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Maximise the power of public speaking

Written by: Catriona Pollard

Article Overview: Public speaking is a fact of life, whether we like or not. Whether you are doing a speech at a seminar or conference, or a pitch to clients at a workplace, somewhere along the line we have all done public speaking. It is a known fact that the fear of public speaking ranks higher than the fear of death. This means most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy at a funeral! However public speaking doesn't have to be a traumatic experience; in fact when done right, it can often be to the most effective form of communication. It is so powerful we build speaking opportunities into the PR strategies we do for clients.

Maximise the power of public speaking

Public speaking is a fact of life, whether we like or not. Whether you are doing a speech at a seminar or conference, or a pitch to clients at a workplace, somewhere along the line we have all done public speaking.

It is a known fact that the fear of public speaking ranks higher than the fear of death. This means most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy at a funeral! However public speaking doesn't have to be a traumatic experience; in fact when done right, it can often be to the most effective form of communication. It is so powerful we build speaking opportunities into the PR strategies we do for clients.

Here are some useful tips for effective presentations.

Practice practice practice

If you are a nervous public speaker as most people are, the best way to overcome nerves is to practice your speech over and over. Practice in front of family and friends, the bedroom mirror - wherever.

Practicing a speech is the most important thing you can do before presenting. Familiarisation is the best deterrent to panic and anxiety. When you ‘wing it' you're guaranteed to stumble because of a lack of structure and constant over thinking. Remember the audience can sense your nerves and your ‘thinking.' Practice the best deterrent to that.

Know the audience and the venue

Before your presentation find out who the audience will be and how much knowledge they will have on you topic so you can pitch it at the right level. It is essential that you tailor the presentation to the bulk of the audience and understand what makes them tick and drives them.

Familiarizing yourself with the audience and venue is a great way to decrease nervous tension. Get to the venue early, and speak to some audience members. Also check that your audio visual and PowerPoint presentation is working effectively.

Get to the point

Try and make the point at the beginning of the speech, and let that be the underlying theme that runs through the speech. This will give the speech shape and understanding, and it will allow the audience to connect.

The purpose of a speech is to inform the audience. Also, there is no need to tell the audience everything you know, rather, tell them what they need to know. The expression ‘less is more' is pertinent in public speaking. There is nothing worse than sitting through a rambling long speech. It is important to be concise and brief.

Use efficient body language

Remember, 93% of communication is nonverbal. The audience will not just be looking at your face; they will be looking at your body as well. Be confident in what you say; stand up straight, look at the audience, and smile from time to time. Put your hands by your side, not in your pockets and not behind your back.

Don't forget to dress properly and be comfortable as well. Getting your point across means showing the audience you are confident. Remember, presentation is not what is said but how it's said.

Don't read the whole time

Nothing is worse than listening to a speech where the presenter is reading the entire time. If you want grasp the attention of your audience you must keep the presentation interesting. Add some humour, talk to the audience, and use some visual aids. The purpose of the speech is to be relatable; the audience has to identify with you in some way. If you are reading the whole time, you are not identifying with the audience and your presentation will become meaningless.

Clients can share your story

Often co-presenting with a client, or using case studies or anecdotes will help reinforce your story and build credibility. Your clients have a unique perspective that is often more convincing and ‘real' compared to your story. Often the audience want hear how your service or product was used in real life rather than just a simply description.

Related Articles
  5 Powerful Public Speaking Techniques
  “How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears – Ten Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach”
  Why Do We Fear Public Speaking?
  Public Speaking Business: How to Get Speaking Jobs
  Tips On Speaking In Public

Article Tags: Catriona Pollard, CP Communications, practice, public speaking, speaking



Related Forum Posts
Re: Public Speaking and Presentations - Hi Annette, Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your passion. I suppose if you include teaching and lecturing, as well as weddings and a funeral, and some acting, I've built up quite a lot of experience of public speaking. I also teach "English Presentation" to several classes at a women's college here in Hiroshima. That can be quite a challenge due to the language level and for the most part the complete inexperience of public speaking on the part of my students. Great fun to teach, though. I seek to encourage them and to build up their confidence, and also give them feedback about posture, fidgeting (hands in hair seems to be a favourite distraction), sniffing loudly while reading/speaking and so on... Giving that kind of feedback without embarrassing people can be quite a delicate task so I wonder if you have any "easy to understand tips" about helping with confidence and posture etc. Best wishes, David H
Re: What are your January Goals? - [quote="Trent Brownrigg":wkg2o5md][quote="Trent Brownrigg":wkg2o5md]My main goal for January... Get at least 3 new paying clients for my marketing/SEO business![/quote:wkg2o5md] FYI... I posted the above goal 4 days ago and as of today it has already been accomplished! There is a lot of power in public accountability! Now I still have 25 days left in the month to absolutely crush that goal![/quote:wkg2o5md] Well done, Trent. Yes, I think you are right about the "power in public accountability".
Would you pass on a media opportunity? - On short notice... would you allow your fear of public speaking/stress/self-doubt cause you to pass on a media opportunity to promote your business? What can one do in a short period of time to prepare himself/herself for the challenge?
Re: A 12 year old Entrepreneur - Wow. That kid sounds so sure of himself, so at ease speaking in public, not to mention his actual work, that I would even doubt this is real. He´s clearly some kind of genius. But it´s true that age, far from being a limiting factor, helps him in his job. Once you get the right amount of confidence (and this kid seems to have a lot to start with) you just go and do it, no second thought. Hats off to him!! I´m curious to see where he´ll be in 10 years.
Re: Martin Luther King - Thanks Evan, That's very thought provoking and thank you GT for your thoughts on this as well. It's a bit of a strange one this, if my friends were silent I may be concerned as to why they weren't speaking to me or advising me where I was going wrong in which case would they really be my friends ?. Maybe it is when the sometimes brutal honesty that you expect from true friends is suddenly missing and you don't know why, is that what he would remember, hmmm. One thing is for sure and that is the enduring memories of my childhood and his historic ' I have a dream’ speech which was inspirational and the power of it still jumps out of the TV every time I see it. regards, Mal.


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