Effective Public Speaking

Effective Public Speaking

Your boss has chosen you to represent the team in the next wave of office presentations two weeks from now. You know exactly what you are going to report on.

You feel confident as you team has been performing relatively well in the past quarter. There will be no hitches in your department's presentation that could make the audience raise their eyebrows. You even anticipate nods of approval from your colleagues because of your team’s impressive performance and figures.

All is well, it may seem … but there's just one problem. You are deathly afraid of speaking before a big crowd. All your life, you are able to dodge requests for public speaking.

Now it is different, as it is part of your job. You feel uncomfortable even if most of the people in the audience are the same people you exchange hi's with at the coffee pantry every single morning.

Everything is set. However, the crucial ingredient in public speaking is missing -- your self-confidence. Since you absolutely can't squirm your way out of the position, you really have no choice but to prepare yourself for the big day.

Most seasoned public speakers say that public speaking is really nothing. They often advice, "You just have to imagine those people sitting there in their underwear if you're feeling jittery."

Speaking in front of an audience does not really have to be as terrifying as it may sound. Here are some tips to help you get set and started:

1) Know the audience. Familiarize your self with the venue.
Visit the place where you're going to make the presentation to get a feel of what it's like to be there before the big day. If that's not possible, arrive earlier than the designated time, so you'll know where the lights are and where the podium and microphone are located.

If there's not too many people around, you can even try speaking into the microphone to find out how your voice sounds. This is also a great opportunity to practice the timing of your visual aids and talk to the technician about any sound and visual specifications your report might need.

It also helps if you know the interests and concerns of your audience. If they're your colleagues, it doesn't mean you should do the presentation haphazardly and make inappropriate comments along the way. Remember that an office presentation is a formal activity and you should conduct business in a professional manner.

Most public speakers inject humor into their material. This is fine. Throwing in a few jokes wouldn't hurt. Use appropriate humorous comments depending on your type of audience. You would not want to say anything that is offensive. When in doubt, you had better stick to the script.

2) Know your material
If you do not know what you are talking about, then it would not make any sense for you to do the presentation. Have somebody from your team to present during the meeting. Review your report inside and out days before you speak in public. You cannot fumble or you will lose your audience's attention, or worse, their respect.

3) Convert your fear into something positive
Effective public speaking entails some form of emotional maneuvering. If you are afraid of standing in front of many people, try the seasoned speaker’s tip. Just imagine your audience in their underwear to ease the tension.

You can try painting an imaginary clown face on the most dreaded executive’s face to keep yourself from squirming. Weed out the bad energy and invite all the good. In minutes, you will notice that you are breezing through your presentation and eventually forget that you are making a formal report.

4) Relax
This is the most important tip for effective public speaking. Remember that you have been given control of the room when you speak and people listen to you.

This is your moment to shine. Seize it passionately and make the most out of it. Good luck!