![]() Before addressing your audience, pause for a few seconds. Be prepared by having print-outs of your presentation slides and a copy of your presentation on USB drive. ![]() Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Be sure to burn off cortisol with exercise before any speaking engagement. Your body produces cortisol when you’re anxious or stressed, which limits your creativity and ability to process complex information. Eat a light meal at least 20 minutes prior to your speech. Be yourself no one does that better than you can. Don’t copy the style or gestures of other speakers, as your audience will sense a lack of authenticity. Make sure your visual aids reinforce your message and don’t distract from it. Your commitment to the topic will help sell the speech to your audience. Choose a topic on something that is important to you, and that you feel passionate about. Toastmasters offers various speech contests throughout the year. Entering contests is a challenging and fun way to improve your skills. Before your speech, ask a friend or colleague to listen to you from the back of the room to ensure you’re speaking at the right volume. If you need to use notes, be subtle and do not read your speech. Use purposeful gestures to give your speech more impact. Nervous fidgeting or gestures will detract from your message. Briefly pause to gather your next thought, or take a sip of water. Using umms and ahhhs in your speech will distract your message. Joining a Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and encouraging environment. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective communication. For example, if the lights go out, a good joke might be: “Who forgot to pay the electric bill?” Tweetġ2. If something goes wrong during your speech, tell a quick joke to help put you and your audience at ease. Pick up where you left off and keep going. If you make a mistake, there’s no need to say you’re sorry. The audience isn’t your enemy - they want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. Imagine hearing the audience’s applause – it will boost your confidence. Imagine yourself giving your speech: your voice is loud, clear and confident. Pause for a few seconds, smile and count to three before speaking. Breathe and stretch before taking the stage. Give yourself enough time to get acquainted with the stage or presentation area, and test the microphone and any visual aids you’ll be using. People tend to rush when they’re nervous, so practice keeping your speech at a calm, steady pace. Time your speech every time you rehearse it to ensure you don’t go over the five- to seven-minute time limit. Rehearse your speech aloud using any equipment and/or visual aids you’ll use during your presentation. Use humor, personal anecdotes and conversational language to make your speech engaging. Reinforce your message with facts and statistics, if possible.Ģ. Speak about a topic you’re interested in and know a lot about.
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