Those Tips are: Observe – Practice – Speak!
Observe
There are many options to observe speakers, on and off-line. Regularly, take advantage of as many of them as possible.
If you’re in the audience of a live presentation you are given a better perspective than just watching video or listening to a speech. It’s tough to beat a live performance and the reactions of others in attendance gives additional interpretations of the performance!
Look with a critical eye and listen with a critical ear to the content and delivery.
What do you like and want to incorporate in your own speeches?
Prioritize those things, looking at ease of emulating, and the impact they will have on your audience.
What do you find distracting, irrelevant to the message, or annoying?
Are you doing any of those things?
Practice
Practicing your presentation is not optional.
Practice with an audio recorder.
Note enunciation and pronunciation, cadence, inflection, projection, and pauses.
Are you using any “filler” words that distract from your talk?
“Ah” “Um” “Like” “So” “You know” and others should be replaced with a: P-a-u-s-e.
Practice with friends and family.
Ask specifically:
“What one part of the presentation did you like and why?”
“Please give me two suggestions for improving my content and delivery.”
Practice in your “mind’s eye.”
“See” yourself comfortable and confidently presenting.
“See” the audience “leaning in,” and GETTING IT!
Video your presentation.
The First Time you use that video, turn off the sound – just watch.
Nonverbal communication trumps verbal. We believe what we see.
What messages are you receiving from your gestures, facial expressions, posture, and body movements?
The Second Time you use it, don’t watch – just listen.
You will hear things that you would’ve heard if you were watching.
Maybe some “ahs,” “errs,” “smack, smack, smack.” Things like that.
Perhaps you use filler words that are distractions.
Third Time – watch and listen!
You will see and hear what the audience sees and hears.
There’s a Fourth Thing to do. Get someone to watch and listen with you.
We all have blind spots. We can’t see and hear everything the audience will see and hear. Get their advice.
Then, repeat. Take that great advice – do the video, again.
Practice – Practice – Practice. Video it.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Speak!
The Learning is in the Doing!
If you want to be a great swimmer – Swim!
If you want to be a superb chef – Cook!
If you want to be a excellent speaker – Speak!
You can watch videos, observe other speakers, read about presentations, and practice – practice – practice. That’s all good, but . . .
The Learning is in the Doing!
Take and Make as many “Speaking Opportunities!” as you can.
Speak where you work.
Speak where you worship.
Speak at associations and clubs you belong to.
Speak at Meetups, Chambers of Commerce, and other networking events.
Use these tips and find those “Speaking Opportunities!” and Grab them! Then develop, practice, and deliver a presentation using all the components, parts, and elements of “NO SWEAT Public Speaking!”
Do that and I guarantee – your next presentation will be absolutely, positively – NO SWEAT!
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
About the Author Fred E. Miller is a speaker, an international coach, and the author of the books, “NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and “NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their Networking, Public Speaking, andPresentation Skills.
They do this because they know:"Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities."
They also know:We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. We like to work with Experts.
He shows them how to: Develop, Practice, and Deliver Fantastic Presentations! with – NO SWEAT!
Services:
Keynote Speaker
Workshop Facilitator
Breakout Sessions
Personal and Group Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching
Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!
Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
We are All Self-Employed!
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, Podcast Channel, and connect with me on LinkedIn and Facebook.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this post or other posts please contact me: Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com.
Thank you for your continued support. It is greatly appreciated!
Comments