There are few skills more widely valued or admired in the professional world than the ability to speak in front of a group and you can definitively set yourself apart by doing it well. Here are a few tips you can implement immediately to make your next talk more impactful.
Start Strong or Lose Them Forever
Start strongly. Never begin with a banal or predictable intro or small talk. It's boring and it's what everyone else does.
Instead, launch immediately into a story, show an arresting visual, or deliver a quote the audience hasn't heard before. This shows that you respect your audience and that you've bothered to make an effort for them. It's also a great confidence booster when you know you're going to start strong.
Practice Proud and Out Loud
Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Video record yourself so you can listen and observe your body language. Work to control filler words like um’s and ah’s. Practice your pauses and breathing. Make a note of your time and build in time for unexpected interruptions.
Word for Word
Memorize your "Opening" and your "Close" so can make eye contact with the audience when it is most crucial.
You can work from an outline for the rest of your presentation. Make sure that you have practiced enough that you don’t need to read from notes or from your slides.
If you have a quote or statistic that you must read for accuracy, that’s okay, just don’t read the majority of your presentation.
Don’t Apologize
Don’t apologize for small mistakes or otherwise draw attention to anything that didn’t go exactly the way you practiced. It’s highly likely that you are the only one who noticed in the first place! When you are speaking you are the authority on your subject matter so don’t downplay your knowledge or act self-deprecating. Confidence goes a long way when you’re presenting!
Ongoing Training
These tips should give your next presentation a quick quality boost! To truly master the craft of public speaking we recommend professional training with a coach. Oratorio has a self-paced on-line video course ready to take your speaking to the next level. Check it out here.