Art Of Great Speaking

Public speaking can be considered as conversation with more than an audience of one. The only other difference is that there is less interaction with the listeners.

On the basis that public speaking is common conversation then the speech is the thing – not the speaker.  In the same way the play is the thing not the players (Thanks William Shakespeare)

Over the next few days I will write a series of blogs on speech writing. First up:-

Selecting A Topic.

How do you select a subject for you speech?

The determining factors will be;-

What are you familar with? What do you know from experience?

Can you speak confidently on the subject?

Is the subject relevant? Timely?

Can you make the subject interesting to your audience? Not just for yourself. The speech should fit the group that is being presented to.

Keep your audience in mind.

Once you have spent an appropriate amount of time selecting your topic get on with the preparation of the speech. Do not procrastinate over it.

The topic you select will determine how you present it.

For more public speaking tip and conversation tips please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com and claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation

The most popular public speaking method of delivery is known as the Extemporaneous Method.

In this method the speaker prepares a speaking outline and memorizes the ideas. It is popular it makes you think on your feet and promotes lively communication. It is flexible it will allow you to make advisable changes as for example if the program is over running you can cut you speech short as required.

You may or may not speak from your notes but don’t lose your eye contact with your audience. When you are thoroughly familiar with your ideas and supporting material there will be little need for your notes.

For more tips on public speaking and conversation visit  http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of the resource The Art of Great conversation

It appears Bill Gates have recognised the importance of being a great communicator to get his ideas across. This review gives examples from the speech and why the example is effective. The link below will take you to the article in the Business Week.

From BusinessWeek:

Microsoft MSFT co-founder Bill Gates, who is considered a brilliant technologist and a leading philanthropist, has not been known for his public speaking skills. His Microsoft presentations were largely filled with mind-numbing statistics, highly technical jargon, and busy PowerPoint slides. Well, something has changed. … (Click on link below to read the rest of the article)

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2009/sb20090213_774006.htm?chan=smallbiz_smallbiz+index+page_top+small+business+stories

For more public speaking tips and great conversation tips visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation

In public speaking there are 4 possible ways of delivering your speech:

1. Write it out and read it word for word

2. Write it out, memorize it, and then deliver it

3.  Present an impromptu speech

4. Write an outline and memorize the ideas.

Very technical papers, elaborate theses and papers of state require profound study and should be read for accuracy. You should not read any other speech.  Writing it out is ok  but reading it isn’t. Your audience wants you to speak to them – with your head bowed you lose most of your personality appeal – they can’t see your face and your eyes.

A completely memorized speech has the advantage that you can use phrases you would not normally use but it is likely it will sound stilted and stiff. It will lack any spontaniety.

Avoid impromptu speeches if you can – i.e. if you have time to prepare, make sure you do. If you suspect that you will be asked to say a few word, it is good have some quips to hand. If the subject is something you know nothing about, it is best to tell the audience you are completely unfamiliar about the subject and that it would be best if you sat down before your ignorance show. Then do exactly that!

See my next post for detils on the 4th method of delivery.

For more public speaking tips and conversation tips please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com

Speech delivery is both vocal and visual. It is a reflection of the speaker’s personality. Your personality is your desire to being pleasing to others. Public speaking practice will develop your personality.

Your delivery should be natural but like many natural things it is capable of being developed. A  tree’s natural beauty may be improved by pruning the bad branches. Your natural delivery can be improved by working on your bad habits and enhancing your strengths. 

It may sound contradictory to say that you should deliver your speech naturally and then suggest you should improve your delivery. However this isn’t as bad as it sounds.

Improving your personality/delivery  comes naturally too. Because all people of good thoughts do not want to offend. If it is pointed out that talking too slow or too quickly is irritating they will naturally improve their personality in this respect.