module 04
Public
Speaking
Public
Speaking
You should be nervous before giving
a speech, that’s a natural feeling, too many nerves can ruin your performance,
here are a few tips on how to be a better public speaker:
· Know your
material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your
speech. Use humour, personal stories and conversational language – that way you
won’t easily forget what to say.
· Humour –
don’t be too risqué if you’re at a wedding it’s unlikely that the mother of the
groom wants to hear her son’s sexual exploits at the dinner table!
· Practice.
Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud if possible with a microphone and
amplifier. Don’t be afraid to cut out stuff that does not work.
· Work to control
the words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time
for the unexpected. Make sure you leave PAUSES – mark them on your speech.
· Know the
audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to
speak to a group of friends than to strangers. Even if this is a wedding and
there are familiar faces, speak to some of the unfamiliar guests – make them
your friend.
· Know the
room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the
microphone and any visual aids. Check the equipment works, make sure you have
some water, or whatever you want to help your performance.
· Relax.
Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves.
Pause, smile and count to three monkeys before you say. Transform nervous
energy into enthusiasm.
· Visualise
yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear
and confident. Visualise the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
· Realise
that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting,
stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
· Don’t
apologise for any nervousness or small problem – the audience probably never
noticed it. OK if you knock a glass of red wine over the bride – apologise and
possibly run from the building.
· Concentrate
on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own
anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
· Gain
experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and more
importantly as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to
effective speaking.
(Steve
Campen/ Toastmasters’ Association)
Public Speaking – Start at the beginning
Good news
is that most presentations are informal, your audience is looking to be
informed/entertained and spoken too rather than at.
· Get peoples
attention (unless you are introduced)
· Welcome
them
· Tell them
who you are
· What you
are going to talk to them about (SIGNPOST)
· Er did I
say SIGNPOST – guide your audience – ‘next I would like to talk about our plans
for expansion.’
· If you move
off topic, tell your audience and remind them that you will get back to the
main subject.
· MISTAKES –
if you make a factual error or get confused just say sorry and move on or clarify
what you were saying.
Playing the field
Rather than
look at your audience as a hungry mob ready to devour you – see them as
individuals – pick out the people you think you can connect with, look at
people – smile – engage.
Microphones
Are
sensitive little things, too far away from them and nobody will hear you, too
close and they distort – shout into them and they will distort.
You want to
be about a hands width away from a microphone that’s on a stand. If you have a hand mic, bring it up
close to your mouth and angle it slightly toward you.
If you are
wearing a lapel mic just make sure it doesn’t foul against your clothing. And when you go to the loo if it’s a
radio mic – that it is switched off.
Nerves
Are normal
– try to do some relaxation exercises, remember to loosen and drop your
shoulders, SMILE be happy, be confident.
“All things
are well – everything will be well”
Oh and
remember to breath.
Sit or stand?
Depends on
the situation and what point you are conveying, stand – and you can more easily
make eye contact with people, reach props etc. If you have to walk to a podium, walk confidently.
Starting marks
You should
start: ‘Today I would like to talk to you about …..’ I am amazed by so many
speeches that don’t actually start they just drift in! ‘In 1987 the fiscal
policy of the company was blah blah blah!
Middles
The cream
filling of your speech – have one.
Ends
With a
proper conclusion, if you are making a speech at a wedding don’t end and just –
raise a toast to the bride etc. Give
us a conclusion – ‘I have known John for 20 years he is a man of integrity, a
man who cares and a man who will love a cherish Jane as his beautiful new wife
– Please raise your glasses etc etc..’
Why the hell am I doing this?
Important
question
Why are you
making the speech?
What
conclusion do you want to draw?
Cadence
exercises – remember to slow down and articulate but not over-emphasise
This is the house that Jack built.
This is the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
This is the farmer sowing his corn,
That kept the cock that crowed in the morn,
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog,
That worried the cat,
That killed the rat,
That ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built.
Exercise
To write a short speech and perform in
front of your Tutor.
Choose a subject you feel confident to
write about.
Remember to welcome, tell them who you
are.
No surprises – humour but not risqué
Middle
Conclusion
Questions?
