Tips On Public Speaking - Preparation And Approach
When you plan to make a speech in public you may think that the preparation and delivery of the speech itself are the only really important aspects. That is not true. The preparation and presentation of you is important too. Think of yourself as an athlete. You are an athlete but of the cerebral variety. There is much important work to do before taking that first deep breath and delivering your opening lines.
Here are seven tips that will improve your ability to deliver a successful and professional public speech.
Keep yourself fit. It is a fact of life that human beings will be more favorably disposed to someone who looks fit. Clearly you cannot remake yourself but every age group and all shapes look better when they are fit.
Following from the above "mens sana in corpora sano"(a healthy mind in a healthy body) means that if you are fit your mind will work better at remembering the words of your speech. It also gives you that fluency which converts a mere recitation of words to great oratory.
Take care of personal grooming in terms of hair cut or style, clean and tidy nails etc. You will be on public display. Your audience should be listening to your words but inevitably some will be looking at you as a person. Make sure that there is nothing untoward in what they see.
Smart dress is crucially important in delivering a great speech. Clearly it should be appropriate for the occasion but always one step smarter than your audience. To be well dressed enhances your feeling of well being which in turn helps your public speaking. In all this do not forget that your shoes should be polished or cleaned and be in good repair. Many speeches are given on stages or raised platforms which will mean that your audience will have the opportunity of studying your footwear. If your shoes are shoddy they may eclipse even the most sparking rhetoric.
If possible explore the venue before you give your public speech. Being able to envisage your self at the location will give you confidence and also warn you of any hazards which could cause problems. Remember the military dictum, "time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted."
Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on the day of your speech. Rushing to a venue - or even worse being late - puts you at a psychological and physical disadvantage. Psychological because you will know that you have acted unprofessionally and physical because if you have rushed you may well be hot, sweaty and breathing fast. None of this is conducive to delivering a good speech.
Make sure you have the paperwork concerning the details of your booking. You need to have the correct details of the person who arranged the booking, the name or location of the room for the event, the start time and expected duration. Failure to have all the necessary details puts you at a disadvantage immediately.
To sumarise if you prepare and present yourself well you are assured of success in public speaking. Attention to detail is as important in successful public speaking as it is in every other human enterprise. Establish these points in your routine on every occasion that you deliver a speech and you will give a better performance.
About the Author
Tim Ross has experience of delivering many different types of speech. The lessons and tips he has acquired in his career in public speaking are detailed in his blogs and articles. http://www.howtobeapublicspeaker.com/publicspeaking/
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