Archive for April, 2009
Public Speaking – Become an Effective Speaker – Likeability
The third characteristic of an effective speaker is likeability. In public speaking as with day to day conversation people will respond to your message more favourably if they like you.
Your audience want to like you. They will enjoy listening to you and will not be as skeptical about what you have to say. It is a hard characteristic to have and it can take time to develop it in public speaking.
The qualities that will help improve your likeability quotient are:-
1. Be interested in your audience – Take an active and genuine interest in what they have to say and show that you care about them. Developing your active listening skills will help immensely. The interest needs to genuine or people will find out and you will lose their goodwill.
2. Be positve, have an upbeat tone, and smile. As in all works of life, your audience will enjoy listening to a message that is upbeat and accentuates the positive. It makes them feel better. A negative and dull delivery is a big turn off.
Smile and look upwards and it will make you feel more upbeat and positive. Conversely looking downwards and frowning will dampen your mood. As a rule people like to smile and it is contagious.
Another technique is to consciously choose your attitude. If you are going to ther you might as well as enjoy it.
3. Keep their point of view in mind when developing your speech. This will demonstrate that you care about them through your speech.
If you are not naturally that way it will take some effort to develop. It is worth persevering with because your speech will be better received, it will be easier to achieve your objective and your audience will want you back.
For more tips on public speaking and conversation visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of The Art of Great conversation
Public Speaking – Become an Effective Speaker – Persistence
My previous post covered the first characteristic required for effective public speaking -confidence. The second quality to discuss is is persistence.
Public speaking more than any other human skill is learnt by doing. The more you speak in public the more self-confidence will be developed in public speaking. The more frequently that you speak in public the more quickly you will improve your public speaking. The speech you give does not need to be long. A short speech given frequently is more effective than a long speech delivered infrequently in developing your skills and confidence in public speaking.
Each time you speak set yourself a target of improving by 1%. You can set it higher if you like. By using 1% it means that after 72 speeches you will be twice the speaker you were when you began. Review each speech and ask yourself:-
What worked well?
What will I do better next time?
As with any worthwhile endeavour there will be setbacks on the road to mastering speaking with confidence. It is important to see these as learning opportunities – difficult as that maybe. Everyone has had them. Success, they say, lies on the other side of adversity.
When you were learning to swim you found a swimming pool to practice. In public speaking you need a meeting to practice your skills. Most companies and organisation have opportunities to speak in front of groups for their employees – in team or departmental meetings. These are great places to practice your new found public speaking skills. Also within most communities there are civic and service club forums, P.T.A. meetings, community gatherings etc, that will provide ample opportunity for you to be heard.
For more tips on public speaking and conversation please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com for a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation
Public Speaking – Become an Effective Speaker – Confidence
Public speaking today is about delivering a speech that is worthwhile to your audience in a clear and interesting way. Being prepared to apply yourself and learn the skills will make it possible to become an effective speaker. The style of public speaking popular today is more like conversation rather than grammatically correct English and the use of flowery phrases of yesteryear. This puts effective public speaking in the reach of more people as content is more impotant.
The development of the right characteristics and qualities will help in acquiring the skills of delivery and preparation needed to become a more effective speaker.
1. Confidence – Your audience will become doubtful if you are not confident in your delivery. Self confidence comes from preparing thoroughly and practicing until you are fully conversant with your speech. The first part of the preparation is to know your audience. Getting to know your audience helps you in two ways:-
(a) It is normally easier to speak to people you know – like day to day conversation
(b) You will be able to choose a topic that not only interests you but more importantly the audience will find interesting
Many experienced speakers suffer from nerves before they go on to deliver their speech. They use this as motivation to do their best and some call it anticipation. They will take a few deep breaths and concentrate on the important speech they are about to deliver.
The first step for anyone new to speaking in front of group of people is the most important. The step for the new speaker is to realise that it is not the crowd they fear but themselves, in the same way that a first time swimmer must realise it is not the water they fear but themselves. From this small bud of courage, if properly tendered, will flower the full bloom of confidence.
If you are not confident now, don’t worry there are many resources and organisations available to help you – on the internet and offline as well.
In my next blog post I will discuss further the characteristics needed to beome an effective speaker.
In the meantime for tips on public speaking and great conversation please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation
Public Speaking – How to Introduce Other Speakers
A great way to continue to build confidence in public speaking is to take on the role of introducing other public speakers. Many clubs and organisations rotate this role among their members.
In this role you are reponsible for introducing the speaker to the audience and to create an environment where the audience is ready to listen.
As in when you are preparing for public speaking you want to plan your introduction and know your subject thorougly ie. get to know the speaker. The areas for you to acquaint yourself with are their subject, the nature of their expertise, their character, what others say about them. If you don’t know them, introduce yourself to them and get to know them.
There is only one real rule about introductions is that the better known the speaker the shorter the introduction needs to be, for example the President of the United States is introduced with 9 words:-
“Ladies and Gentleman, the President of the United States”
A proven structure for an introduction for other than the above is;
1. Speakers name and last name. State it clearly and pronounce it correctly.
2. Their business or title. In some cases the stating of their business may be the only payment they are receiving.
3. A brief biography – keep it relevant.
4. The topic of their speech and possibly a brief overview of the content of the sppech.
5. Thank them and give their name again
It is best to keep the introduction simple and sincere. Don’t go over the top as this may give the speaker too much to live up to.
Take the time to prepare the introduction and keep it brief. You are not their to give the speech (don’t try to steal the show) but to spur the speaker on and create the right atmosphere for the speaker.
For more information on confident public speaking and conversation please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com and claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation
How to Choose a Public Speaking Topic
There are many situations when you will not really have a choice of topic. Circumstances and situations can dictate it. But where there is no such dictate it can be difficult to choose. Outlined below are some considerations in choosing your public speaking topic.
1. Determine the subjects you know about.
Your choice is limited to the subjects you are familiar with. It is best to stick with what you know and are interested in . You can then speak with confidence on it. It is possible to choose topics you have no experience in but it will take time to gather the research. And it is more difficult to speak confidently on a topic you have no personal experience in. Can you speak with authority on the subject and will that come over in your delivery?
2. Consider your audience
The speech should fit with the type of audience you are going to speak to. A serious topic is probably not appropriate at a banquet where entertainment is what the audience will want.
Will the subject you have chosen interest the audience and will it be worthwhile to them to listen? This is the best test of your subject. Therefore get to know your audience – their age, interests, reasons for attending, who is organising etc?
3. Choose as soon as you can.
Do not spend too much time in choosing your subject. Come up with your topic as quickly as you can so that you can swiftly move on to preparating and practicing your speech.
In summary know your audience, choose a subject that interests them and you. Choose it as soon as you can and this will leave you time to get your speech thoroughly prepared and practiced.
for more information on speaking with confidence in public speaking and conversation visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation.
Public Speaking – Persuasive Speaking
Persuasive speaking is used where you want your listeners to take a particular action. It could be a salesman “selling” you on the idea that you need life insurance or a charity asking for funding.
Being interested and believing in the cause you are presenting will help immensely in persuading others. You are more likely to speak with passion and enthusiasm. Listeners will respond positively to enthusiasm. However, the idea you are presenting must appear sensible and be of benefit to them.
You must be clear as to the purpose of your speech and the action you want your audience to take. Once you are clear what you want to prepare a forceful call to action at the end and an attention getting start.
The material used in a persuasive speech should either elicit one or more of the follwing;-
Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.
At the beginning you want to instantly get the audiences attention. This can be achieved by way of an icebreaker and a funny story. To continue to hold their attention a speaker will quickly let them know how the speech will be benefit them and/or why they should be interested in what is to follow.
In the main body of the speech there is a systematic method to “sell” the audience on your idea. Use up to five points and present the ideas work up to your most dynamite point. Each idea should be supported by:-
1. Facts – presented in an interesting and understandable terms – e.g in describing the amount of insects you could say that if all the insects in the world were collected and heaped up they would be 3 feet deep all over the world rather than saying there are trillions of insects.
2 Examples – That are relevant and close to home as possible
3. Illustrations – as up to date as possible rather than something that happened in the dark and distant past
Finish with your call to action. Make it clear and easy for your audience to respond. Once the call has been made stop talking and sit down. If there is applause you can stand up to acknowledge it.
For more information on confident public speaking and conversation claim your free preview of The Art of Conversation by visiting http://www.selfconfidentspeaking.com
Public Speaking Today
Public speaking has evolved over the last 40 years because of first radio then televesion so that is now about conveying ideas to the audience that are of benefit to them. There is more reliance on the content of speech and less reliance on the packaging. It is now more like private conversation with more people present. The only real difference is there is less interaction (less interuptions).
The information and ideas conveyed are now more important . The audience is more interested in the material being delivered than the person delivering.
The sincere person does not need rhetoric or fine sounding words and phrases to express their ideas and convince their audience. They can leave that to the professional politician.
Some seasoned speakers still rely on their showmanship to cover up the lack of content in their speech but this style is quickly fading as being popular except with some politicians. The part time speaker that has something worthwhile to say that delivers it logically and clearly will outshine the seasoned professional who is going through the motions.
This change in emphasis makes public speaking much easier for us individuals who are not blessed with great oratory skills. Most of us have the makings of a public speaker – a voice and a mind to create new ideas. Successful public speaking mixes these together. By adding a little preparation to the mix even the most modest of speakers can deliver a speech that effectively conveys their information and ideas with some sparkle and wit.
For more information on effective public speaking and conversation visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of The Art of Great Conversation
Public Speaking – A Short History and Importance
The following short paragraphs demonstrate that by learning public speaking we are “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” and exercising the rights our forebears have won for us:
The “art” of public speaking has been with us for a long time as evidenced by books written 5000 years ago. Homer’s epic poems written in the 9th century B.C. contain speeches.
The first book written to help the reader in public speaking is believed to have been written by Coax in 500 B.C. and it is to him along with the early beginnings democrary that the roots of public speaking.
The Ancient Greeks recognized public speaking and rhetoric to be an important field of study. In 300 B.C Aristotle wrote the Rhetoric , where he discussed public speaking theory of his time. Quintilian in the 1st Century taught public speaking and wrote 12 volumes called The Education of an Orator. He believed that public speaking training should begin at 6 and carry on through their formal education. Cicero, the greatest Roman orator made orginal contributions to speech theory. Other significant contributors are Socrates, Gorgias, Pericles, Isocrates, St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Sir Francis Bacon, John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Woodrow Wilson.
Public speaking has always prospered in times of democracy where freedom of speech and the right to assemble in groups are core principles. These rights have been won through bloodshed and even now must be watched closely to ensure they are not eroded. To effectively exercise and preserve those rights it is important that we develop our public speaking ability – and it could even be considered one of our obligations to speak effectively.
It could also be considered that by learning to speak effectively in groups and in public speaking we improve ourselves but also exercising our democratic rights we are also helping to preserve them.
Fortunately we live in a time where public speaking has evolved where it easier than ever before to be proficient because of the great information available and it is the ideas conveyed that are of more importance than showmanship or the 100% grammatically correct use of English.
(Information courtesy of Willim S. Smith & Donald J. Canty)
Please visit my website http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to claim a free preview of my resource “The Art Of Great Conversation”
Public Speaking – Improve Your Speaking Voice
Your voice is a wonderful instrument for expressing yourself. The majority fall into bad habits and the voice which can attract listeners instead repels them. But with training these habits can usually be quickly overcome.
The famed orator Demosthenes started out in a worse place than most of us. He stammered but he was able to overcome this handicap by learning to control his vocal muscles by filling his mouth with muscles and shouting to be overheard above the roar of crashing waves.
The first step is to find out how your voice sounds. You can uncover how your voice sounds by means of recording it or with a little time you can listen to yourself as you speak in conversation and in public speaking. Analyze how your voice sounds to determine whether you speak: dull or high pitched, too slow or too fast, strident or with a nasal twang, slurred or clipped. Your voice to be friendly, sincere, forthright,vital and express feeling and meaning.
Speak as though you were speaking to a friend in conversation – using your natural style with any improvements you had noted, i.e. you want to overcome your voice bad habits with good ones , not by replacing them with a bad one of sounding forced and unnatural.
The advice of be natual but improve does sound a bit of a contradiction. But it is also natural to want to improve and grow.
To improve your speaking voice, the best method for eliminating the habits is to practice speaking by reading aloud. Put the feeling in your voice that reflects the words you are speaking and note the difference e.g. what is the difference in your voice when you speak word of hatred versus words of love.
By working out what your voice bad habits are and taking the time to sort them out you will eliminate them and replace them with sounds that are friendly on the ear.
For more public speaking tips, please claim your free preview of my resource “The Art of Great Conversation” by visiting http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com