1. Tell them a Story
A very effective tip for public speaking way is to include a story or anecdote in your speech. This will make your speech more personal and warm, and help you to 'connect' with your audience. It also sends a message to your listeners that you are not just there to pass on information, but that you also understand the connection between your topic and 'real life'.
The story could be about someone you know, or something you have heard. If it is about someone you know, make sure you have their permission to tell the story if it contains personal information or could potentially cause them embarrassment. Alternatively you can tell the story in such a way that they aren't identified.
The most powerful stories are the ones we tell about ourselves, particularly if they illustrate a 'weakness' or mistake we have made, or reveal a private joy or tragedy that has occurred in our lives. Such stories create a high level of trust and identification with our audience, because they say "I am human, just like you."
In a long speech, you can include several stories or anecdotes. As long as they add value by illustrating or emphasising a point you have made, your audience will thank you for adding this extra dimension to your speech.
2. Paint a Picture
Public speaking is an art. And like the so-called 'visual arts', such as painting and drawing, it relies on the use of images and pictures. The only difference is that these images and pictures are drawn with words, rather than a brush or pencil.
So a very effective tip for public speaking is to use images and pictures to bring your speech alive, and leave your audience with memories that go beyond a compilation of facts and figures. You can do this by using powerful, expressive adjectives that conjure up vivid images in a listener's mind.
For example, instead of saying '"there was a fire in an empty shop on Johnson Street", say "orange, crackling flames and a huge plume of black smoke streamed up into the sky above the derelict old drapery store".
The old saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' is as true today as it ever was, especially in public speaking.
3. Express Yourself
Speeches delivered in a monotone are boring and one dimensional, no matter how important the information you are delivering or how knowledgeable you are about the subject.
So another very useful tip for public speaking is to employ, and vary, all the expressive qualities of your voice. These qualities include volume, speed and pitch.
Firstly, make sure that the volume of your voice matches the venue and the audience. This seems obvious but is often not fully considered by public speakers. If you can, practice beforehand - ask someone to stand at the back of the venue and see if they can hear you. Secondly, vary the volume of your voice to emphasise the main points of your speech or for dramatic purposes.
The rate at which you speak is also very important. It is easy to let nerves get the better of you and rush through your speech in an unconscious desire to quickly get to the other end! Practice delivering your speech in a controlled, deliberate manner, using pauses where necessary for effect and to allow you to breathe properly. You need to achieve a balance between being slow enough for your audience to understand and appreciate what you are trying to say, and fast enough to maintain their energy and interest.
The third aspect of your speaking voice is its pitch, or whether it sounds 'high' or 'low'.A moderate, balanced pitch is usually best. In some circumstances you may wish to introduce an element of drama or to modify the mood of the audience. In this respect, lowering your voice will introduce a more sombre mood, while a high pitch will signify excitement.
With practice, these three tips for public speaking will become second nature and ensure that all your speeches will leave the audience wanting more!
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