Excel at Public Speaking
Being the influential person that you are, you might occasionally find yourself in the category of public speaking. Some might find no issue with this possibility while others dread the microphone and dry laughs. However, introverts, extroverts, employees and CEO’s alike will benefit from learning how to speak in front of a crowd. These skills can also translate into strengthening regular businesses meetings, future interviews and even every day conversations.
If you find yourself preparing to speak in front of an audience, fear not. There are several tools that will assist you in getting your message across in a unique, informative, and entertaining way. One of these tools is video and you have the option of tackling this in a variety of ways. First off, if you’re the type to rehearse and receive feedback, record yourself and send it out to friends or colleagues for a confidence boost and a second opinion.
If you feel solid on the rehearsal side, try embedding video into your power points. This will give listeners a quick, visually stimulating break from your voice and a chance to understand something that might have been confusing before. Remember, the point of your speech is to offer several takeaways, make sure they are leaving with value and a full understanding of what you are trying to get across.
If you want to come across as interesting, don’t be the “stat’s and quotes guy." You know what I’m talking about. Whether you are speaking in front of a crowd, leading a meeting, giving a presentation or carrying on a conversation, share new information and offer your own insights. Please, still support your statements with facts, but showing your creative perspective and giving your own findings will provide more value than a play-by-play of statistics they would have otherwise fallen asleep to if they had to read it on their own.
This too will pertain to any type of situation: when it is your time to speak, remember that you are having a conversation. You are never speaking at someone, you are speaking with them. As you speak, give eye contact (don’t stare them down, of course) and connect with others in the room. This will create a deeper connection and help the other really feel what you are saying.
Never forget to thank your audience for attending and show your appreciation for any applause that follows. Expressing gratitude as a public speaker or in any other setting is one of those little things that can go a long way.
