Art Of Great Speaking

When reading your speech it is difficult to be effective because it is difficult to connect with the audience. Your head is bowed, so there is no eye contact and it is difficult not to read it in a monotous tone.
I just came across this advice about how you can read your speech in an effective and interesting way. It is by Albert Tack. I hope you find it useful to help deliver your speech successfully.

Rules for Reading a Speech
I am against a speech being read, but when it is essential to do so, the following rules should be adhered to:
1. Practice continually reading aloud from a book, until you are able to
memorize a few passages ahead. This will enable you to look up, continue speaking, and then return to the reading matter without losing your place.
2. When you can read from a book in an entertaining manner, then practice with your speech.
3. Remember, the ideal is to be able to read aloud in a conversational manner. To do this means that there must be pauses, inflections, emphasis . . .
4. When preparing your manuscript, underline those passages which you wish to emphasize. A full stop is not sufficient to denote a pause. Use several stops, or dashes.
5. Although you are reading from a paper it is as well, sometimes, to repeat a sentence. Underline those sentences which you wish to repeat. Practice, practice, practice reading your paper to others, until this conversational technique has been acquired. If you don’t do this, you will most certainly bore your audience, however brilliant your paper may be.
6. Vary the rate of your reading, otherwise you will sound monotonous.
7. Use gestures. You can only do this by acquiring the ability to look away from your paper. Gestures made while reading look out of place.
8. If possible, ask questions. It will break the monotony of reading. Even a rhetorical question is better than no question at all, because this brings into line the “wanderers.”
9. Speak a little louder than usual. People who read from papers are apt to drop their voices.
10. Don’t try to justify the fact that you are reading the speech. There is no need to apologize or to give reasons why you are doing so, instead of speaking extemporaneously.

Speech reading in an interesting way is difficult. It is worth persevering as you will be more effective in conveying your ideas to your listeners. Do you have any views on reading your speech? Do you think it should be avoided if possible as Albert Tack suggests?

For more information on effective speaking please visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com to receive a free preview of The Art Of Great Conversation

Just as openings are important in getting your speech off to a positive start, the closings of your speech are important so you leave the audience with a great impression of you and your speech.
Like openings there are a number of ways that an effective speaker can close their speech.  An effective speaker will use the ending that is the most appropriate for the circumstances and their personality.
Because of this there are only few generalizations that apply;
(1)    It should be relevant to the speech
(2)    Brief
(3)    And should come as a surprise
When a speaker is nervous they may apologize and then give a closing a signal such as;
And finally I must tell you
Here is a final story
One last word
I guess you have heard enough of me. You’ll be please to know I’m just about to finish but…
Closing signals like these are a problem for a speaker for 2 reasons
(1)    The audience start to focus on what will happen after it’s over
(2)    Speakers have a habit of carrying on
I think many times a nervous speaker continues because once they have said they are about to finish, some of the pressure comes off because they now can sit down at any time. Their confidence returns because of this.
This post helps with what not to do when closing your speech. In my next post I’ll give some examples that an effective speaker can use to close their speech.
So, my tip for today is -  do not give closing signals. But, if you do, finish up quickly.

In public speaking and presenting to groups many speakers open their speech with tired starters like ”Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking…” or “We had a pleasant trip heer this evening” etc, etc,

1. Open with a human interest story and get something going at once. People love stories. Keep them brief. The audience normally want a quick win at the beginning of the speech. The primary source of your material should be your own life. The next best source is the daily newspapers and magazines. Look for the stories that are human interest stories that are inside the paper rather than headline news. The stories need to be intersting and not too familiar with to everyone. When telling a humorous story it is a good idea to have the punchline memorized as you don’t want to stumble and not give the audience a chance to laugh. 

2. Ask a question. The question that stimulate the audience to think will get their attention. Something like ” Do you know how long it takes a house fly to walk along a banana? This unusual question was used to start a talk on food hygiene. The question must not be too complex for the  the audience or you will lose them. Also the audience’s attention will not be gained by question that does not ask them to think too much e.g. What day of the week is it? It is too easy and commonplace.

3. Open with a startling or unusual statement.  A statement such as “No one will talk about it for publication but…” has great ear appeal. The audience will want to know what comes next.

Openings to a speech are very important as they can set the tone for the rest of the speech. To increase effectiveness in public speaking will start their speeches to get the audience’s attention. However, you do want favorable attention. Throwing rotten eggs at the audience into the audience will get their attention but it won’t be very favorable.

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

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