• Recollect instances from your childhood which humiliated you, and then laugh them out of court.
• Accept yourself as a person of worth. Esteem yourself, value yourself. Rejoice in your own uniqueness. And because you are unique, remember that you can make a contribution to life which no one else can make.
• Constantly remind yourself that you have a great untapped potential of ability.
• Fill up any gaps in your general education.
• Improve the quality of your voice and speech.
It is an advantage in conversation to have thought through to your own convictions about all major issues. Some knowledge of history and the sciences, however superficial, is a help; also an acquaintance with current books, films, plays and events.
As much as possible, speak with feeling and enthusiasm. Avoid droning and hardly moving your lips as if you aspire to be a ventriloquist. So many speak in a deadpan voice which lacks feelings, life and interest. When you speak with confidence, zest and sparkle, your personality shines through, and you make more impact.
Remember to make an interest in words; the more you have at your disposal the better you will converse.
The ability to address groups of people is a most satisfying from of self-expression, seeing that it meets the basic need to be significant. Anyone of average intelligence may become an acceptable public speaker.
Naturally you must be audible, so train yourself to speak with clarity and vigour, stressing important words and making effective use of pauses. Given clear speech, a reasonable command of language, and ideas or a message you wish to impart, you will need to observe the following:
• Prepare Well – Preparation for public speaking may be direct or indirect. Under the latter comes wide reading, observation, deep thought and a general sense of awareness. Direct preparation involves getting a firm group of your subject, brooding over it, getting to know far more than you are going to use.
Next, gather all relevant material likely to be of interest to your audience. Place this under suitable headings, each of which should lead naturally to the next. When you have ample material, select only the best, bearing in mind the type of audience you are going to face.
At this stage, some speakers write out their speech in full. This is useful-to start with, at least-provided you do not allow your language to become stilted or bookish. And make no attempt to learn what you have written by heart. Instead, use it to make a summary on two or three postcards. Use these cards for rehearsing your speech. Do not worry about using the same words each time. Remember to take these cards with you and do not try to conceal them from your audience-they are no disgrace. Later, with more experience and confidence, you will be able to memorize your main points, and then you can dispense with notes.
• Your appearance and delivery – Be well groomed but not over-dressed. Err on the side of the conventional. If possible, begin with a smile or at least a pleasant expression. Your audience will not expect you to look dressed or worried.
Stand erect and appear relaxed and confident. For the most part stand still but an occasional shift in position is not distracting.
Beginners are often troubled about what to do with their hands. The best advice is to forget them. Get so gripped by what you are saying and with the desire to make an impact on your audience that your hands will take care of themselves. Until you get into that state, let your hands hang loosely by your sides, whence they will easily swing into natural gestures; though beware of an indefinite waving of the hands which means nothing. When you find yourself using a gesture, let it be a definite one.
If you are unable to rest your notes on a table, hold them in one hand so as to leave the other free for gestures.
Generally, direct your gaze just over the heads of those sitting in the middle, but occasionally take everyone into its orbit. Avoid looking at the floor, ceiling or windows.
• Platform nerves – Even experienced speakers get nervy just before speaking, so you must expect it. It will help you to keep controlled, however, if you keep yourself feeling friendly towards your audience. Remember it consists not of enemies, but good, kindly folk who have paid you a compliment by coming along to listen to you.
The feeling of friendliness will enhance your sincerity, and give your voice qualities which will help your listeners to like you in return. Bear this in mind then-while you are loving an audience you can not be scared of it.
Also keep relaxed and breathe deeply. Regard the tendency to be nervy as nature’s way of preparing you to be your best.
• Be vital – Call on your own experiences as much as possible. This will make enable you to be more graphic and to fill in colorful and precise details.
To gain and hold interest, make what you say in some way directly connected with the best interests of the audience. Your opening remarks, in particular, should be carefully chosen to ‘whet the appetite’.
Use concrete words rather than abstract.
What was said above that vocabulary applies especially to the public speaker. You must have a large stock of words upon which you may call promptly and confidently. The ready use of the right word leads to fluent, convincing, colorful speech.
• Be enthusiastic – Your attitude towards your subject will largely determine that of your audience. If you are placid or indifferent, your audience will be the same. Speak with fervor, feeling, enthusiasm, and you will quickly have your audience reflecting the same qualities. With enthusiasm, the most crude of speakers makes an impact on an audience; without it, the words of the most accomplished are largely ineffective.
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2 comments:
Reading this article was an experience. I enjoyed all the information you provided and appreciated the work you did in getting it written. You evidentially did a lot of research.
gather all relevant material likely to be of interest to your audience. Place this under suitable headings, each of which should lead naturally to the next. When you have ample material, select only the best, bearing in mind the type of audience you are going to face.
Cherry Fletcher @ Acne and Treatment
www.skinb5.com
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