

R

E

P

Point #2

P

R

E

P

Conclusion: wrap it up and reiterate your points again.

Done

Most good writing, we are told over and over again, must have structure. A good speech is no exception. By providing your speech

with a beginning, middle, and an end, you will have laid the

foundations for a successful speech that fulfils all of your aspirations.

The first thirty seconds of your speech are probably the most

important. In that period of time you must grab the attention of the audience, and engage their interest in what you have to say in your

speech. This can be achieved in several ways. For example you could raise a thought-provoking question, make an interesting or

controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation or even recount a joke.

Once you have won the attention of the audience, your speech

should move seamlessly to the middle of your speech.

The body of your speech will always be the largest part of your

speech. At this point your audience will have been introduced to you and the subject of your speech (as set out in your opening) and will

hopefully be ready to hear your arguments, your musings or on the subject of your speech.

The best way to set out the body of your speech is by

formulating a series of points that you would like to raise. In the

context of your speech, a "point" could be a statement about a product, a joke about the bridegroom or a fond memory of the subject

of a eulogy.

The points should be organized so that related points follow one another so that each point builds upon the previous one. This will also

give your speech a more logical progression, and make the job of the listener a far easier one.

Don't try to overwhelm your audience with countless points. It is better to have fewer points that you make well than to have too

many points, none of which are made satisfactorily.

Like your opening, the closing of your speech must contain some

of your strongest material.

You should view the closing of your speech as an opportunity. It is an opportunity to:

Summarize the main points of your speech

Provide some further food for thought for your listeners

Leave your audience with positive memories of your speech

Choose the final thought/emotion (for example, with well wishes

to the Bride and Groom, with fond memories of a departed friend, with admiration for winners and losers at an awards

ceremony etc). Those are just a few general points. Let’s take on each section and explore it in depth.

YOUR OPENING

Let me start this section by saying that often, it is easier to write the body of a speech before you write the opening and closing.

Even when I write these books, I find myself working on the actual “meat” of the book and going back to write the introduction and

conclusion.

It‟s easy to get overwhelmed when facing a blank page. In

fact, it‟s much easier to be overwhelmed with a blank computer screen, so start with what you know you want to say. You‟ll be

revising over and over, so just begin with your passion.

In the interest of making this book smooth flowing, however, I will start with the opening because it is the beginning, and it makes

sense to start there!

The first thing you have to do when starting to put together

your speech is to establish a purpose. Let the audience know what that purpose is first and foremost.

Doing this keeps you focused on a single message. Your audience cannot process more than one message anyway and they

will often be hearing lots of other things at the same meeting. Make your message something they can remember easily and repeat in a

variety of different ways so they don't forget it.

The number one mistake speakers make when opening up

their speech is starting with something like “Good evening ladies and gentlemen”. It easy to say those words and you don‟t have to worry

about messing up. But, it‟s boring!

Alternatively, the number one rule of writing a speech opening is to get your audience‟s attention. Use humor, shock, imagination –

whatever you can come up with that will make people sit up just a

little bit straighter in their chair and WANT to hear what you have to

say.

There are a number of techniques that can be employed to

achieve great attention-getting openings in your speeches.

Quotations

A quotation from a well-known person can be a very effective opening. A quote from an obscure source isn‟t as successful; part of

the impact comes from the name recognition itself.

There are a lot of great places on the Internet that can give you some amazing quotes. My favorite is www.quotegarden.com.

You can find a quote on almost any topic under the sun.

Make sure the quotation is captivating and attention getting.

Much of that will depend on what your topic is. Even the most dry topic can have a place somewhere in history or a quote that will

apply!

Rhetorical Questions

This is a great way to open a speech. When you ask a question

that will immediately engage the minds of the audience members as they attempt to answer it in their heads.

Of course, keep in mind that you‟re not looking for people to

actually answer you; you simply want to get their brains working. Accompany your questions with one hand raised in the air and the

audience will be cued that you‟re interested in a showing of hands, not verbal responses.

Declarative Statements

Opening with a bold, powerful statement is another good way to grab the audience‟s attention. A startling statistic or bold claim can jolt

them and set the stage for an educational or informational talk.

A shocking statement is often followed by a pause and then a

disclaimer, such as “according to so-and-so in his book…” or “or so I thought when I was growing up.”

Scenarios

This type of opening usually begins with “Imagine…” and the goal is to create a scene for audience members to visualize in their

minds. Remember that audiences rarely remember the words you

say; they remember the pictures you paint for them.

Anecdotes

You‟ve probably already heard somewhere that you should never open a speech with a joke. That‟s true, but it is okay to open with a

short, amusing story, as long as it is both short and amusing.

Find the funny, personal stories in your life and use them as

your opening, making sure they relate to the theme of your speech. When you use an anecdote, some people will just find it amusing, but

others will be able to relate on a higher level and that will open their minds to the broader message you will be sharing.

The best humor comes out of real life experiences, situations

you‟ve been involved in yourself or witness to. Any funny lines you say should have been actually said by someone. Don‟t fall into the trap of

trying to tell jokes. Tell humorous, personal stories instead.

Alcoholics Anonymous Format

I found this on a website and thought it was a great way to open up a speech. The format goes as follows:

This is where I was…..

This is where I am now…..

This is how I got here…..

By using this technique, you not only get people interested in

your topic, you give yourself credibility by knowing about the subject you are speaking on. You can also help people identify better with you

as a fellow human being instead of an “expert” who is just talking about something because you can.

Humor

Humor is different from anecdotes. Anecdotes are real life

stories that are funny. Humor is using jokes. Be very careful when using humor to open up your speech. Humor can be subjective and

some people will either be offended or just not get it. Ask yourself the following questions before committing to using a joke to open up your

speech.

Is it appropriate to the occasion and for the audience?

Is it in good taste?

Does it relate to me, my product or service, the event, or the group?

Does it support the topic or its key points?

If you can't answer yes to these questions, choose a different

opening. It's safer and more effective to tell the audience what they

most want to know from you. And by all means, let them know what your intention is.

At the beginning of the speech, say a few things about what your

speech is intended to do. When you do this, they‟ll know what to look for and what to expect. Then, when you have achieved your objective,

they‟ll be satisfied and so will you.

As we said before, you should write your opening after you have already written the body of your speech so that it is applicable to the

topic and the message that you want to convey.

THE BODY OF YOUR SPEECH

When you start writing the body of your speech, you might want

to begin with an outline just like you had to do in composition class. You should have a topic sentence and then a few points to emphasize

that sentence. As you include your supporting information, be thinking of ways to lead naturally into the next portion of your speech.

Use Basic English. Keep your sentences fairly short (sentence

fragments are sometimes all right to use), and your words fairly simple, unless the longer word is important to your topic. Try of avoid

words that could be mistaken for another word.

Remember when I said to brainstorm for things to include in your speech? Here‟s where that will come in. Take that list and make

three subsections where you will expound on what you spoke about in your introduction.

As you organize and add to these subsections, think about the first thing that you want your audience to know. Then the second and

so forth and so on. Make each section 2 or 3 paragraphs long and keep referring back to your brainstorming sheet if you get stuck.

While writing the body of your speech, always keep in mind what

it is that you want to accomplish. Are you trying to convince them to come around to your point of view? Are you trying to push them to

action? Is your speech just a way of conveying information? When you remember the purpose of your speech, writing it will come much

easier!

Avoid trying to include too many statistics and facts in your speech. While they are effective in getting your point across, when

you include too many, you‟re going to confuse people. Ninety percent

of all speeches are just plain boring. The reason they‟re boring is because they have too many facts and figures to deal with.

Don‟t cram their brains with unnecessary information, just focus

on what‟s important: your message. If you include too much in your speech, people will lose interest. It takes about 20 minutes to put

your audience on information overload. The KISS principle is especially helpful when composing the body of your speech:

Keep It Simple Silly

Speak from experience and pepper your body with personal

stories. It‟s easier for you to remember things you‟ve experienced and people will be able to relate better to you on a personal level.

You have already identified your audience at this point – at least

we hope you have. If you haven‟t, please go back and read that part! When writing your speech, it‟s a good idea to speak in the “language”

of the people you are addressing.

There are two different types of registers you can use: casual and formal. A casual register includes the usage of slang,

euphemisms, and a more casual, talkative style. The formal register is just what it sounds like, formal. The language of formal register is

technical and does not use any type of slang. Formal register is the language of wordsmiths and technicians.

Also, think about what your audience would enjoy. Will they be content to just sit back and listen or would their interest be heightened

if they are asked to actually participate in your speech in some way. Actually a blend of kinesthetic, audio, and visual tools is the best, but

some audiences may be shy and when you ask them to contribute, they won‟t. This is a great way to bomb quickly at the podium.

In general, it‟s best to keep your word usage to simple English.

Use active words rather than passive words: act now rather than do this. That will have more impact in the minds of your listeners.

Be sure to have a link in your body to your introduction. The

segue between introduction and body must be seamless and flow. Otherwise, your speech will sound disjointed and scattered and you‟ll

lose interest quickly.

When you are giving a live speech, your success is almost

completely dependent on what your audience remembers from what you say. People have bad memories and if your speech is boring or

complicated, they will recall little of what you had to say and will only remember how bad your speech was.

The right speech style is almost always conversational. Talk to

your audience the way you would talk to a friend over a cup of coffee in a natural, friendly, personal style. This is a great way to connect

with your audience and make a memorable speech.

It is possible to change direction abruptly in a presentation, but

you need to be a practiced speaker to pull it off and know how to use your stage body language as well as that other wonderful presenter's

tool, silence. Nothing gets an audience's attention faster than a few seconds of total silence when they're expecting a stream of words. All

of this carried out by a novice speaker who can't quite get the nuances right, however, can be a disaster.

We think this is a great place to address the use of humor in

your speech.

USING HUMOR

Humor is generally the interpretation of life and experiences in a way that can make people laugh. Humor, however, is a subjective

thing. What‟s funny to one person may or may not be funny to another.

Humor can come about in two ways. First, something is

humorous when our normal expectation of what should happen is

somehow changed either in a subtle or dramatic way. This can be applied to life situations or simple language variations.

Humor can also come about when a situation or conversation

takes a sudden, unexpected turn or shift in perspective. Nearly anything can be the focus of this perspective especially people which

can lead to humor through humiliation or a type of verbal abuse – but in a funny way. Don‟t ask me why, but that‟s what usually happens.

Have you ever noticed how the set-ups to jokes usually contain three of something – i.e. a priest, a rabbi, and a lawyer? This also has

to do with preconceived notions of expected outcomes being changed in and credible way. Here‟s a good example:

“A gardener, an architect, and a lawyer are discussing which of their

vocations is the most ancient. The gardener comments, "My vocation

goes back to the Garden of Eden, when God told Adam to tend the garden." The architect comments, "My vocation goes back to the

creation, when God created the world itself from primordial chaos." They both look curiously at the lawyer, who asks, "And who do you

think created the primordial chaos?"

When the lawyer responds with his answer, it is made within the pattern established already in the joke, but it bends the expectation of

what he‟s going to say. Of course, there are so many of these types of jokes today, that people almost come to expect the lawyer is going to

say something that will bash himself and people generally find that very funny.

As with your introduction, we should caution you about the use

of humor throughout your speech. Sure, people love to have a laugh – especially when hearing a speech, but you need to use it wisely in

your speech. There‟s a big difference between being witty and telling jokes. Unless you‟re very experienced, you should avoid the joke

telling and stick with a few well-placed witticisms.

If you're not a naturally "funny" person you won't suddenly

transform yourself into one just because you're standing up in front of a group of people. If anything that tends to make you less, not more

funny. So whatever happens don't be persuaded to tell a few jokes if that's something you would never dream of doing informally at a social

gathering.

If you do feel comfortable telling jokes, then use them sparingly,

as punctuation - unless you're to be "best man" at a wedding or the entertainment after a social dinner, wall-to-wall jokes are usually

inappropriate.

Jokes in a speech should always be tailored to the audience and material. Gag writing is a specialized writing technique and there are

quite a few good books around on comedy writing, if you're interested in learning how to do it.

If you're looking for jokes to adapt there are some good joke books available in bookstores and of course you can find them online

via the usual big sites - try keying in +JOKES+(YOUR SUBJECT). If you key the same thing into a search engine you'll also come across jokes

archived on websites devoted to the subject concerned.

Something you need to be mindful of is copyright and legally you may not have the right to use a joke as it appears in a book or on a

website, because when you give the speech that could constitute

public broadcast. Circumstances vary from country to country. If

you're at all concerned about the copyright implications of using jokes

in your speeches you should ask your legal advisers for guidance.

But all good things must come to an end. At this point, we believe you‟ve got a good speech down on paper. Now let‟s wrap it

up!

YOUR CLOSING

Seasoned speech writers agree that a good speech will start with

a bang and end with a bang. Your closing is just as important as your opening because you want your audience to walk away feeling like

they‟ve learned something and will remember what you had to say.

In the introduction you told them what you were going to say. In the body, you told them again in detail. In the conclusion now tell

them again. Tell them what you‟re going to say, tell them, and then

tell them what you said. Make the conclusion about 2 times as long as your introduction.

Do you want action with that? A speech is made to inform, to

persuade, or to move to action. Finish off your speech with a statement that meets one of those purposes. Ending with a 'call to

action' can be a powerful way to get your audience to act on your message.

Both opening and closing statements in a speech are so very

important. Not just for the impact they can have, but also because

they help to tell the audience to watch out for something. When you give your introduction, you are telling them that you will be talking to

them about something interesting. At the end, you are reminding them that you have just told them something interesting.

When writing your closing, you can use the same thinking as in

writing your introduction. Close with an anecdote, a personal story, even a joke. Just make sure that what you are closing with is relevant

to the topic you‟ve just spend a half hour talking about.

The opening and closing don't have to be earth-shattering, but

they do have to be part of you and your material. If you're naturally a quiet, private sort of person there's no way you should struggle with a

passionate, emotive ending to your speech, even if others think you

should be able to carry it off.

One very important rule about giving speeches is if you don't think something will work for you on the night, you're right - it won't.

Don't be talked into retaining anything you're not comfortable with, because something that's a small hiccup in rehearsals will become a

major stumbling block on show day.

Then you will have a full manuscript of your speech. You might

wonder why you need a manuscript when you will be delivering the speech orally. Actually, there are several very good reasons why.

BENEFITS OF A WRITTEN SPEECH

When you go to deliver your speech, you can choose to recite it

from memory or use note cards during the presentation. So why do

you need a full written down version?

To begin with, a hard copy gives you a detailed framework about your speech and how it is laid out. If you are an inexperienced

speaker, this can be especially helpful to help you keep your place during delivery and flow smoothly from point to point.

When your words are written down in hard copy format, you can

develop and balance your content more easily. You can actually see places where you might be weak in supporting information or where

the speech doesn‟t flow smoothly. With this written copy, you can make the changes you need and make your speech smooth as silk.

You won‟t have to make up anything as you go along. With careful preparation, you can write your speech to take up a specific

amount of time. If you are scheduled to give a 30 minute speech but

only have 20 minutes of material, the discrepancy will be noticed. Especially if you are inexperienced, it can be very difficult to ad-lib for

those extra 10 minutes.

How do you calculate how much content you‟ll need for a specific time frame? There are actually a couple of ways to do this.

A normal double spaced, typed page should take three to four

minutes to read through at a correct pace. Take the number of pages

you have in your speech and calculate the number of minutes you

have in your speech. Then you can adjust as needed.

Also, the average speaker delivers about 120 words per minute. Get the total word count of your written speech and divide it by 120 to

get the total presentation time. Again, adjust as needed.

While you may not exclusively use your written speech to speak

from, it‟s always nice to have it up there with you at the podium. Why? Well, if you‟re reciting something from memory and lose your

place, you can refer to it and regain your place much easier than if you could, plus you wouldn‟t have to ad-lib anything.

A full script will give you an amazing amount of self-confidence and assurance in the early stages of your speaking „career”. As you

get more practiced at speaking you will probably find that you become less dependent on the script and may work off bullet points or notes,

but I still think it's worth writing the whole thing out initially.

It can alleviate a lot of fears that many people have for public speaking. Which sounds like a good segue into the next chapter.

PUBLIC SPEAKING WITHOUT FEAR

Public speaking is among the top fears and phobias that many people have. If you‟re one of those people, the prospect of giving a

speech can send terror through your body paralyzing you with fear.

We‟ll address tips for making you a better speaker in the next chapter, but first, we have to get over that irrational fear of speaking

to an audience. And when we say the fear is irrational, we don‟t mean any disrespect to you at all. The truth is that many phobias – and fear

of public speaking is a phobia – are irrational and not based in reality.

When you talk, you really aren‟t doing anything dangerous. You

won‟t get hurt and you won‟t die. That‟s what makes the fear irrational. You‟re not afraid of the speaking, you‟re afraid of possible

embarrassment.

We fear making a complete and utter fool of ourselves in front of friends, colleagues and people that matter, and we have powerful

emotional memories from childhood of being embarrassed. These

anchored memories are dramatically recalled and reinforced every

time we think about speaking in public.

When you let this fear come into your life, it can have some consequences. It leads us to a conclusion that we are "not good

enough." We develop alibis, "put down scripts", to avoid the trauma of speaking in public. "I've nothing worth saying," or "My life is pretty

boring," or "It's all been said already." They are not true; they are a survival mechanism to prevent us being put into a position of having

to speak in public.

One of the worst side effects of this process is that people "keep their heads down", disempowering themselves by never standing to

speak, avoiding promotion and sabotaging their careers. A vicious circle all build on the fear of speaking in public.

Your first line of defense in overcoming your fear is to be

thoroughly prepared. That‟s why we suggested you make a written copy of your speech. That way you will know that your thoughts are

well organized and make sense. If you‟re unsure of that, just have someone else read the speech, or, better yet, read it to them. That‟s

great practice!

Rehearse your speech often. Speak to yourself in front of a mirror or deliver your speech to someone else. This can be a

colleague, a friend, a family member, or the family dog – it doesn‟t matter as long as you are the one who is talking.

If the people you are rehearsing with do give you some advice,

take it and implement it into your speaking. If the dog tells you something, call your shrink! (Just a little humor there!)

On the day of the speech, you will likely be beset with a horrible case of nausea – the proverbial butterflies in the stomach. This is a

physical symptom manifested by your mental state of mind. Don‟t let it overtake you.

Learn deep breathing techniques and self relaxation. Deep

breathing will pull in oxygen. Adrenalin, secreted to help you deal with the fear brought on by little doubts, causes breaths to become

shallow, or causes you to hold your breath. Deep breathing will help your brain work to capacity, and forcing the slower pace will quell the

panic. Practice them anytime you start to feel edgy and out of control.

Dress comfortably. If your clothes are too tight, too short or

riding up your . . . uh, you don‟t want to dress in a way that will interfere with movement or breathing.

Concentrate on the message -- not the medium. Focus your

attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.

Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.

Check out the room. Arrive a little early so you can become familiar with the layout of the room. Where will you stand while you speak? Is there a microphone? How will the audience be seated? If you

are using equipment, such as a projector, try it out to make sure everything is working properly.

Get to know the audience. As audience members arrive, introduce yourself and chat with them. It will reduce your nervousness

later. After all, you won‟t be speaking to a bunch of nameless strangers; you will be speaking to Jeff, Laura, Steve, Diane, and all the

other nice people you shook hands with earlier.

Use prayer or meditation. If you‟re a believer you can pray if you are not at least take time to clear your mind and meditate. A short

prayer for God to guide you and give you the right words can‟t ever

hurt. God has promised to give believers words even when they are under a heavy persecution; Mt 10:19. Why wouldn‟t he also help when

there isn‟t any persecution? He would.

Obviously you must do this before you speak. If you don‟t pray before you speak you might find yourself praying in the middle of your

presentation for God to get you out of it as quickly as possible. Do not overlook this little gem because although it seems unimportant, it can

actually be what makes or breaks your performance or presentation.

Before you begin speaking ask yourself one all important

question. Who in this entire audience could do or say what I am doing or saying? If you consider the answer very carefully you will always

arrive at the same answer which is, few to none. YOU are the one who will be at the podium; THEY are the ones in the audience.

Sure, some of them are capable of giving speeches, but you

were the one who was asked. Someone has confidence in your

abilities, so live up to them and resolve to show anyone who does

have public speaking experience that you are in their league.

The bottom line is that since no one can say or do what you are saying or doing just get on with it. Waste no time on what anyone

thinks. If they could do what you are doing they would be in the podium and you would be in the audience.

See the crowd as only one person. No science is available to prove how or why this little tool works, but be assured it will never fail.

Always speak to the audience as if you were talking to only one single person. It makes them feel that you are being very personal with each

individual, they can feel the difference.

It shrinks the crowd on a perceptional level for you. Remember that perception is often the better part of reality. It moves the entire

matter to a, one on one. Who wouldn‟t admit that they are more comfortable talking to their neighbor or some stranger but not a whole

crowd? Approach your performance or address as if you were doing

just that and you will succeed.

When you stand up at that podium, lie about how you feel. It‟s a proven fact that if you smile when you are feeling blues, that

melancholy will eventually go away and you really will be happier. So bluff the audience and pretend you are in complete control.

Stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out. Smile. Even

though you don‟t feel happy or confident, do it anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is

confident. This really works!! Bluff – body and smile

Keep you mouth and throat hydrated. Plan to keep a drink on hand while you are speaking, though this sounds impossible. Visualizing how you will use it if you need it, and calling up the

audacity to do such a thing will carry across to your attitude as you take your place to speak, placing your glass just where you need it to

be.

Adrenalin sends the blood rushing to the fight/flight centers of

your brain at the base of the skull. Place your hand on your forehead and press gently on the bony points. This will bring the blood to the

parts of the brain that need it to present your speech best.

Know you are prepared. Obviously this depends on actually

being prepared, so take every opportunity in the days leading up to the speech to prepare your material. Be familiar with the structure of

the presentation, and the ideas to use.

Memorize the most important parts, and the parts you are frightened of forgetting. It‟s a good idea to memorize the opening of

the speech and in the moments before presenting it, reassure yourself that you know that part, and that would lead on to the rest. It will

work, believe me!

The next few tips reiterate some of what we‟ve already told you

in the writing chapters, but they can really help you overcome some fears and be more confident on stage.

1. Speak from Experience

Speak on a topic about which you have earned the right to speak. If you speak about something you know well, if you speak on a

topic about which you feel passionate then you are going to feel far more confident.

2. Become a Storyteller

Develop stories about your experiences in life and in work. Start

getting into the habit of telling stories to friends and colleagues socially or at work. Stories are easy for us to remember as speakers

and easy for the audience to remember.

3. Give Your Speech a Clear Purpose

When you start writing your speech, begin with a clear and

definite purpose. Why are you delivering this speech? What exactly do you want to achieve with it? What is the audience expecting from it?

4. Stick to Three Supporting Points

One main message - your purpose - supported by three points all

illustrated by interesting facts and stories and you have a winning speech. That makes it easy for you to remember and easy for the

audience to recall. They will thank you for the clarity and you will

overcome your fear because won't make a fool of yourself.

Now that we‟ve addressed your fears about giving your speech,

let‟s look at ways you can make your delivery memorable. We‟ll start by looking at body language.

BODY LANGUAGE

Body language is a broad term for forms of communication using

body movements or gestures instead of, or in addition to, sounds,

verbal language, or other forms of communication. Body language includes the most subtle movement that many people are not aware of

including winking and slight movement of the eyebrows. Facial gestures are also part of a person‟s body language.

Voluntary body language is the movement, gestures, and poses

intentionally made by a person. This includes conscious smiling, hand movements, imitation, etc.) It can apply to many types of soundless

communication. Generally, movement made with full or partial intention and an understanding of what it communicates can be

considered to be voluntary.

Involuntary body language often takes the form of facial expression and has been suggested as a means to identify the

emotions of a person with whom one is communicating.

Body language isn‟t just a human trait. In the animal kingdom,

body language plays a very important role in communication. Animals don‟t use words to communicate, they use posture, gestures, and

expression to convey a feeling or thought.

Conversely, animals can sense and interpret our body language much easier that we can interpret another human being‟s body

language. An animal can tell in a moment whether or not he is being threatened just by a person‟s facial expressions. That‟s pretty

amazing!

Body language is a combination of genetic and environmental

influences. Blind children can smile and laugh even if they‟ve never seen a smile. In fact, there are some basic elements of body language

that are universal among cultures which, some say, make them fixed

action patterns under instinctive control.

Some of our own body language shows continuities and consistencies with that of apes, but with changes in meaning. Certain

other gestures must be learned, such as nodding the head for “yes” and shaking the head for “no”.

Although in general we are not aware of it, we send and receive

non-verbal signals all of the time. These signals can indicate what we are truly feeling at a specific time. The technique of “reading” people

is often used.

For example, the idea of mirroring body language to put people at ease is commonly used in interviews. It sets the interviewee at

ease, and following the body language of someone else indicates that

you understand them and feel at ease yourself.

Body language is particularly important in group communications. As the group gets larger, the body language starts

to dominate the spoken language.

Body language is a huge factor in human courtship too. It is a subconscious or subtle method of communication between potential

mates. Watch closely the next time you‟re in a place where people meet such as a bar. See how the body language of people comes into

play.

Body language is widely used in the sales field as well where sales people are trained to observe and read the body language of

their potential customers. These sales people will utilize subliminal

cues exhibited by the customers in order to close a deal.

In our daily lives, we encounter many forms of body language gestures, and when giving a speech, you can use body language to

your advantage. Consider the following examples of body language and what they mean:

Self-Confidence: hands behind the back or hands clasped in front

Superiority: hands clasped behind the head

Uncomfortable: folded arms or crossed legs

Negative Evaluation of a Situation: touching the nose

Defensiveness: standing with arms folded

Stress: shaking legs

And these are just a few examples. There are people who specifically study body language and what certain gestures and

movements mean. It‟s actually quite fascinating!

When you are giving a speech, body language is very important.

Imagine what it would be like to be sitting in an audience listing to a speaker who stood in one place behind a podium reading the speech to

you instead of actually presenting it. I know I‟ve been to more than a

few of these presentations and they can bore you to tears!

Use your body language to convey your excitement about the topic – even if you‟re not excited, act like it! It doesn‟t matter why

you were asked to give the speech, this is essentially show business and you need to perform for your audience. Your job is to give them

more than what they would get from reading the same information. Body language can help you do that.

Which leads us to one more subject to cover before we get on to

making a dynamic presentation.

NOTES, CUE CARDS, OR WHAT?

There are many theories that abound in this category with

regards to delivering your speech. No one way is better than another, but there are some considerations we would be remiss if we did not

tell you about. After all, you want to give a great speech, knowing your material is the most important part!

Earlier we told you that you really need to have a full written

copy of your entire speech. This is not so you can bring it to the stage with you and just read from it. This is mainly because that way you

can see the structure and make changes as needed. But a full written

copy also makes rehearsing it much easier.

Ideally, the best way to give a speech is by memorizing it and then allowing your personality to shine through during delivery. So

that‟s the ideal way to do it. However, human beings can make mistakes and there‟s nothing worse than being in the middle of a

speech and forgetting what part comes next!

Professional speakers have honed the art of ad-lib, but you probably won‟t have that knack developed yet. If you do decide to

give your speech from memorization, be sure you know it backwards and forwards.

Practice while brushing your teeth, practice while driving to work, heck, even practice while taking a shower! You have to know

this speech inside and out – every comma, quotation mark, and period. Involve the help of a friend or member of your family and

rehearse in front of them. Stand in the mirror and rehearse with

yourself!

Take caution here, though. When you have your speech completely memorized, it‟s easy to slip into a rote delivery – one with

absolutely no punch at all. It‟s almost the same as standing at that podium and reading the speech.

Memorization can be difficult, however, and very risky as we‟ve

said. So, there are a couple of other techniques that can help you along the way. My favorite has always been note cards. You know

those little 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 white cards with dark blue lines that you can get at almost any store? Yeah, those! I buy them by the carton

because I use them for so many things, but for speeches, they‟re great also.

Note cards are not a crutch – they‟re a way to help keep you on

track and know what the next part of your speech is going to be. So, if you‟re going to be using note cards, DO NOT write your whole

speech on them. Just write the main ideas along with a few words to remind you of what you‟re going to say about those ideas.

Your notes should consist of the keywords or points of your

speech - a skeleton of thoughts or words around which you can build your speech. You may refer to your notes occasionally to maintain the

thread of your speech, while for the most part of you will be able to speak directly to the audience.

Here‟s a valuable piece of advice as well: when you make your

note cards, always make two copies! I remember an episode of “the Brady Bunch” where Mike Brady was to give a big speech and he

couldn‟t find his note cards. This caused chaos in the family until they were finally found and all was well (typical Brady Bunch episode!).

If Mike had just made a second copy of those cards, such drama

wouldn‟t have happened, but the show would have been awfully short too! At any rate, make yourself an extra copy – better to be safe than

sorry!

Oh, and keep those two sets in separate places! Maybe keeping

one set at the office and one set at home would work for you. However you need to store them is fine; just store them away from

each other until the big day.

After you‟ve made these two sets of note cards, make a small hole in one corner using a hole punch. You can then tie all the cards

together with string or whatever you want. That way you can turn the cards over as they're used, but should you drop them you won't have

to fumble around trying to pick them up and re-order them. The securing device does not have to be sophisticated, as long as it's

strong

When you have these notes in front of you, don‟t read from

them, just glance at them from time to time – such as when you need a memory boost. They are not a crutch; they are a memory aid, so

use them as such.

Another great tool to have when giving a speech is to prepare a Power Point presentation that the audience can look at and refer to

while you‟re speaking. This can serve as a sort of teleprompter for you – or electronic notes, if you will. Plus, if you use a Power Point,

you can “jazz” it up and make it captivating for your audience.

So, you‟ve got your speech, you‟ve made up your note cards, now let‟s look at how you can make your speech really great – through

your delivery!

SPEAKING WITH FLAIR

Delivery of your speech is what will make it interesting and

captivating. Ninety percent of speeches are boring and drab. Why? Because the speaker doesn‟t take time to make it interesting. You can

have a wonderfully written presentation, but if you don‟t put some flair into the delivery, you‟ll be joining the ranks of boring speeches and

boring speakers. Plus, you‟ll lose your audience‟s attention – really quick!

The goal of a speech is to entertain the audience while giving

them information that they can really use. Focus on that during your delivery. This is show business, and if you treat it as such, you will be

a great speaker.

Now, that doesn‟t mean that you have to stand on stage and do a two-step or jump around with excitement. What it means is speak

with passion and believe in what you‟re saying.

Your appearance can make all the difference in your confidence

as a speaker. Think about the audience you will be presenting your speech to and dress like them. If they‟re wearing business attire such

as suits, you should wear a suit too. To under dress is to communicate the message, “I'm smarter/richer/more powerful than

you. I can insult you and not take you serious, and there's nothing you can do about it.” This is hardly the way to get an audience to like you.

Present the desired image to your audience. Look pleasant,

enthusiastic, confident, proud, but not arrogant. Remain calm. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous. Speak slowly, enunciate clearly, and

show appropriate emotion and feeling relating to your topic.

While you are speaking, talk in a smooth, even tone. It‟s very common for beginning speakers to speak too quickly and too loudly.

Make your pace conversational and don‟t rush it. Also, be sure to match your tone of voice with the subject matter. If it‟s a solemn

topic, don‟t whoop and holler. But don‟t bring your audience down.

Your job is to convey information in a way that they can understand and relate to.

The best way to speak to your audience is through eye contact.

THE EYES HAVE IT

Eye contact is very important during a speech. When you

establish eye contact with the audience, they will like you more and have the feeling that they are part of your speech.

Making eye contact can also make you more comfortable being

the center of everyone‟s attention. Find a friendly face on each side of the room and look at them often. Mix-up who you are looking at. You

don‟t have to see everyone, but do make an effort!

Use the 3-second method, e.g. look straight into the eyes of a person in the audience for 3 seconds at a time. Have direct eye

contact with a number of people in the audience, and every now and

then glance at the whole audience while speaking. Use your eye contact to make everyone in your audience feel involved.

Eye contact is the cement that binds together speakers and their

audiences. When you speak, your eyes involve your listeners in your presentation. There is no surer way to break a communication bond

between you and the audience than by failing to look at your listeners. No matter how large your audience may be, each listener wants to feel

that you are talking to him or her.

The adage, "The eyes are the mirror of the soul," underlines the

need for you to convince people with your eyes, as well as your words. Only by looking at your listeners as individuals can you convince them

that you are sincere and are interested in them, and that you care whether they accept your message. When you speak, your eyes also

function as a control device you can use to assure your listeners' attentiveness and concentration.

Eye contact can also help you to overcome nervousness by

making your audience a known quantity. Effective eye contact is an important feedback device that makes the speaking situation a two-

way communication process.

By looking at your audience, you can determine how they are

reacting. When you develop the ability to gauge the audience's reactions and adjust your presentation accordingly, you will be a much

more effective speaker.

How can you use your eyes most effectively? Consider the following:

Know your material. Know it so well that you don't have to

devote your mental energy to the task of remembering the sequence of ideas and words.

You should prepare well (remember to use the 9 P's) and

rehearse enough so that you don't have to depend heavily on notes. Many speakers, no matter how well prepared, need at

least a few notes to deliver their message. If you can speak effectively without notes, by all means do so. But if you must

use notes, that's fine. Just don't let them be a substitute for preparation and rehearsal.

Even many experienced speakers use notes. Often, they take

advantage of such natural pauses as audience laughter or the aftermath of an important point to glance briefly at their notes.

To make this technique work, keep your notes brief. (See

Chapter 6 for more on this topic.)

Establish a personal bond with listeners. How do you do this?

Begin by selecting one person and talking to him or her personally. Maintain eye contact with that person long enough to

establish a visual bond (about 5 to 10 seconds). This is usually the equivalent of a sentence or a thought. Then shift your gaze

to another person.

In a small group, this is relatively easy to do. But, if you're addressing hundreds or thousands of people, it's impossible.

What you can do is pick out one or two individuals in each section of the room and establish personal bonds with them.

Then each listener will get the impression you're talking directly to him or her.

Monitor visual feedback. While you are talking, your listeners are responding with their own non-verbal messages. Use your eyes

to actively seek out this valuable feedback. If individuals aren't looking at you, they may not be listening either. Their reasons

may include one or more of these factors:

They may not be able to hear you.

Solution: If you are not using a microphone, speak louder and

note if that works.

They may be bored.

Solution: Use some humor, increase your vocal variety or add powerful gestures or body movements.

They may be puzzled.

Solution: Repeat and/or rephrase what you have just said.

They seem to be fidgeting nervously.

Solution: You may be using distracting mannerisms. Maybe you

have food on your clothes (or worse, maybe your blouse is unbuttoned or your fly isn't closed). Make sure you are aware of

these embarrassing possibilities before and during your speech. If necessary, try to correct them without bringing more attention

to them. On the other hand, if your listeners' faces indicate pleasure, interest and close attention, don't change a thing.

You're doing a great job!

You need to pay attention to how you‟re talking just as much as what you‟re saying.

HOW TO SPEAK

Speak to the person farthest away from you to ensure your voice is loud enough to project to the back of the room. Vary the tone of

your voice and dramatize if necessary. If a microphone is available, adjust and adapt your voice accordingly.

As we‟ve already noted, body language is important. Standing,

walking or moving about with appropriate hand gesture or facial

expression is preferred to sitting down or standing still with head down and reading from a prepared speech.

Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to

their reactions, adjust and adapt. If what you have prepared is obviously not getting across to your audience, change your strategy

mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so.

Remember that communication is the key to a successful presentation. If you are short of time, know what can be safely left

out. If you have extra time, know what could be effectively added. Always be prepared for the unexpected.

Pause. Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think. Don't race through your presentation and leave your

audience, as well as yourself, feeling out of breath.

Know when to STOP talking. Use a timer or the microwave oven clock to time your presentation when preparing it at home. Just as you

don't use unnecessary words in your written paper, you don't bore your audience with repetitious or unnecessary words in your oral

presentation.

To end your presentation, summarize your main points in the same way as you normally do in the conclusion of a written paper.

Remember, however, that there is a difference between spoken words

appropriate for the ear and formally written words intended for reading.

Terminate your presentation with an interesting remark or an

appropriate punch line. Leave your listeners with a positive impression and a sense of completion. Do not belabor your closing remarks.

Thank your audience and sit down.

Seek audience participation. Once a rapport has been established with a crowd, keep the connections going by peppering the

talk with more audience interaction. By engaging the audience, they

automatically become more vested in what you are saying because they are a part of it.

Take it easy. It's worth noting that even the well-prepared can

face an attack of the nerves when the big moment arrives to take the stage. To alleviate anxiety, forget the oft-repeated advice to picture

the audience naked.

The best advice to cure tension is to mingle with the audience, and spot a friendly face in the crowd, preferably one that will beam

and nod at the speaker during the presentation. Professional speakers

call these "positive listeners."

If it's impossible to get to know the audience ahead of time, or if the crowd is small, try to plant a few friends or colleagues in the

audience. Glancing at them can help a speaker feel energized during rough spots in the presentation.

Show enthusiasm. When the presentation starts, don't be afraid to let some passion shine through. In fact, this can make your speech more memorable than you ever thought possible!

Speakers are often at their best when talking about a subject they care deeply about, that's very important to them. In addition to

passion, don't forget to make eye contact, he advises -- and never forget to smile.

Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to

be interesting, stimulating, and informative. They don't want you to

fail.

The audience is on your side. They came to hear what you have to say. They are spending their time (and perhaps money) to be there,

and they are predisposed to like you. Don‟t assume they are waiting for you to fail. They aren‟t.

Don't apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be

calling the audience's attention to something they hadn't noticed. Avoid pointing out your own imagined inadequacies; your audience has

a higher opinion of you than you think.

Go ahead and get emotional. If your stuff doesn‟t move you it won‟t move anyone else either. This is an immutable rule of presentation.

If you are singing your interpretation of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” pour yourself into it. If you are speaking about the nocturnal

habits of fire ants do it with gesticulations, reverberations and tremors. Ridiculous you say, think again.

When you get wrapped up in your speech and show it through

your delivery, even when you think your performance isn‟t your best, your audience will!

Get personal with the audience. This is far more than good

advice, it is a rule that if ignored will become the difference between success and failure. You can give a perfect presentation, but without

addressing the audience, you will probably not be remembered.

You might know your topic and your speech backwards and

forwards, but without acknowledging the people listening to you, you will likely be met with yawning and fidgeting.

Give your speech the personal touch by showing your audience

you care about them. You must get a rapport going with any audience on the personal level or will get nothing else going at all. How can you

do that?

Take a cue from the stand up comedian or the storyteller. They

ask mundane questions and they wait for someone to answer or acknowledge it with a gesture or murmur. Where are you from, any

one here from New York? Hey, does it ever stop raining here in Washington. Let me see how many of you are here tonight; if you‟re

here raise your hand. For those of you that didn‟t raise your hand I have a question, where the heck are you?

You can also employ a question and answer session near the end of your speech. Here are some tips for effective Q and A time:

If you don't hear the question or understand it, ask the questioner to repeat it.

Stay calm and pleasant. Remember that your ultimate goal is to

teach the audience something they didn‟t know before. When they ask you a question, they are indicating that they want to

know.

Always respect the questioner, even if you do not like the

question or the manner in which it is posed.

Don't feel offended if someone asks you a question that you feel you already answered in your presentation or a previous

question, they may not have heard or understood the

information previously presented.

Honesty is the best policy, if you don't know the answer to

something, admit it - you can offer to get in contact the person later with an answer

Don‟t panic if there are no questions to answer! Sometimes

audiences feel that you‟ve addressed all their questions and don‟t need additional information. That‟s good, believe me! It

means your speech was effective. If there are no questions, simply close your speech and leave the stage.

You can prompt your audience toward asking questions during a

Q and A session.

Change your wording. Ask, “WHAT” questions do you have rather than “DO” you have any questions. When you use the word

“what”, you have changed the question from a closed-ended question to an open-ended question. This will automatically let the audience

know that you assume they have questions to ask.

Pause after you ask the question. Give folks time to think. The

pause will also assure them that you really want them to ask a question.

Be mindful of any conflicting body language like looking at your

watch, or sorting your stack of notes after you have asked the question. This will give a mixed message. It will imply that although

you have asked the audience for questions you really do not have time

to answer them.

If all else fails, reward the person who asks the first question. Come prepared with an incentive to give people who ask a question

during certain parts of your program. This works very well in the afternoons when more energy and interaction is demanded.

Overall, if people know that you are sincere in your desire to respond to their questions -they will ask them. Give it a try.

There‟s nothing more boring than a speaker who just stands

there and recites what he or she has written.

MOVEMENT AND GESTURES

When delivering a speech, you must move around the stage.

Don‟t just stand behind the podium. In fact, you may not even want

to have a podium on stage with you. Removing the temptation will keep you from using it.

Don‟t fidget and don‟t sway from side to side. Walk slowly but with purpose. Gesturing with your hands is also good but make them fit with your delivery. The audience will know if you‟re gesturing just

to move your hands. Do it with purpose, but make sure it‟s natural!

When it comes to gesturing, keep movements above the waist;

be slow; be varied and by all means be accurate (never hold up four fingers when you're giving three reasons!).

Don't be afraid to occasionally rest your arms. Gestures should never be applied -- they should be spontaneous to reinforce the message. At times, rest arms by your side and, remember, practice

makes perfect. Refine your gestures until they're second nature.

Open up your arms to the size of the audience. Embrace your

audience. Keep your arms between your waist and shoulders.

When you‟re not using your arms, drop them at your side. If you can feel your fingertips at your thighs, that's a good measure of where

you arms would be when you're not making an active point.

Avoid quick and jerky gestures. They may make you appear nervous. Hold your gestures longer than you would in normal

conversation.

Vary gestures. Switch from hand to hand, and at others times

use both or no hands.

Use gestures to reinforce a message or make a point. If making three points, don't hold up four fingers!

Keep hands open and fingers together. Avoid pointing a finger,

and fists may convey a threatening message.

Vary your approach until you find what works best for you. Then

use those gestures, refine them until they come naturally to you, and

add to them as you come across others that work as well or better.

As we‟ve said, you need to move about the stage during your presentation. Why move in the first place?

Moving forces people to focus and follow you. The way you walk

from your seat to the speaker's position is very important. When you are introduced, you should appear eager to speak. Too many speakers

look as though they are heading toward execution.

Walk confidently from your seat to the lectern if there is one.

Pause there for a few seconds, and then move out from behind the lectern. As discussed before, it is wise to use the lectern as a point of

departure, and not a barrier to hide behind.

Smile before you say your first words. Be careful not to stand too close to, nor move beyond, the people in the front row. Be careful

not to walk too much. Doing so will work against you.

Continuous pacing is distracting. Walking can be an effective way to stress an important idea. It is essential that your walk be purposeful

and intentional, not just a random shift of position. Taking about three

steps, moving at a shallow angle, usually works best.

When employing visual aids, you should use three positions. One position is your "home" position and should be front and center.

The other two positions should be relatively near the "home" position. Never stand in front of any visual aid.

When you practice your speaking, make sure you also practice

your walking patterns. Try walking to and from your three positions. These positions should be planned just as your hand gestures are.

When standing still, remember to maintain good posture. Stand

up straight.

Remember it's not what you say it's how you say it and your

body does speak very loudly. It's only when you marry your verbal message and you nonverbal message does a speaker begin to

command presence.

There actually is a wrong way to speak when delivering a speech.

BROADCASTING VERSUS

CONVERSATION

We‟ve been influenced by the media to “broadcast” when we

give a speech: to speak like a newscaster or reporter. Now, this form of communication isn‟t bad in any way, it‟s just a style not suited for

giving speeches. Giving speeches in a “broadcast” format is an instant turn off to audience members. Why?

Because they feel that they as an individual are not important.

You are just “broadcasting” your message to the whole. In their eyes, you don‟t care about them as an individual.

The majority of people tend to go into “broadcast mode” when giving a speech and the audience members groan inside thinking “not

this type of speech again”.

When giving your speech, speak as if you were talking to a friend. This will give the impression that you are talking to each

individual audience member, on a very personal level. This will hold

their interest in you and your speech because they feel you are talking to them personally.

For example, let‟s say your speech is “Why Berries are the Best

Antioxidant Fruits”

Right before the first words come out of your mouth when you

give your speech, picture your best friend in the front row asking YOU, “Hey (insert your name), why are berries the best antioxidant fruits?”

Answer him like you would in the tone of a normal conversation in your speech to get that conversational tone effect.

Also, make individual eye contact with one person while

speaking in that conversational tone and then move on to the next person and make eye contact with them and repeat this process. This

will further enhance your speech.

To help you better understand the difference between

Broadcasting and the Conversational tone, let‟s see how the opening lines of the same speech are like according to these two styles.

Broadcasting:

“Numerous scientific studies have shown that berries contain a

high level of anti oxidants, more so than any other fruit. They attribute this unique quality to the ……” Snooze! the audience shuts

down mentally as they realize it‟s just another broadcast.

Conversational:

“When I heard berries were the best antioxidant fruits, two

questions came to mind. What the heck is an antioxidant, and why should I care about the berries that have them? I bet you thought

that too.

Well, I did a little research and came up with some answers. It

seems an antioxidant is like a cancer fighting machine. It‟s sort of like …… The audience‟s ears perk up right from the start because they

sense this is no ordinary (aka broadcast) speech. This speaker is talking to them on an individual level because of the conversational

tone of the speech so they listen accordingly.

Trust me; the vast majority of people give speeches in broadcast mode. Remember your high school‟s valedictorian speech? They do

this without even realizing it, and without knowing that it kind of shuts people‟s minds off the instance they detect it, unless they are really,

really, really interested in what you have to say.

Kill the broadcast. Open up the conversation and invite the

audience in.

Sometimes, we may be so eager to get our message across that we speak faster than a high school girl sitting with her friends on a

lunch table with the juiciest piece of gossip to hit the school in weeks.

When you speak, let it land. Pause after each sentence. Let it

sink in. Look at the audience to gauge whether you are speaking too fast. You know just as well as I do that if you have to keep up your

comprehension with the speaker‟s fast rate of speech, you‟ll switch off and forget about it, as it is way too much work.

Try using positive visualization. Yes you‟ve heard about this as well. Every book, teacher, and speaker recommends this practice and

you know why? It‟s because it works.

Get a layout of the place where you will be giving your speech.

Stand on stage and picture the audience. Visualize yourself giving THAT ONE great speech, nailing it, and having the audience give you

thunderous applauses and genuine comments afterward.

Envision it constantly and feel the joy, hear the applause, see yourself in your eyes giving the speech, feeling the confidence, laying

out the simple points and examples, seeing their heads nod in understanding and agreement, etc. You will find that your

visualizations will come true.

In fact, there are four basic aspects of public speaking that can

help insure your success.

THE FOUR C’S

Mastering the art of public speaking can be difficult with a lot to learn in a seemingly never-ending list of do‟s and don‟ts. But

becoming a great speaker isn‟t all that difficult. Just adhere to the four C‟s.

Confidence

Confidence is a state of mind which makes a person believe in himself or herself and at the same time, respects other‟s abilities.

When it comes to public speaking, confidence parts into two.

The first one is your off-stage confidence, which you have to develop. This can be developed with self-belief and support. There are

other ways of doing this like your practice which makes you confident,

But self-belief is what sets the criterion. When you are in a

competition or any place where you have to impress or excel anybody, your composure is the key. Listen to other‟s speeches, the ones you

want to surpass. There may be some flaws in their speech that you can mend in yours. But don‟t let a good speech spoil your composure.

Keep in mind an impression, “THIS IS GOOD. MINE WILL BE BETTER”

The next part is on-stage confidence. When you are on the stage,

your confidence is reflected on your face. Nervousness will settle in a

matter of time. So don‟t consider nervousness as a major factor. In fact, you will feel nervous for the first 30 or so speeches and then it

will ebb.

One way of gaining your on stage confidence is, you can realize the fact that the next few minutes belong to you and that whatever

you say, everyone should listen. This would loosen up some nerves for sure.

The other way is to think or see others as „dolls‟. I would recommend this only if you are finding it very difficult to deliver a

speech because when you do so, it will take away your fear of the people before you.

But this is only for beginners and also especially for late beginners who are afraid to speak before a mass. In normal, if you do so, you are not going to play with their minds, which is the essence of

public speaking. Confidence can also be earned from friends who can

appreciate you on your effort. Exaggeration, in this case only leads to your improvement. So, have friends who can encourage.

Clarity

The second „C‟, is Clarity. Again this can be divided into two.

One is the clarity in idea and the other is the clarity in speech. Of these two, the clarity of idea is more vital.

You can say anything clearly but your ideas must be distinct and

simple. You can always borrow ideas from others but they cannot be as good as your own ones. Also, if you have a topic on hand, you must

analyze that topic; have a view from every angle.

Try to be correct in all aspects. You should not give any wrong ideas or information to the listeners. Also you must believe in your

idea or point of view and involve in it. Your involvement will make the speech more attractive. There is no point in selecting a topic which you

don‟t believe and trying to talk for it.

The next clarity is clarity in speech. Your invaluable ideas should

be backed by your speech. Your tone must be commanding and modulated. Every sentence has its own effect on the listeners.

Your aim is to get to the mind of your listeners. Powerful statements should be delivered powerfully. You must have the courage

and character towards expressing your thoughts on a particular topic. Powerful statements never fail to make an impact when they are

delivered clearly and with perfect modulation.

Apart from all these, your speech will be more effective if it is slow and steady. This gives the listeners the time to grasp your

thoughts and digest them. Simplicity is another important thing. Keep your speech as simple as possible. It should reach everybody.

Commitment

The next is commitment you show towards your speech. It is not a relative aspect but a broader one. It is not concerned about any

particular speech. It‟s about your preparations for any speech.

You have to listen to many speeches. By „listening‟, I mean, you should see the intricate details of another‟s speech: their modulation,

use of language, humor, body language etc. Take off your shame if you have any because, you should not be ashamed.

Not every one who is listening can deliver a speech. This view

comes from the commitment that you show and the efforts you take. If possible, recite your speech in front of a mirror. It will work like a

dream.

Preparation is also a form of commitment you show. It need not

be paper work only. It can be from your heart and brain duo also. But one advantage of having it on paper is that you will not miss any

point. In some cases, missing a point can prove to be lethal.

Next, dress yourself for the occasion. Your dressing will definitely reflect your confidence. Work on your style of speaking. You can

change your modulation or your tone. You should be unique so that you can be identified by your tone itself. For this, the shortcut is

“PRACTICE” and “PRACTICE HARD”

Command

The final C is to have a command over the language. Language is very important in public speaking. Command over a language can be

acquired by reading books or seeing films.

Command means familiarity of the language. This requires listening, observation and use. Learn the different usage of the

language. Learning as much as you can about every aspect of the language will help you a lot.

Books will improve your vocabulary while movies will improve

your usage. Different words for the same essence should be in your mind. You should be able to dispatch Command over language is easy

and interesting to acquire.

You could add a fifth C in the form of comedy. A sense of humor can make you much more likable and make them look up to you. This

will help them listen more intently to what you have to say. As we‟ve said throughout this book, though, be sure that what you are saying is

funny. Bad use of humor can cause you to bomb quickly.

Now let‟s look at effective ways to use your voice during delivery.

FINDING THE RIGHT VOICE

Speaking well can have a dramatic effect on your professional

and private life. You may not realize how important the sound of your voice is, or how much you yourself judge other people by the way they

sound. It is true that the impression you make on others often owes much more to how you speak - the pitch and expressiveness and

clarity of your voice, for example - than to what you actually say.

Some people say your voice is your voice and there‟s nothing you can do to change it. That‟s not necessarily true. You can practice

speaking from your diaphragm and changing the intonation and

inflection that comes naturally. If British actors can adapt an English accent, you can change your voice somewhat if you really try.

Here are some things for you to consider while you are practicing

your speech. Pay attention to them and implement them before

speaking so they come naturally.

POSTURE If your posture is poor, you will represent a poor image of

yourself. Good posture is the natural alignment of the body. When sitting, you should be able to draw a straight line from the ear to the

shoulder to the hipbone, and if you are standing, from the hip down to the knee. The act of clenching your fist can stifle your voice, so it is

essential that you be calm and relaxed at all times.

CONTROL YOUR BREATHING

Breath is the source of energy of voice and speech. A few don‟ts:

First, don‟t take a deep breath before starting a speech, your instinct will be to hold your breath.

Conversely, a voice underpowered by drawing too little breath

would tend to come across as excessively quiet.

Uncontrolled breathing an also affect your ability to communicate; your message will pale beside the jerky style of your

delivery. Well-controlled breathing can bring stress under control. Breathing exercises help develop your voice control.

PACE, PAUSE AND RHYTHM

The way you breathe adversely affects your pace and rhythm. By

drawing in large amounts of oxygen into the lower half of your lungs, you will not need to pause for breath so often.

Keep a steady flow of words; a continuous chatter or a slow,

ponderous speech may be extremely annoying. Pausing at natural breaks i.e. punctuation, will give you a moment to think about what

you are going to say next.

INTONATION AND EMPHASIS

Every voice has a natural middle note. Some speakers pitch their

voices too high or too low due to tension. Learn to identify and adapt your middle note, you will sound most natural. Practice using pitch to

reflect the emotional content of your speech.

The placing of an emphasis - the amount of stress put in a

syllable - often affects the meaning of a sentence. For instance, bring down your hand only on words that need emphasizing. Caution

yourself against exaggerated actions.

PRONUNCIATION Faulty pronunciation stems more commonly from bad habits of

the speech organs rather than malformation or malfunctioning. A person‟s accent, really a whole set of speaking habits, often marks him

out as a ‟faulty‟ speaker.

There are many words having two or more pronunciations. Some

people suffer a crisis of confidence when faced with the choice and instead switch to a different -often a far less appropriate one. In order

to avoid this embarrassment, consult a good dictionary for guidance and you can speak confidently the next time. Remember, only practice

makes you perfect.

EFFECTIVE DELIVERY

To make an impact on an audience, clear structure and well-

judged content need to be matched by effective delivery. Try to look at your audience most of the time. Good speakers always communicate

an element of spontaneity. Use short sentences and simple language. Check that you are making your points crisply.

Make a tape of yourself giving your speech then listen to it

critically. Make notes of where you can change your voice to better get your point across then pencil that into your notes.

Tape recording your speech can also help you identify weak

spots and places where you may need improvement. Now, we know that most people hate the sound of their voices on taped recordings,

but remember that we hear our own voices differently than other people do. Just look for places where you can improve rather than

concentrating on the whole picture. Pick out pieces and the whole will come together quite nicely!

Many times, audiences will listen to the first two or three

minutes of your speech before deciding whether or not they want to listen further. It‟s sad, but it‟s true. That‟s why first impressions are

so important.

MAKING A GOOD FIRST

IMPRESSION The old saying goes, “You only get one chance to make a first

impression.” This is very true. People judge each other on what they see first no matter what. Yes, you can possibly still win them over,

but you‟ll have to try harder and why would you want to do that?

Start out with a bang and win over your audience from your first

word. How do you do that? It‟s not as difficult as you think.

We‟ve already touched on your appearance, but this is the most deciding factor audiences look at because it‟s the first thing they see.

You‟ll want your appearance to be the very best it can be.

As we‟ve said, dress like your audience. Make sure your clothing is tasteful and understated. You want them to concentrate on what

you have to say, not what you‟re wearing.

Avoid overly bright colors and excessive jewelry. They will draw attention away from your speech and will be distracting to the

audience. Avoid jewelry that might make noise when you move. Also be sure your pockets are empty of items that might be distracting.

Be sure your clothing is clean and pressed with no wrinkles. I have been to several speeches where there was something miniscule

wrong with the speaker‟s clothes and found myself concentrating on that more than anything else. It can be difficult to draw your eyes

away from this flaw, so don‟t let any be visible.

Make sure your clothes fit you well, but not too well! You don‟t want anything too tight or too short. Clothes that fit you poorly

project the impression of sloppiness and that‟s a sure kiss of death when you are giving a speech. People won‟t take you seriously and

that is your ultimate goal!

Keep your head held high, looking people in the eye at all times.

Always hold your gaze a second longer if you happen to make eye contact. Never look down and away if someone addresses you or is the

slightest bit intimidating. This is a sign of weakness. Pay attention to this, and eliminate this negative habit.

Pay attention to your voice. Do you stutter in situations where

there is the slightest bit of pressure? Or do you project a confident tone delivered slowly and smoothly. A weak voice is a certain sign of

low self-esteem. Speak up and make yourself heard!

When making a first impression, remember to smile. This helps your vibe become friendly, confident and approachable. People are

more likely to want to talk to you if they sense they will be received well.

Focus on speaking at a moderate pace, with a well-modulated voice. Do not be afraid to enunciate properly. Using proper grammar

when speaking and avoiding slang is expected if you are to make a good first impression. Remember, if people can't comprehend what

you are saying, they will disregard you and your organization. Furthermore, be polite and courteous at all times.

The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the audience, not you, is the center of

action and conversation. Illustrate that the spotlight is on you only, and you'll miss opportunities Show that you are other-centered, and

they‟ll be more eager to hear what you are saying.

You‟ll most likely be introduced by someone. While people are clapping furiously for you, stroll on stage with confidence and purpose.

Then acknowledge their applause and begin your speech.

Part of the first impression you give occurs even before you are introduced to deliver your speech. As the audience arrives, your

preparation should be concluded. You shouldn't have to study your speech. Instead, mingle with the audience, and project that same

friendly, confident attitude that will make your speech a success.

When you speak-especially if you aren't well known to the

audience-the most crucial part of your presentation is the first few minutes. During that initial segment, the audience will be making

critical judgments about you.

Your listeners will decide whether you are confident, sincere,

friendly, eager to address them and worthy of their attention. In large measure, they will base this decision on what they see. After your

introduction, walk purposefully and confidently to the speaking position.

As you start speaking, don‟t just burst out with your words.

Maintain the same voice level you will use throughout your speech, but be sure it is dynamic enough to get and hold your audience‟s

attention.

There may be times when you are called upon to make an impromptu speech. Don‟t panic! It can be done!

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING

While many of us do not like to speak in front of people, there

are times when we are asked to get up and say a few words about someone or a topic when we have not planned on saying anything at

all. We are more shocked than anyone else. Has this ever happened to you?

If and when this does happen to you, be prepared to rise to the

challenge. Below are some tips you can use the next time you are called on to speak. Take note that the following tips are also great

ones to follow when giving a prepared speech too!

Decide quickly what your one message will be. Keep in mind

you have not been asked to give a speech but to make some impromptu remarks. Hopefully they have asked you early enough so

you can at least jot down a few notes before you speak. If not, pick ONE message or comment and focus on that one main idea. Many

times, other ideas may come to you after you start speaking. If this happens, go with the flow and trust your instincts

Do not try and memorize what you will say. Trying to memorize

will only make you more nervous and you will find yourself thinking more about the words and not about the message.

Start off strong and with confidence. If you at least plan your

opening statement, this will get you started on the right foot. After all, just like with any formal speech, getting stared is the most difficult.

Plan what your first sentence will be. You may even write this

opening line down on your note card and glance at it one more time just before you begin speaking. If you know you have three points or

ideas to say, just start off simple by saying, "I would just like to talk about 3 points". The first point is... the second point is... and so on

Decide on your transitions from one point to the other. After

you have decided on your opening remark or line, come up with a simple transition statement that takes you to your main point.

If you have more than one point to make, you can use a natural

transition such as, "My second point is... or my next point is..." etc.

Just list on a note card or napkin what the main points or ideas will be. Do not write out the exact words, but just the points you want to

mention.

Maintain eye contact with the audience. This is easier to do if you do not write down all kinds of stuff to read. Look down at your

next idea or thought and maintain eye contact with your audience and speak from your heart. Focus on communicating TO your audience and

not speaking AT the crowd

Occasionally throw in an off-the-cuff remark. Because you want your style to be flexible and seem impromptu, trust your instinct and

add a few words which just pop into your head. Keep it conversational and think of the audience as a group of your friends.

Finally, have a good conclusion. Gracefully just state, "And the last point I would like to make is..." Once you have made your last

point, you can then turn control back to the person who asked you to speak in the first place.

With a little practice, this process will feel more natural to you.

Anticipating that you MAY be asked to say a few words should force you to at least think about what you might say if you are asked. Then

if you ARE asked, you are better prepared because you anticipated being asked. This is much better than thinking they won't ask you and

they actually do!

What else do you need to know? Not much really. But, we do

have some additional tips to offer.

IN GENERAL Public speaking isn‟t a death sentence. It‟s a chance for you to

tell other people something you know about and have a passion for.

As we‟ve said, even if you don‟t have a passion for your topic, act like you do. That can make the biggest difference of all!

Be yourself during your speech. You are most effective when

you are able to be yourself with the group. You may want to spend some time before you speak getting in touch with how you feel when

you feel most yourself. Remembering how we feel at those times can often help us feel that way again.

Many of us think we will be "OK" if we do a good job and please

the audience. What is more likely to make us feel OK is to be who we are. This is also most likely to create a good connection with the

audience.

You don‟t need to be afraid of silence. Silences can help us

center ourselves and give time for the audience to settle in. Silences can allow time for us to find the words to say. Silences can give the

audience time to absorb what you have said. Silences can create emphasis and impact.

Pause for several seconds before you begin speaking, making

eye contact with two or three people before you begin. Take a breath or two and let yourself feel your feet connecting to the floor. You may

want to consciously "open your heart" to the audience before you begin.

Instead of feeling you have to give the audience something,

focus more on receiving their support. Paradoxically, if you are extremely nervous before you begin, focus on putting your audience at

ease.

You must focus on getting rid of distracting body language and

mannerisms. Some common faults of inexperienced and ineffective speakers are:

Gripping or leaning on the lectern

Finger tapping Lip biting or licking

Toying with coins or jewelry Frowning

Adjusting hair or clothing Head wagging

These have two things in common. First, they are physical

manifestations of simple nervousness and they are performed unconsciously. This is why you need to make yourself aware of what

you are doing while speaking.

When you make a verbal mistake, you can easily correct it,

because you can hear your own words, but you can't see yourself, so most distracting mannerisms go uncorrected. You can't eliminate them

unless you know they exist. So, you should videotape yourself.

After you have made a tape, watch it with a critical eye. The

first step in eliminating any superfluous behavior is to obtain an accurate perception of your body's image. This should include:

Posture

Gestures

Body movement

Facial expressions

Eye contact

The next step is to free yourself of physical behaviors that do

not add to your speech. This can be accomplished by simply becoming aware of your problem areas. After you have videotaped yourself

speaking, review the tape several times and make a list of all the distracting mannerisms you notice.

Review your tape the first time without looking for mannerisms.

Just listen to the presentation as if you were hearing it for the first

time and evaluate the overall impact you experience from watching the tape.

Review your tape a second time (with the volume turned down)

and look for visual distractions. Take notes on what you observe.

During a third review, have the picture turned off and listen only to your voice. Many people have never even heard a taping of their

own voice before. Become accustomed to listening to your voice. Get to know it as others hear it. Note what you like and what you don't

like. Pay attention to the speed, the volume, and the tone of your voice.

Once you have made lists both of your distracting mannerisms

and your more positive points, you are ready to have one or two family members watch the tape with you. Get their initial impression.

Ask them to be honest.

After you have completed these reviews, go over the list of all

the distracting mannerisms you saw and heard. The next time you are having a conversation with someone you know well, try to notice

whether you use any of these distracting mannerisms even in casual circumstances. Tackle each of your negative points one at a time.

We did tell you the best way to build self-confidence is to be

yourself. This is very true and stands to be repeated.

The most important rule for making your body communicate effectively is to be yourself. The emphasis should be on the sharing of

ideas, not on the performance.

Strive to be as genuine and natural as you are when you speak

to family members and friends.

Many people say, "I'm okay in a small group, but when I get in front of a larger group I freeze." The only difference between speaking

to a small informal group and to a sizable audience is the number of listeners.

To compensate for this, you need only to amplify your natural

behavior. Be authentically yourself, but amplify your movements and expressions just enough so that the audience can see them.

Effective communicators let their bodies mirror their feelings.

That‟s why it‟s important to “fall in love” with your subject matter

because if you‟re bored by the topic, it will show through your body language whether intentional or not.

If you are interested in your subject, truly believe what you are saying, and want to share your message with others, your physical

movements will come from within you and will be appropriate to what you are saying.

By involving yourself in your message, you'll be natural and

spontaneous without having to consciously think about what you are doing or saying. For many of us, this isn't as easy as it sounds because

it requires us to drop the mask that shields the "real self" in public.

To become an effective speaker, it is essential that you get rid of your mask and share your true feelings with your audience. Your

audience wants to know how you feel about your subject. If you want to convince others, you must convey your convictions.

Speak from the heart and to the soul.

If you are prepared, your self-confidence will rise proportionally. Being fully prepared is the best way to insure your success as a public

speaker.

Nothing influences a speaker's mental attitude more than the knowledge that he or she is thoroughly prepared. This knowledge

leads to self-confidence, which is a vital ingredient of effective public speaking.

How many of us have ever experienced a situation in which we

had not prepared well for a presentation? How did we come across? On the other hand, think of those presentations that did go well. These

are the ones that we had properly prepared for.

Whenever you speak to people, make an extra effort to notice

how you speak. Observe, too, whether the facial expressions of your listeners indicate they do or do not understand what you are saying.

Another great way to build your self-confidence and preparation

is to prepare a 90-second presentation about yourself. Describe who you are and what you do. Record your presentation and review it using

the four steps described in the videotaping segment.

Since you are talking about yourself, you don't need to research the topic; however, you do need to prepare what you are going to say

and how you are going to say it. Plan everything including your

gestures and walking patterns.

Use facial expressions wisely. Leave that deadpan expression to poker players. A speaker realizes that appropriate facial expressions

are an important part of effective communication. In fact, facial expressions are often the key determinant of the meaning behind the

message.

People watch a speaker's face during a presentation. When you speak, your face-more clearly than any other part of your body-

communicates to others your attitudes, feelings, and emotions. Remove expressions that don't belong on your face.

Inappropriate expressions include distracting mannerisms or

unconscious expressions not rooted in your feelings, attitudes and

emotions. In much the same way that some speakers perform random, distracting gestures and body movements, nervous speakers

often release excess energy and tension by unconsciously moving their facial muscles (e.g., licking lips, tightening the jaw).

One type of unconscious facial movement which is less apt to be

read clearly by an audience is involuntary frowning. This type of frowning occurs when a speaker attempts to deliver a memorized

speech.

There are no rules governing the use of specific expressions. If you relax your inhibitions and allow yourself to respond naturally to

your thoughts, attitudes and emotions, your facial expressions will be appropriate and will project sincerity, conviction, and credibility.

The last section we have for you to consider is that of self-assessment.

JUDGING YOUR OWN

PERFORMANCE

No matter how much applause or great feedback we get, the truth is that the only opinion that really counts is our own. While it's

the meeting planner or conference organizer who pays us, invites us

back or refers us to others, we're still sometimes stuck with the weight of our own opinions.

And as speakers, we're often really tough on ourselves. While

there may be some among us who suffer from delusions of grandeur, there are far more speakers who suffer from delusions of

insignificance.

We often go over our past performances with a very critical eye.

The truth is, we can't be objective about ourselves on the platform - the way we view our abilities depends on how clear our vision is.

For many, it's clouded by misperceptions that end up holding us

back. But how do we know whether our vision is clear or not?

Here's an assessment form that helps make any critique more

objective and tells speakers what areas of speaking they might need to work on.

In a field where there are few tools to measure progress or to

determine problem areas, this assessment is an invaluable guide to determining exactly where one's natural talents lie and where one

needs to polish and practice

Check off any area that you feel you need to work on. Put a star

next to any item that you feel you've mastered.

______ Build rapport with organizer

______ Submit professionally designed material

______ Build rapport with audience

______ Dynamic opening that captures audience attention

______ Well-paced and smooth

______ Well-modulated voice

______ Gripping material that holds audience attention

______ Well-practiced speech based on stories and acted with

spontaneity rather than read or memorized

______ Authentic and personal use of humor, stories, and material

(no borrowed stories or unattributed quotes)

______ Fresh material

______ Genuine closing that touches or motivates audience members

______ Demonstrated professionalism

______ Appearance neat and clean

CONCLUSION

When you are called on to give a speech, it is a great honor for

you both professionally and personally. While you may be initially afraid, start looking at speaking before an audience as an opportunity

rather than a burden.

It‟s up to you to take steps to learn how to both prepare your speech and deliver it so that you will be enhancing your audience‟s

time rather than wasting it. Consider the following:

Mark Twain once attended a meeting at which one of the

speakers was raising money. Twain, deeming the cause to be a worthy one, decided to donate $100. As the speaker droned on, however, he

decided to cut his contribution in half.

With no end in sight, Twain cut his intended offer again, to $10. At last, the speaker finished and the collection basket was passed

around...

Twain's contribution? When the basket finally reached him, he

removed a dollar and passed it along!

Take these tips and put them to use. Great public speakers aren‟t born overnight. They are born through experience along with

trial and error. When you find something that works for you, hold on to it and put it to use over and over again.

There‟s nothing quite as wonderful as the sound of an audience

clapping for you after you‟ve delivered a great speech. Take what you know and put your heart into it. Then share it with others.

Success is up to you. Be successful and enjoy the ride!

The following websites were referenced in researching this book:

www.ezinearticles.com

www.wikipedia.com

www.presentationpointers.com

www.speechtips.com