PUBLIC SPEAKING - faithlesspilgrims



PUBLIC SPEAKING

Effective public speaking skills can be learned by following a few simple points. A good speaker will be organized and have the confidence to present the substance of the speech to an audience. Being able to speak effectively is a valuable skill that can be learned as a student and applied later in life.

THE SPEECH RECIPE

The organized speaker will avoid the errors of people who talk in public but don't necessarily make good speeches. The organized speech will follow the following three point recipe:

• HEADLINE

Capture your audience's attention by giving them a reason for listening. This establishes a theme for your speech and can be a provocative quote, statistic, or story. The thesis or main idea of your speech is then presented here and it relates to your theme. This is where you tell your audience what you are going to talk about.

• MAIN BODY

Break your idea into separate points (three is suggested) that explain or support your thesis and expand upon your theme. This is where your audience is told about your topic.

• ECHO

Revisit your headline and summarize your main idea by referring back to the points made in your main body. This provides your audience with a complete package and tells them what you have told them.

BETTER SPEECH TIPS

• Don't point out your own mistakes. You are the expert on this topic during the time your speech is made.

• Be yourself. Your audience will forgive your nervousness, but they will be turned off by false modesty or bravado.

• Speak in the level of language that is suitable to the occasion. If the occasion demands a tux, then your words should be addressed appropriately.

• Look for a creative angle on your topic. Capture your audience's attention this way.

• Think and speak in outline terms. Avoid reading every word to your audience.

• If you stumble, don't repeat sentences or phrases unless they are pivotal to your speech.

• Finish your speech before your audience does. Don't overstay your welcome on the podium. An audience appreciates a short organized speech over a long rambling effort.

• Be confident in presentation. A speaker's poise and confidence communicate as effectively as the words that are spoken.

The purpose of any form of communication is not to make the sender the object of praise or derision. It is the message that really counts. With good organization and a confidence in your topic, you will be able to address any audience and provide them with the substance of your communication.

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SPEECH RECIPE

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INGREDIENTS

|one headline |

|one expandable thesis or plan |

|three points to support your thesis or plan |

|one conclusion |

Fill in the blanks in the following order and serve it to your audience with a feeling of confidence and an eye on clarity.

|Introduction: |

|Headline: |

|Plan: |

| |

|Main Body: |

|Point One: |

|1. |

|2. |

|3. |

|Point Two: |

|1. |

|2. |

|3. |

|Point Three: |

|1. |

|2. |

|3. |

| |

|Conclusion: |

|1. Summary |

|2. Echo: |

The above recipe card may be used as the cue card for a speech.

This page is from the book CASAA Student Activity Sourcebook.

Ten public speaking tips

1. Know your key publics and objectives.

Time is a limited resource. Know whether this opportunity represents value for both you and your audience.

2. Know your audience.

Talk with two or three people to get a feeling for what matters to this audience—their issues, values, level of knowledge.

3. Sketch your talk.

How will you engage your audience? How will you move across salient points? What is the one message people will come away with?

4. Find good sources.

Prepare rich background notes and save these as short text files. Create a database with fields for filename, author, date, source, topic, and a 20-word summary. This is a menu for your clippings and notes. It can also be shared internally on your intranet.

5. Build sound bites.

Write. Be articulate in less than 100 words (40-60 is best) on every point you want to make. You'll need a core message, supported by clear major points, each supported by relevant details. Your first few words in each case are critical. [TOP]

6. Prototype.

A 10-minute talk is 1600-1800 words. Tape yourself. See what you haven't said. See what can be trimmed. Edit your written text. Recast your outline. Tape again. This is to clarify and focus your thinking.

7. Speak, don't read.

You don't prepare a talk, you prepare yourself for a talk. The spoken word reveals presence, energy, interest, conviction; these are lost on paper. An outline will keep you on track.

8. Bring a handout.

In formal situations a copy of your speech is expected. The media will follow a prepared text and note any departure in content. Speak, but realize you're going on record.

9. Watch for feedback.

A live audience means real-time feedback. When their attention is rapt, your audience will resemble a still photograph or freeze-frame video. This is what public speaking is all about.

10. FAQ

Frequently_Asked_Questions — A key part of any public speaking engagement in the question and answer period. Collect questions like hockey cards. Prepare credible, informative, 40-60 word answers for them.

From

11 Hidden Causes Of Public Speaking Stress

1. Thinking that public speaking is inherently stressful (it's not).

2. Thinking you need to be brilliant or perfect to succeed (you don't).

3. Trying to impart too much information or cover too many points in a short presentation.

4. Having the wrong purpose in mind (to get rather than to give/contribute).

5. Trying to please everyone (this is unrealistic).

6. Trying to emulate other speakers (very difficult) rather than simply being yourself (very easy).

7. Failing to be personally revealing and humble.

8. Being fearful of potential negative outcomes (they almost never occur and even when they do, you can use them to your advantage).

9. Trying to control the wrong things (e.g., the behavior of your audience).

10. Spending too much time overpreparing (instead of developing confidence and trust in your natural ability to succeed).

11. Thinking your audience will be as critical of your performance as you might be.

10 Key Principles To Always Keep In Mind

#1---Speaking in Public is NOT Inherently Stressful

#2---You Don't Have to be Brilliant or Perfect to Succeed

#3---All You Need is Two or Three Main Points

#4---You also Need a Purpose That is Right for the Task

#5---The Best Way to Succeed is NOT to Consider Yourself a Public Speaker!

#6---Humility and Humor Can Go a Long Way

#7---When You Speak in Public, Nothing "Bad" Can Ever Happen!

#8---You Don't Have to Control the Behavior of Your Audience

#9---In General, the More You Prepare, the Worse You Will Do

#10--Your Audience Truly Wants You to Succeed

That's all there is to it. Just look for these eleven hidden causes and keep the ten corresponding principles in mind.

Of course, you will need to practice. It's extremely easy to forget the ten key principles. No matter how often you review them, you'll instinctively fall back into your old stress-producing patterns.

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