The worst thing is to start speaking in front of a large number of people. There are several tricks to get you off to an intriguing start.
Tell an interesting, exciting story. As a rule, if the talk starts with such a narrative and the audience is interested in the first 60 seconds, it will be easier to maintain attention. Perhaps you need to talk about something interesting historical event or remember the old wisdom regarding the topic of your report. A short introduction in the form of a story should last no more than 90 seconds.
Ask a rhetorical question. It helps convince the bulk of the public. For example, “To be or not to be, that is the question,” “Rus, where are you rushing?” etc. However, the questions need to be thought through and presented in a form in which they will reflect the essence of the report.
Start your report with statistics. As a rule, statistical data attracts listeners.
Come up with a catchy title, thanks to which the audience will become interested in the topic from the first seconds.
Start your report with wise quotes or statements famous person to add attractiveness and special style to the presentation. However, all wise words should relate exclusively to the topic of the report.
Show an illustration or short presentation. This approach will add understanding, and listeners will probably remember the report only with positive side. When showing slides, you need to remember that for one illustration there should be one thought, put into two, maximum three sentences. Looks better on slides large font, and animation effects should be in moderation.
Add a short video to your report which will cause an emotional reaction. Plus, this way the essence of the topic is conveyed faster.
Don't spend too much time performing. It's best to try to keep it to 20 minutes. During this time, listeners will not get tired and will actively discuss this report.
Don't drawl or speak too quickly. Imagine that you are telling your audience an interesting story.
Answer questions quickly. This way, you will emphasize your professionalism in this topic.
Do you want to be listened to and heard? Then you need to constantly be in sight, maintain visual contact with the audience and speak clearly and intelligibly. Also, watch your gestures, that is, do not wave your arms too much, but also do not hide them in your pockets.
Answer yourself the questions: “why am I speaking?”, “what target audience is listening to me?” After the answers, you will clearly make a plan for yourself and you will understand which style of presentation is more acceptable.
Don't know how to give a good presentation? This is not difficult to do, the main thing is not to be afraid to speak in front of an audience. Therefore, you need to first overcome fear, and then perform. Minimize fear first:
Be the first to speak in front of the audience. As a rule, the longer you wait in line, the worse it gets. It may be worth performing in the front row so that after 20 minutes you can breathe freely.
Imagine that you are reading a report to your friends and family. Then it will be easier for you to focus on your topic.
Before the performance, be positive. Enter the room with a smile and start with an interesting phrase that will hook the listeners. You will see that the audience is not scary, but friendly, and as soon as you say a few words (sentences), the fear will go away on its own.
Before speaking, read the report to your colleagues or classmates. This way you will overcome your fear faster and it will be easier to speak in front of an audience.
Be confident. Confidence is the key to success. If you know the topic well and understand it, then you shouldn’t be afraid. You can prepare yourself a cheat sheet where you can see what’s next on your plan.
Before speaking, think about the consequences. After all, you need to earn a high rating.
Important! Listeners ordinary people, who understand your fear, and they, for their part, try to cheer you up. Think about this and everything will be fine.
What mistakes are made most often during a presentation?
Now you know how to give a presentation correctly. However, it is worth considering that mistakes may also occur during the presentation. To prevent this from happening, read what not to do.
Error 1. Give a presentation without preparation. Many outgoing students believe that they can present a topic well without reading the paper first. And this is one of the big mistakes. After all, a person who speaks without preparation will begin to stutter and say a lot of empty and florid phrases.
Error 3. Answer questions during the presentation. Of course, it’s good when listeners are interested in the topic, but it’s better to warn the audience in advance that questions should be asked after the report. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting lost and confused, which may affect the time and quality of the performance.
Error 4. Read quickly or slowly. Speed is not always good, especially during a performance. If listeners do not understand the topic, then it is difficult for them to understand the speaker's train of thought. Too slow a pace leads to monotony, making the report boring and uninteresting.
Error 5. Use too long sentences (more than 13 words). This kind of presentation is hard to understand.
In this article, we figured out how to give a report in order to interest listeners, what techniques to use and what mistakes should not be made. These tips will help you perform well, overcome fear and become more confident.
How to give a presentation correctly - 10 tips for success updated: February 15, 2019 by: Scientific Articles.Ru
Today's topic is issues of public speaking and oratory.
How to speak successfully in public?
In life modern man It's quite common to have to go out in front of a group of people and give a speech. Conducting a presentation to a client, making a report at a meeting, forum or scientific conference, making a toast at any major celebration - this is not a complete list of situations that require public speaking.
Most people are afraid of public speaking. It seems to them that it is easier to jump with a parachute, climb Everest or dive into the depths of the sea with scuba gear than to make a speech in front of a group of people. In some sources you can even find the statement that for many people, the fear of public speaking is in second place after the fear of death.
Some experts believe that this is most likely due to our distant, distant past. During the primitive communal system that existed at the dawn of human civilization, an ordinary member of the tribe could make a speech (or something vaguely reminiscent of it) while standing in front of a crowd of fellow people, only if the issue of his expulsion from the tribe for some serious crime was being decided. offense. Looking at the faces of his fellow men, a man had to convince them not to turn him into an outcast, for in those days the one who remained alone was doomed to a quick death. Since then, thanks to genetic memory, a person who appears in front of an audience and makes a speech experiences a very strong excitement, as if the spoken words decide the issue of his life and death. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but the described version seems understandable and logical to me.
My professional activity is constantly associated with public speaking in one form or another. Over the years of practice, I have become quite comfortable with delivering speeches to a variety of audiences. In connection with this, many of my friends, colleagues, acquaintances, clients and partners began to seek advice on how to competently prepare and conduct a public speech well.
As part of this article, I would like to give some recommendations on how to successfully speak in public.
First, I will tell you what you need to know to competently prepare and conduct any given public speech, and then I will highlight those points that, from my point of view, are important for acquiring public speaking skills outside the framework of a specific speech.
So let's get started.
Conducting any public speech, from my point of view, should be divided into four stages:
- preparation for a specific performance;
- setting up for a productive performance a few minutes before the speech;
- giving a speech;
- analysis of the performance.
At each of these stages, it is important to take into account certain nuances to ensure the success of the speech as a whole and that useful lessons can be learned from it.
Preparing for a specific performance
When preparing for a public speech, first think about what exactly you want to say and what purpose you want to achieve with your speech. To do this, it is useful to take a sheet of paper, formulate and write down the goal of your speech (of course, according to all the rules of goal setting, i.e. according to the SMART method, the VODKA principle, according to the “Well-Formed Result” technology).
According to the methodSMARTthe goal must be specific (Specific), measurable (Measurable), attractive (Attractive), realistic (Realistic), determined by time (Timeframed). According to the VODKA principle, the goal should be Inspirational, Time-Defined, Audacious, but Achievable, Specific, Measurable. According to the technology of neuro-linguistic programming “Well Formed Result”, the goal must be formulated affirmatively, be under your control, verifiable in sensory experience, be in the right context, and be environmentally friendly.
When setting a goal, find a way to avoid becoming overmotivated to achieve results. For this purpose, do not give desired result of some unusually great importance. Recognize your right to make mistakes.
If you assess the outcome of a future performance as a “matter of life and death,” then this will inevitably create excess stress in you. The cost of any mistake will seem extremely high, and any deviation from the planned result will be perceived as fatal.
As a result, both when preparing for a public speech and during it, you will lose flexibility in all forms of its manifestation, i.e. You will lose flexibility of body, thinking and behavior. And this will inevitably lead to you performing much worse than you could because you will be focused on the wrong things.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuang Tzu said: “In a game where they bet on tiles, you will be dexterous. In a game where they bet on the belt buckle, you will be excited. And in a game where they bet on gold, you will lose your head. Art in all cases will be the same, but your attention will shift to external things. He who is attentive to the external is unskillful in the internal” (http://lib.ru/POECHIN/ch_tzh.txt).
After setting your goal, it’s time to start identifying the key points of your future speech. As the famous saying goes, “Those who think clearly speak clearly.” There should not be too many abstracts. The optimal volume is usually in the range of 7 ± 2. Structure all your theses in accordance with the well-known rule of composition “introduction - main part - climax - conclusion”, i.e. think about in which of the specified parts of the speech each of your theses will be revealed by you, and then write it down on paper. If you like to do everything in electronic form, then you can do similar things by creating the corresponding computer file.
Next, it makes sense to evaluate the intended audience you will be speaking to. How many people will there be? What is their gender, age, social status? What is their profession? What are their interests? What is their way of thinking and habitual emotions? How much time will they have to listen to you? What words, images, metaphors, historical examples, aphorisms and anecdotes can help you better convey the meaning of your speech to this audience?
It is also important to analyze the time and place of the future performance. Will the audience be sitting or standing? How will they be placed relative to you - in rows or will you all be in one common circle? Will there be enough space, lighting and fresh air in the place where you will be performing?
Clarifying the questions described above will help you decide on the optimal format and way to convey your ideas to your audience. In addition, it will help you choose the style of clothing and accessories appropriate to the circumstances in which you will have to speak in front of an audience.
When preparing for a speech, remember that essentially the same information can be said in different ways. Depending on what words you use to convey your thoughts to the audience, how your audience will perceive your speech largely depends. Therefore, always remember the purpose of your speech and take into account the specifics of the audience you are speaking to. For clarity, I will give a parable.
One powerful sultan wanted to know his future fate. To do this, he called a famous astrologer and sorcerer.
The astrologer, after looking for a long time at his cards, the starry sky, as well as secret texts and books, announced his forecast: “A sad fate awaits you, O Great Sultan! First your children will die, then your grandchildren will die, and then you will die...”
The Sultan did not like the prediction, and he ordered the head of this astrologer to be cut off, and then turned to another magician with a request to predict the future. The newly arrived sorcerer also thought for a long time (apparently about the fate of his predecessor), laying out cards and books, and then said: “A happy fate awaits you, O Great Sultan! Your children will live long, your grandchildren will live even longer, but you will live the longest.” The Sultan was delighted and ordered to reward this astrologer.
Setting up for a productive presentation (a few minutes before the presentation)
Immediately before the performance, it is important to get into the right frame of mind.
To do this, it is useful to remember any of your previous successful performances in all colors, sounds, feelings and emotions. Retrieve from memory all the details of a successful speaking experience. Allow yourself to feel the state you were in at that moment in time. Let it fill you completely.
If you haven't had this experience yet, you can think of a great performance by a speaker you like and imagine yourself giving the same speech. Let your imagination create a holistic image of how you easily and clearly convey your ideas to the audience, how closely you monitor the mood of your listeners, and how confident you feel.
In sports psychology and physiology, there are three possible pre-competition states: combat readiness, pre-race apathy and pre-race fever. Despite the fact that public speaking is a slightly different story, the speaker, in my opinion, experiences similar states before speaking.
Pre-launch apathy is characterized by lethargy, drowsiness, and lack of motivation to achieve any result. It happens as a consequence of the fact that the athlete “burnt out” or “didn’t light up” (including because he doesn’t believe in himself and his strength).
Pre-launch fever, on the contrary, is characterized by an excess of motor and emotional reactions. The person fusses a lot, giggles nervously, fiddles with some object in his hands, etc.
The most productive state is combat readiness. It is characterized by calm composure, concentration, self-confidence, and a focus on achieving the best possible result under the given circumstances. At the same time, apathy and a “shaky” mood, i.e. There is also no excessive relaxation or excessive excitement, accompanied by fussiness, hysterical laughing and other similar manifestations.
The task of a speaker who strives to give a good speech is to put himself in a state of combat readiness. And this is facilitated by memories of previous experiences of successful performances and ideas about future oratorical successes.
A small amount of motor activity. If no one sees you, then you can do, for example, 5-10 squats or push-ups. If you can't afford to do physical exercise, just walk back and forth a little, dangle your hands, breathe slowly and deeply. And at the same time, tune in to a positive mood.
Giving a speech
You can start your speech with any interesting fact or a number related to the topic you are going to talk about or the duration of your speech. For example, you can say that your speech will last exactly as long as the first manned flight into space, namely 108 minutes.
If it is appropriate, based on where, when and under what circumstances your performance takes place, then you can start with some kind of compliment to the audience. For example, you might say that you would be honored to speak in front of a crowd because you believe that these are respected and serious people who are sincerely interested in the topic on which you are speaking. Or, say, you can note that you see many bright, kind and pleasant faces among the gathered people and that you will be pleased to speak in front of this audience.
The audience always evaluates the speaker (just like any person evaluates another) according to the principle “Friend - Alien”. If the speaker has a positive attitude towards the audience and at the same time in his appearance, words and demeanor of the speaker there are things that make him similar to the audience, then the audience perceives the person delivering the speech as one of their own and shows trust and loyalty to him. If the speaker is clearly different from the listeners, and at the same time demonstratively emphasizes this, then he will definitely fall into the “Alien” category and, therefore, the audience will show wariness, hostility, and aggressiveness towards him and his words. Therefore, from the first minutes of your speech, try to indicate that you and the people listening to you are “birds of a feather.”
Also, from the very beginning of your speech, pay attention to the speed with which you pronounce the words. Experts note that the subjective sense of time between the speaker and the audience listening to him is completely different. For the speaker, so to speak, time moves faster. Therefore, the speaker must take into account at the moment and don’t “accelerate” even more.
Speaking too quickly, as well as speaking too slowly, tends to bore the audience. In the first case, the listeners do not have time to understand the ideas that the speaker is talking about, and in the second case, it seems to the audience that the speaker is about to fall asleep. In both cases, listeners lose interest in the speaker and his speech and begin to look for an alternative activity. For example, talking to each other or “walking” on the Internet and social networks on your smartphone.
When speaking, avoid speaking in a monotonous manner or standing still, as if you were a bronze statue or an honor guard on duty.
Change the volume of spoken words from time to time. Mark important points with intonation. Emphasize your ideas with appropriate illustrative gestures. Make appropriate moves.
This is very important because no better way immerse the audience in a drowsy state than to sit upright and motionless and mumble something in a monotonous voice. If you do not want to bring your audience into a state of hypnotic trance, then be sure to add some dynamics to your performance.
If appropriate and possible, engage in dialogue with the audience and ask questions from the audience.
In cases where it is not possible to conduct a real dialogue, you can ask rhetorical questions and give your answer to them. Or you can answer the expected question from the audience by first saying something like this: “Dear listeners, after what I said, you might have such and such a question. I think it’s important to answer it.”
Another important point.
The audience needs eye contact with you.
To ensure this in the best possible way, mentally divide the audience into three sectors: the central sector, the sector to your left, the sector to your right. During your speech, be sure to pay attention to each of them, i.e. turn your gaze and attention towards the people in each of the three sectors.
If you speak not just in front of a large, but a truly huge audience, then the number of mentally allocated sectors may not be three, but much more. Each of the three basic sectors can be divided into two or three sub-sectors.
You may ask me, “Why is this so important?” I will answer.
If the speaker only looks straight ahead and thereby actually pays attention only to the central part of the audience, then all other listeners feel left out. As a result, all other things being equal, the audience will like you and your speech less than those people who were the focus of your gaze and attention.
In this regard, finding one or two people among those listening and only maintaining visual contact with them during a public speech is a serious mistake.
You can end your speech in different ways. It all depends on your goal. You can, for example, summarize all the key ideas of a speech. You can tell a memorable story or parable that will highlight the main idea of your speech. You can be called to take some action. You can give some memorable figure.
In general, the ending should be thoughtful and aimed at achieving your planned goal. It should not look like a sharp abrupt end to a spoken speech with the words “I have everything.”
If the format of your speech involves the opportunity for listeners to ask you questions (at the end of the speech or during it), then you must be prepared to handle questions, taking into account three points.
You don't have to know the answers to absolutely every question. If there is something you don’t know, you can safely admit it. This always looks better than trying to “cast a shadow on the fence” (except for cases when you are deliberately trying to “cast fog” and “chat” the person who asked the question). In the event that you do not know what can essentially be said about the question asked, but it is important for you to provide an answer, say that you will give it later and at the same time specify the deadline and method for providing the relevant information on your part (by phone, by email, on your website, etc.);
Not every question requires an answer. Sometimes listeners ask a question to demonstrate their knowledge, their personality, or something like that. In such a situation, it is quite possible to say: “It is immediately obvious that you are very smart and understand the topic. Good question. It can be discussed later. Because the conversation will be long. Now let’s turn our attention to other issues.” Having received his portion of praise and attention, the questioner will most likely not only be satisfied with the answer, but will also be completely pleased with you.
No matter how sharp it is asked question, or no matter how provocative the behavior of the person asking it, it is important to maintain composure and answer the question calmly or even with a joke. I will give two striking examples from the experience of Arnold Schwarzenegger, which were written about in the media. In the first case, in the process of entering the site for a pre-election meeting with voters, a raw egg was thrown at the future governor of California. Seeing how it broke against the side of his jacket and began to flow down, “Iron Arnie” was not at all embarrassed. He looked at the people gathered in front of him, smiled and said something like this: “So, I see the egg, but where is the bacon? Without it, the omelette will not taste good!” In the second case, at a press conference, a journalist asked Arnold whether it was true that he had posed naked in his youth. Mr. Olympia smiled, waved his hand and said, “Well, that’s old news!” and then turned his head and looked questioningly at the other journalist, urging him to ask the next question. In both cases, there was no embarrassment for the speaker and, as a result, the authority and pre-election rating of the “terminator” only increased.
Analysis of the performance
After the performance, first of all, rest.
The best rest is switching to another activity.
In this regard, if you have given any large-scale and lengthy public speaking, then allow yourself a certain pause. Catch your breath, take a breath, be alone with yourself. Maybe you will enjoy listening to quiet music, drinking a cup of green tea or aromatic coffee, or doing something else.
Then be sure to analyze your public speaking.
To do this, recall your entire speech in your memory.
Don’t just remember individual moments, but replay your entire performance in your mind’s eye. Imagine that you are watching a recording of your performance from the side, like a spectator in a cinema watching a film. First, let the virtual film reel move in the usual order from the first frame to the end credits, and then play the film in reverse order - from the end to the beginning. This will help you remember all the details and nuances of the past performance.
After restoring the entire chronology of the speech, remember how you felt as a speaker, what you said, and how you behaved.
Then try to feel like a listener. What thoughts, reactions, feelings and emotions did the speaker and his speech evoke in you?
After this, imagine that you are watching a recording of your performance from the side, like a spectator in a cinema watching a film. What does the speaker and his speech look like from the outside? What thoughts and feelings awaken in an outside observer who sees what is happening? What is the dynamics of what is happening?
Based on the results of all the described actions, note for yourself all the important points of the speech. In addition, evaluate what went well during the performance and what turned out better than all praise. Also make note of things you need to work on in preparation for your next public speaking event.
When analyzing a speech, it is useful to do a written “debriefing”, and not just “chase” thoughts in your head. To do this, you can take a regular sheet of paper and draw a two-column sign on it. In one column you should write down the strengths, or figuratively speaking, the “pluses” of the performance, and in the other - the weaknesses, i.e. "cons".
Practice shows that written recording allows one to increase the efficiency and clarity of analysis results by an order of magnitude.
If you like to do everything electronically, then you can do similar actions not with a piece of paper and pen, but in the form electronic document on the computer.
In addition to self-analysis of the public speaking, if possible, it is useful to ask for feedback the people you were speaking to and outside observers of what was happening, if there were any. You should also carefully study written feedback, if any was left to you by listeners.
Having completed the analysis, treat the result of your speech with a reasonable degree of calm. I mean, don’t be heartbroken and don’t “fill your head with ashes” if the performance fails. And don’t “depend” on your sense of self-importance, as well as your superiority and professionalism as a speaker, if your speech is successful. Be happy with what went well, note the points you can work on, and move on with your life, maintaining the ability to perceive everything that happens here and now. A driver who drives forward but looks back more than forward, or who only looks back at all, will definitely get into an accident. Therefore, do not get stuck on the past. Take into account the experience gained and move on.
Important points for gaining public speaking skills
Just as you cannot become a good swimmer without learning swimming techniques and getting into the water, you cannot become proficient in public speaking without learning public speaking techniques and gaining experience speaking in front of an audience. Or gaining relevant experience once every five years.
Therefore, get into the habit of periodically looking for new materials about the techniques and secrets of public speaking and studying them, and in addition, regularly practice delivering speeches in front of an audience. Use every opportunity for this.
Is there an opportunity to give a presentation at a seminar during your studies? Forward!
Is there a meeting coming up at work where you need to announce the results of the project? Don't hesitate! Prepare thoroughly and perform!
Looking for a reason to make a toast at a friend's birthday party? Take advantage of this opportunity!
Does your business need to make a large presentation in front of clients? An excellent occasion for public speaking and improving your oratory skills! Be sure to check it out!
Look for opportunities to perform, not reasons to lose them.
As a result of regular practice, you will be like a “talker bird,” which, as noted in the cartoon “The Secret of the Third Planet,” is distinguished by intelligence and intelligence. In the sense that every time you have the opportunity to speak in public (even if you have to speak impromptu), you will understand what and how to say, and how to behave while doing so. The more skillful you become in public speaking, the more successful your performances in front of an audience will be, and the more pleasure and joy they will bring to both you and your audience.
And finally, two more points.
First, be sure to find some type of physical activity that interests you. A person who is in good physical shape looks more attractive, energetic and confident in the eyes of the audience than someone who prefers everything free time dedicate to eating donuts and lying on the couch. In addition, a physically trained person is better able to cope with emotional arousal and anxiety that can arise during public speaking (including when receiving tricky questions from listeners). This is due to the fact that thanks to physical training, the human body becomes ready for fluctuations in pressure, heart rate, frequency and depth of breathing in a much wider range than that of a couch potato glutton.
Secondly, strive not only to achieve mastery in public speaking, but also at the same time to find harmony in all areas of life - business, personal, sexual, family, etc. A person preoccupied with some problem, even if he behaves well in public, usually conveys his unhappy state to the audience in his posture, gestures, facial expressions, intonation of speech, etc. And thereby deprives himself of the opportunity to become a truly pleasant speaker for the public.
In contrast, a person who has harmony in his soul, simultaneously with the topic of the speech, conveys joy, pleasure and happiness to the listeners through his behavior and demeanor. And people really like it, because in addition to intellectual food, they receive a positive emotional charge.
Instructions
Prepare your speech carefully and responsibly. Write it down on paper so you don't miss the most important things. It is better to prepare the text in advance so that you can re-read and correct it. The speech should be simple, understandable and interesting. Try to use bright epithets and to interest people.
Now start fighting your fear. First of all, realize that even if the performance fails, nothing bad will happen to you. They won’t kill you, won’t maim you, won’t fire you, won’t throw eggs at you. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing to fear.
Remember, people make mistakes. And even if you say something wrong, the public will be loyal to it. To avoid this minor embarrassment, learn the speech by heart.
Think about how many benefits this performance will give you. Set a specific goal for yourself. For example, you will campaign to win elections. Or your speech will help bring your idea to life. If no global goals are found, think that this speech will help overcome your fear.
Don't think about this as a public speaking event. Let it be just another task that needs to be completed. Take everything easier.
Before the event, do not forget to get yourself in order. This will make you more confident and the audience more loyal. Comb your hair, fix your makeup, iron your clothes, remove dust from your shoes.
Practice your speech in front of a mirror or in front of relatives. It's better to do this several times. You must understand how simple it is. Not only give a speech, but also think about your posture and gestures so that your speech looks organic.
When you are in front of an audience, imagine that you are sleeping and having a dream that you can control. This will solve most of your problems. After all, you will begin to feel calmer and simpler. There is no audience, no stage, there is just a dream in which you are in charge. As you want, so it will be. You will be able to perform brilliantly and convince people that you are right. This simple auto-training will help you relax and become more confident in your abilities.
Please note
Before the performance, do not use any sedatives, this can only worsen the situation.
During your presentation, find one person. Imagine that he is your friend and you are telling him your text.
Sources:
- How to speak confidently and not be afraid of it
- how they are not afraid to speak in public
No matter how smart and educated a person is, these factors alone are not enough for career growth. The ability to speak publicly is one of the components of a successful business life. Overcoming fear and speaking well in front of a large number of people is a necessity that can be learned.
Instructions
Overcome the fear and tension that arose before the performance. Remember that the audience gathered to listen to you needs what you have to say; otherwise they would not be sitting in the room. Take it like this. They are not a hostile force and do not wish you harm. Even if you make a mistake during your speech, the audience will definitely support you. The realization that future listeners do not wish harm and are not waiting, rubbing their hands, for failure, in combination with breathing exercises, will help you relax as much as possible and go on stage not, but calm and self-confident.
Think it over appearance before the performance. The neater and more elegant you dress, the more comfortable and confident you will feel. Tasteless, dirty, inappropriate clothing will make listeners think not about the topic of the speech, but about the shortcomings of the speaker. And it is impossible to feel respect for someone dressed inappropriately.
To get listeners, you must first be interested in them. Show due respect - step down from the elevated area or stage and stand at the same level. Do not give out information in one continuous piece in the form of a monologue. Dialogue with will make the speech memorable and enjoyable, and informality will set listeners in a positive mood. Smile more: like will cause like.
Consider the environment in the room. Seat your guests as compactly as possible, then they will feel differently and react more vividly to the performance. Even if they were hesitant to support some, the knowledge that they are in will work in your favor. Bright lighting will also be to your advantage; in its light you will look as confident as possible.
Video on the topic
In our modern age There is no problem of information shortage: the Internet and various media can provide an answer to any question. It is difficult to interest the audience in everything known facts or events unrelated to the experience of the listeners. What techniques should you use to win the attention of the public?
Of course, the speaker is bad knowledgeable about the topic the performance of a confused person who does not have the basic skills of this art will be immediately “rejected” by the audience. But, as practice shows, such skills are still not enough for the public to listen with their mouths open.
The first and main advice is to answer the question, what exactly do listeners want to know? When preparing for a speech, it is important to have an idea of the audience, and most importantly, of their general interests. Conversations on unnecessary, abstract topics will inevitably make the audience bored. A clearly stated purpose for the speech that begins with the phrase “I want to...” will force the listener to turn their full attention to the speaker.
Exists in public speaking magic word“One day...” that will return the audience's attention. Therefore, it is extremely important to supply your speech with examples from life, real stories.
It is always better to assimilate material that, in addition to auditory perception, is also visually presented. Hence, the indispensable assistants in a presentation are a marker and a board. Drawings and diagrams should be extremely simple and understandable; here you don’t have to worry about artistic skill.
Use a slide presentation only when necessary. The pitfall of such a speech is that the speaker is only an appendix to the presentation design. The success of a speech depends on how firmly the contact is established between the audience and the speaker, which is difficult to achieve using slides.
The speaker's monotonous speech, reproduced entirely from a piece of paper, will have a strong effect - the listener will fall soundly asleep. To avoid this, it is better to sketch out the text of the speech using key phrases and cause-and-effect relationships between them. A similar diagram can be used as a hint.
The attention of the public can be distracted by various little things, for example, constantly sliding glasses can easily “turn” the listener into a spectator.
Last important advice is that you don’t need to be afraid of your own fears. It is quite natural for a speaker to feel nervous before starting a speech. The audience is not obliged to greet him with “bread and salt” and is more often indifferent or wary. But if the speaker comes out to the audience in a bad mood, feeling unwell, with a negative attitude, or very frightened, then his speech is doomed to failure before it even begins.
Schopenhauer’s rule “he who thinks clearly, speaks clearly”, unfortunately, does not always work. Finding yourself face to face with a full hall, many people are often lost, embarrassed and afraid to say an extra word. Currently, every person has the opportunity to become a professional speaker; to do this, you only need to learn the basic rules that famous politicians and businessmen use.
Get rid of fear and phobia
Psychologists say that the low level of training of people in the field of public speaking indicates the presence of complexes and modesty in a person. The main thing is that you recognize your fear and understand where it comes from. You need to understand that courage and confidence, as well as the ability to speak clearly when speaking in public, need to be developed in yourself. This is not at all difficult and not a talent with which individual outstanding individuals are gifted. Famous speakers say that the audience is a stimulus that helps them get inspired and makes them work with more intensity. Don't be afraid to voice your new thoughts and ideas, it's important to start practicing hard.Learn to speak beautifully and competently
Nowadays, it is not difficult to find trainings or courses in rhetoric and public speaking, but they all cost money and often do not coincide with your work schedule. There is a less expensive one, but it is enough effective way- learn from other people's examples. It is necessary to watch the performances of people of a wide variety of professions all over the world in order to understand what unites them and why they attract the public. Pay attention not only to the dialogue from the audience, but also to the prepared phrases and clothing of the speaker.Practice your speech in front of a mirror. Think over the text that you would like to voice in front of the public. Imagine that the mirror is the people for whom you need to broadcast. Your speech must be convincing. Try to pronounce each word as clearly as possible so that the audience can hear you. Hold a small meeting in front of two or three real people. There is no need to worry, it is important to be confident. A useful technique is interaction with the public. You can tell some stories from your life, but most importantly, don’t overdo it. Take small pauses in your speech, this will make your speech seem more natural and emotional.
Look at the public
There is no need to constantly look at your prepared notes. It is necessary to raise your eyes and address the audience. You can choose the friendliest ones from the entire audience - those who approve and support your words.Don't criticize your speech
Even if your performance is not perfect, praise yourself. You managed to overcome your uncertainty, went out to the public and communicated with them. Don’t give up speaking, because this is the only way to become a good speaker. By addressing your audience again and again, your fear and uncertainty will disappear, and your performances will be freer, livelier and more exciting.Video on the topic
Experts have found that 80% of rapid career advancement depends on the ability to correctly and beautifully express your thoughts. Majority successful people They are fluent in the art of oratory and know how to speak in front of an audience. There are special trainings and seminars on public speaking. Here are some tips to help you learn how to speak in front of an audience correctly.
1. Try to fight anxiety. If you are worried, you will not have a good speech. Experience will help you cope with anxiety, and breathing exercises and self-hypnosis will help you at the initial stage.
2. It is important to know well what you will say. You must prepare for the presentation and know the topic well. You should also be prepared to answer questions.
3. Try to adhere to time limits. Plan your speaking time in advance. Don't drag it out too long, otherwise people will get tired. But there is also no need to speak too briefly; everyone should understand the topic.
4. Select the right topics for a performance. You must be on topic and understand whether this really interests you, whether you know the question well, and whether you can additionally answer the questions that arise.
5. Prepare your speech well. Write down the speech on paper, then memorize it, rehearse it several times in front of the mirror.
6. Prepare in advance any supporting materials you may need: presentations, videos, diagrams. This information will make your presentation easier and help make it more memorable.
7. During the speech, you can insert humorous excerpts, but only relevant ones. This will help brighten up the speech and defuse the situation a little.
8. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Absolutely all people make mistakes, even the greatest speakers. If you make a mistake, don’t be embarrassed, just correct yourself and continue without focusing your attention.
9. Experience is probably one of the main things. If you do not practice constantly, you are unlikely to achieve high success in oratory. Speak often, hone your skills wherever you can: at a party, at home, at work, with friends.
What is most remembered from a person’s speech is not the information itself, but precisely how he does it. Therefore, do it correctly and with pleasure.
Preliminary preparation for speaking in public usually involves writing a speech or memorizing desired text, familiarization with the requirements, as well as the place where you will have to go on stage. An important point is moral – psychological – preparation for public speaking. This is especially important for those people who feel insecure behind the podium, have stage fright, or for those who have very little experience speaking in front of people.
How to speak in front of an audience
A person often has to speak in front of a large audience. In order for it to be effective, it is important to follow several necessary principles for constructing a speech.
A person often has to speak in front of a large audience. In order for it to be effective, it is important to follow several necessary principles for constructing a speech: 1. Determine the characteristics of the audience. 2. Clearly define the purpose of your speech. What result do you want to get, how do you want to win the audience over to your side? 3. On a large piece of paper in the center, write the purpose of your talk, then write the central ideas in the order in which you think of them, marking them on rays emanating from the center in all directions. 4. A good speech usually consists of three to five parts. If you have more of them, then you either want to say a lot, or have not fully determined the meaning of the speech. 5. Write the abstract of your speech. Use Roman numerals for central ideas. For each central idea, choose one to five supporting ideas, each of which may have more ideas to support it. Add additional items to your notes as they come to mind. 6. Individual points can be strengthened or simplified with the help of visual aids. Prepare drawings, diagrams, and note in your abstract the sequence of their demonstration. But communicate with the audience, not with the materials. 7. Don't get carried away with visual demonstration. Exists good rule: One impression per key idea. 8. It is important to think about how you are going to establish trust with the audience, how you are going to earn their respect, what tone you are going to start with. You have 20 seconds to grab attention and generate interest. Answer the question: “Why should people listen to you?” 9. Show your excitement through movements, gestures and different poses. Talk to individuals, not to an audience. 10. Smile not only with your lips, your voice should be cheerful and energetic. Your spiritual uplift should be transmitted to the audience. How to impress your audience during a speech: 1.Make strong, surprising, or ironic statements. “Everything you know about the influence of a teacher is not true.” 2. Refer to scary statistics. “The number one thing people fear most is the fear of public speaking.” 3.. Share something about yourself. 4. Show your knowledge of the audience and their life experiences. “You have succeeded in your practice because…..” 5. Link to catchphrase, which pinpoints the topic of your speech. 6. Address current events that have attracted everyone's attention. Drawing a parallel between the topic of your speech and a sensational event can be a good start. How to write a speech correctly.
1. Write the way you speak, not the way you write. 2. Construct each paragraph from three to five sentences. If the paragraphs are longer, you may lose where you left off. 3. When writing, use active verbs more often than passive ones. 4. The number of words in a sentence should not exceed twenty. The audience will have a hard time keeping up with you if your sentences are longer. 5. When speaking, use first and second person pronouns more often than the third. "He", "she", "they" and "their" are impersonal pronouns and can give your speech the tone of a lecture. 6. Type your speech neatly and clearly. Type double-spaced within text and three-spaced between paragraphs. 7. Underline those words or phrases that need special meaning. 8. Write the word “PAUSE” next to the points where you need a dramatic pause. 9. Leave wide margins on the right and left. Make notes on the use of audiovisual and other media. 10. Practice reading the speech. You must learn to pronounce it with minimal use of written text. 8. Read as you speak, not as you read. How to make a speech exciting and attractive:
1. Choose a topic that excites you. Construct the performance assigned to you so that it evokes a storm of emotions in you. 2. Tell someone before the performance how excited you are. 3. Stick to 120 words per minute unless you want to make an impact. This speed is average for speech delivery; the best speakers speak at 200 words per minute. If you go below 120 wpm, your listeners will start wondering what happened. 4. Use your voice to influence. To keep your listeners interested, vary the volume, speed, pitch, and emphasis. Lower your voice to emphasize the last words. 5. In a room with good acoustics and an audience of no more than fifty people, it is better to speak without a microphone. It is much more convenient if it is possible to carry or attach the microphone to clothing than to stand in one place in front of the audience. 6. Don't stand still, approach your listeners. As soon as you leave the lecture seat and stand at the front rows of seats, the audience will feel that there is a connection between you and them How to develop the right attitude towards your fears when speaking in public. 1. Develop the right attitude towards your fears. Be sure to know that audiences are rarely hostile. Remember that even the most professional speakers experience anxiety before taking the podium. 2. Analyze your audience. The more you learn about your audience, the more confident you will feel. 3. Get ready, get ready, get ready! The more you know a topic, the more knowledgeable you will become about both the topic and the audience. 4. Make “calming” cheat sheet notes. 5. Visualize your success. Two weeks before your speech, visualize a picture of your success every night before you go to bed. 6. Use audiovisual aids to relieve some of the stress. 7. Practice three or four times before your speech, do this until you are satisfied with your speech. Under no circumstances should you train on the day of your performance! 9. Relax, rest and avoid any excitement. Get as much rest as possible the night before your performance; limit your coffee intake. 9. Make your introduction and conclusion timely. Be confident in your introduction and conclusion. 10. Dress for success. Wear what suits you best. 11. Make eye contact with several friendly faces. Protect yourself with warm glances. To organize a discussion, the following rules must be taken into account: 1. Look directly at the person asking the question, then communicate your answer to the entire audience. Don't take part in dialogues. 2. Listen carefully to the entire question. Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal clues. 3. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Get clarification and ask to repeat the question. 4. Don't let one person take over the conversation. Turn away from the monopolist and turn to others. It is possible that he is one of those who first needs to be reassured, then grinned and tolerated. 5. If you don't have the answer to a specific question, don't pretend to know it. Promise that after you deal with the question, you will answer. 6. Keep your focus on the purpose of your speech. Avoid questions that distract you from your main topic. Don't be afraid to say, "That's interesting, but it's not relevant to the topic of my talk." 7. Maintain control of your audience. Don't let others use your Q&A time for their dialogue. 8.Respond to attacks and objections only with facts, but not with emotions. 9. Stay calm and cool. You will win, and hotheads will lose support from the audience. The voice is an important instrument. Therefore, it is necessary to improve your voice. There are several ways to do this: 1. Record your voice on a tape recorder. Listen to him objectively. Experiment with different tones, pitches, stress, speed, strength and diction. 2. Try to speak at a speed of 120 words per minute. This is the average speed for speech. 3. Pronounce words clearly. Concentrate your efforts on pronouncing the final consonant sound of each word. 4. Emphasize keywords and ideas in your own voice. “Drive in” those important ideas that you would like the audience to remember. 5. Use your voice to create contrast. High and low, loud and quiet, excited and extinguished. 6. Practice speaking from deep within your diaphragm. Don't talk through your nose. Try to create vibration in your vocal cords. 7. Ask your loved ones to note any vocal irritations in your speech. Listen to them for yourself. 8. Take care of your voice. A sick or tired voice needs rest and care - drink hot water in small sips or chew raisins. There may be people in the audience who are disrupting your performance. In order to deal with violators, you can use the following methods: 1. Go straight to the violators. If you can walk through the audience, move closer to the offenders. They will understand what is required of them without you saying a word. 2. Ask the audience to calm down. Most people will understand who this applies to. 3. Stop talking. At this time, look towards the violators. If it doesn't work right away, other listeners will silence them. 4. Don't do anything. Wait until the listeners are tired of the offender and they themselves calm him down. 5. Scare the entire audience. Say something special and interesting into the microphone to attract the attention of all listeners, including chatterboxes. 6. As a last resort, seek help and confuse the offenders. Ask them a question about the topic of your speech; politely ask them to behave appropriately; joke at their expense.
We all sometimes have to speak in front of the public: during work meetings, interviews, presentations and even family dinners. For many people, especially introverts, these moments are truly stressful. Fortunately, you can avoid panic or at least significantly reduce its degree by following the advice of psychologists.
Today we will share with you 10 useful life hacks for those who have to speak in public.
Why is it important to be able to speak in public?
I think we should start with why everyone needs to be able to speak in public. Many of you may object: I’m not an actor, not a teacher, or even a sales manager, why do I need this? But if you think about it, we constantly encounter situations similar to public speaking in everyday life.
From defending your thesis and interviewing for a job to toasting at a relative's wedding and explaining the rules of the game to your own child and his friends - all these are situations in which you need to hold the attention of the audience for a certain period of time, and this is often difficult.
Fear of speaking in public is one of the most common human phobias. Even if you don't panic, it's possible that having to prepare a speech or presentation is causing you some discomfort. But you can learn to control this feeling, including with the help of a number of tips that you will see below.
Psychologists say that first of all, as in the case of any other fear, it is worth vividly imagining the worst case scenario. What can go wrong during public speaking? These days, no one gets pelted with rotten tomatoes anymore! Most likely, the worst thing that can happen is if you mumble or forget the prepared text. But we have all experienced similar moments more than once or twice in our lives, starting with unsuccessful answers at the school board. Has anyone died from this momentary humiliation? Moreover, do you really still remember them? Believe me, those who should listen to you in half the cases will not notice at all that something went wrong, and in the remaining part they will forget about it the next day. Nothing bad will happen, even if your speech is not brilliant. However, making this whole process much less stressful is not so difficult. Let's look at a few ideas on how to do this.
So, let's turn to specific advice from psychologists.
1. Observe other people speaking in public.
Nothing teaches us more clearly than living examples. If you know that public speaking is a problem for you, start by listening carefully to other people. Go to conferences, lectures, watch videos on YouTube - whatever is more convenient for you. I bet you will come across some great performances that make you want to say, “Oh, I want to be like that guy!” and much less successful ones that will make you less hard on yourself, thinking, “But they’re still worried.” stronger than me!
2. Relax.
Let's go back to what we said above: believe me, nothing bad will happen to you even if you fail your speech.
Of course, if we carefully prepare our speech, we think it is very important to carry it out brilliantly. But even if something goes wrong, believe me, those around you will quickly forget about it or not notice it at all. Yes, perhaps you will not achieve some goal: you will not convince investors, you will not find partners, you will not convey your idea, etc. But all this is definitely not the end of the world and is not worth so much wasted nerves.
3. Prepare everything in advance.
Of course, if speaking in public is not your thing, be sure to do some homework. Write the text of your speech or at least the main points, practice at home - in front of a mirror or your family.
If you need to speak at an event, never arrive at the last minute. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the site, make sure you have everything you need (presentations, screens, materials, etc.). The more confident you are that you have the rest of your speech under control, the less stressed you will be about your speech.
Well-functioning technical means are an important part of the success of any performance. 4. Know your audience.
The lion's share of the features of your speech depends on who will listen to you. If you have the opportunity to find out in advance who your audience will be, then you can try to guess what exactly they want to hear from you, which means you can immediately capture their attention.
For example, if you are a guest speaker at educational institution or at a master class, it is better to know in advance what the approximate age of the audience is, as well as what their average knowledge of your topic is. This will help you avoid either a lecture that is too complex and therefore confusing and boring, or a lecture that is too simple from which your listeners will not get anything new out of it.
Also, knowledge about the interests of the intended audience will help you choose jokes or digressions from the topic, which, of course, decorate any public speech.
5. Involve the audience in your performance.
If you've researched your audience, this is the next logical step. You can ask questions, causing the audience to respond or raise their hands (for example, “How many of you have heard of...?”), or make jokes about topics they are familiar with.
In addition, psychologists emphasize the importance eye contact: Try to look at your audience or someone specific in the hall or class, this will help your speech sound more convincing. If the speaker looks exclusively at the floor or the ceiling, nothing prevents listeners from burying their heads in their smartphones and completely losing interest in his speech.
6. Tell stories from your life.
People love to hear stories from personal experience. Sometimes short story about how you yourself, for example, were able to solve a problem with the help of what you are now trying to sell, are ten times more convincing than any statistical data.
In this case, of course, brevity is important: do not delve into the details of your personal life too thoroughly, try to quickly return to the main topic.
7. Take your time.
One of the most common mistakes when speaking in public is the wrong speech topic. Most of us speak much faster in life than is acceptable for a lecture or presentation. Try to pause; if you feel like you are speaking too quickly, take a sip of water and take a breath.
You can also agree with a friend or relative present in the hall that he will give you a signal if you are in too much of a hurry.
8. Move!
Notice that almost all successful speakers walk around the room and gesture while speaking. Take them as an example, don't hide behind a pulpit or a table!
At conferences, long presentations, and other work events, people are often forced to listen to speeches for hours, so their attention is already scattered. If you move, smile and show your energy in every possible way, you are much more likely to be heard.
9. Prepare good questions.
You're unlikely to forget to prepare your speech in advance, but it's equally important to prepare questions and answers about your topic. Why is this necessary? Remember how many times at various events you have observed a similar picture: a person finishes his speech, asks: “Does anyone have any questions?”, and the answer is silence. You should set aside time for questions, but you can never guarantee that someone will actually want to ask you them. In this case, you can get out of the situation as follows: “I am often asked the following question...” You asked the question yourself and answered it yourself. Everything is under control!
10. Do not refuse to communicate with the audience after the performance.
Chances are, most of the audience will quickly forget what you said, and that's okay. But people will definitely appreciate it if you were polite, attentive and took the time to answer their questions.
Conclusion
The ability to speak in public is not necessarily an innate talent. More often than not, it is a skill that can be developed and improved. Remember that Demosthenes, the legendary orator of ancient Athens, was tongue-tied in his youth and learned to speak clearly by putting pebbles in his mouth, and the famous comedian Jim Carrey struggled with a real phobia of public speaking at the beginning of his career. Do your homework, practice in front of the mirror, try to remain calm - and you will succeed! Good luck!
