Tips on Public Speaking

[movingforward]

Yesterday I was asked to speak at a state wide meeting that will be held this fall.  I wouldn't say I am an expert in my field but I have been in the industry for close to 14 yrs so I guess they thought I probably have something to contribute to the topic at hand.  I have spoken in front of large groups before but typically as an intro for a main speaker.  This will be the first time I AM the main presenter.  I am extremely excited about this opportunity.  It could be a great way to really get my name out there in my field and open some doors for me, and all in all I just think being able to speak in front of large groups is a good skill to develop.  I have 3 months to work on my presentation so there is plenty of time to do the research and put together a power point, etc. but I am wondering if anyone on this board has any experience with speaking in front of large groups and if there are any tips you can offer me.  Not the old picture everyone in their underwear crap but true tips on being an engaging speaker and keeping the crowd interested.  In short, I am pretty good in front of a crowd but I REALLY want to do well at this.  Any tips are greatly appreciated...

[swamp]

I do trials so I've done plenty of "presentations". 

Pick a friendly face in the crowd and engage that person. 

Be yourself. If you ordinarily have a sense of humor, use it, but don't "tell jokes" because it sounds fforced. 

Wear something comfortable so you aren't fidgeting. 

Speak slower than you think you need to.  And louder. 

[alabamagal]

PREPARE!!!! I am sure you will if you are already planning 3 months in advance. I have seen many try to "wing it" with bad results

PRACTICE. Have collegues critique your presentation

Speak slower than normal.

No alcohol prior to the presentation (this may seem obvious, but again I have seen some awful things). do have a bottle of water with you and have a sip prior to speaking, but don't do a Marco Rubio (google Marco Rubio water bottle to see what I mean)

Do not make a Powerpoint and read bullet points off the powerpoint. Everyone will just read the Powerpoint and ignore you. Use the powerpoint for visual effects (graphs, charts, pictures, etc.) but speak you main points.

Print out your prepared speech and have an extra copy. Depending on what you feel comfortable with, either put exactly what you will say or just the main points. Print it out in larger than normal font, double (or triple) spaced.

[movingforward]

FYI - I have asked for a wireless lavaliere microphone because I like to roam around and I personally don't like speakers that just stand behind a podium the entire time.  This is a 1 hr session so I think I would probably better engage the crowd by being able to walk around and just use a remote to advance my PP. 

[ners]

Since you have time, join your local toastmaster group.  At toastmaster you receive feedback on how to improve your speaking skills

[movingforward]

Jun 4, 2013 10:44:02 GMT -5 ners said:

Since you have time, join your local toastmaster group.  At toastmaster you receive feedback on how to improve your speaking skills

Yes, I have been thinking about that for a while now.  Would be a good time to join, I guess. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

If you forget something, make a mistake, flub, whatever MOVE ON.  Keep going with your speech or pause and take a breath.  Whatever you do not say "ummm" "ah" "oh" or any of those noises.

#1 it's annoying and sounds like you don't know what you're doing  #2 I find once you do that panic sets in and you'll spend the rest of your speech making the same mistake.

Nobody is perfect and the best thing to do is not acknowledge it happened.  Unless someone else knows your presentation by heart nobody is going to realize you made a mistake.  If they want to address something you missed they'll ask you a question and you can discuss the topic then.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Speak slow.....for some reason, your intention is to race though and there is nothing so lousy feeling when you have time left.  I know this one well.  Stop and breathe.

I tend to have a script to speak from, at least initially.  It keeps me on point and gives me (at the very least) a list of points that I want to address.  Concur with making the font larger than you normally would expect, and you might want to bold certain words/points that you want to make or elaborate upon (especially if you are going along with a PP presentation).  Stop and point out your point on the slide you are presenting, it gives you a chance to slow down and breathe.

My boss is an incredible public speaker and he can speak off the cuff with a moment's notice.  I wish I had that talent, but he has helped me become better in talking to a crowd.

Finally, if there are questions at the end and you do not know, say you don't know or will look into it.  DO NOT try to BS your way though the point as there will always be someone who knows more, and they have no problem in letting you know that!

[Deleted]

Jun 4, 2013 10:44:02 GMT -5 ners said:

Since you have time, join your local toastmaster group.  At toastmaster you receive feedback on how to improve your speaking skills

I second this.  I was in Toastamsters for 9 years and left when I changed jobs so my original Club was impractical to get to (noon meeting at my previous employer) and the only one conventient to my job meets twice a month, one of those days being the night before another evening meeting on my calendar.  When my obligation for the latter is up early next year I'll probably go back.

Practice is everything; so is honest evaluation by a friendly group.  As you get closer to your presentation date you can probably rehearse your speech for your club and they'll help you improve it.

[Deleted]

Talk about what you know. You were asked to speak for YOUR expertise so share that. Don't research for a bunch of new to you ideas to be more impressive or something. When you know what you are talking about you are way more comfortable and less dependant on a script.

[HoneyBBQ]

I do a lot of public speaking being in academics and research. 

I'm also an introvert, so it was quite the learning curve for me.

What I do: channel someone ELSE. Yeah, it sounds weird, but it works given my personality type. I literally get up and pretend to be a comical, extroverted genius.

I always throw jokes in or tell side stories or stuff like that. Things that are on-topic but are good "ice breakers". I also speak extremely confidently. I'm there because I'm the world's leading expert in whatever topic it is. I speak loudly and slowly, like I was sitting by a fire sipping cognac and retelling stories to my grandchildren. I make it personal. I tell a story about myself so that the audience is engaged by me, and not only what I am saying. I make eye contact, I smile, and I laugh at my own jokes.

Give breaks during your talk - mental and oral.



Anyways, that's what I've found works and I have been an invited speaker all over the country. But find what works for YOU. 

[Pants]

Absolutely - be human. Tell jokes or stories. Make it personal.

To build off of Swamp, pick a face in each third of the auditorium, and speak to each of them in turn.

If you do walk around, DO NOT PACE! It's distracting and also makes for terrible video if there is possibility to reuse your speech elsewhere.

If you have slides, have an "entry" and "exit" for each slide.

Also, have a way to finish your speech that definitely indicates you are finished.

[Formerly SK]

I am so impressed/amazed by the fact you are excited for your speech.  I think I'd rather lose my job and be homeless than give an hour speech in front of hundreds of people.  You inspire me. 

Good luck!

[KaraBoo]

I second the suggestion to only use the power point slides as a supplement to what your main points are or for emphasis.  Too many speakers literally read, word for word, off of their own slides to tell you what they are saying (including my own boss).  

It is incredibly distracting to me and leaves me frustrated.  I leave the presentation thinking, "If that's all the information you have for me, you might as well have printed the information off for me and saved me the hour(s) time.  I could have read through the entire presentation in 5-15 minutes instead of wasting it listening to you."

To me - the really great presentations are ones where I'm making notes as the speaker is talking in the margins of the slide handouts for points that s/he may have said that triggers an idea in my own head for something to follow up on.  I understand this doesn't work for everyone, but wanted to share my opinion.  

[Peace Of Mind]

If you want to add variety and interest to your speech (esp. when wanting to make a point or have a part of it stand out)  put those parts in a rhetorical question format.  It will engage your audience more and break up your speech pattern.  If you don't want engagement from your audience ask the question first and then answer it yourself.  It will accomplish the same thing. 

Also hydrate before hand and have water near by if you get nervous.  It will keep your tongue from sticking to your mouth if you get nervous.    

[The Home 6]

Don't imagine the audience in their underwear.  BAD idea.

Imagine Chippendales in their underwear. Much better.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I'll second some of what's been mentioned at add some more:

Absolutely only talk about what you know. And if someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer to it, go with something like I'll get back to you. If it's a long enough presentation, have small-sized papers (quarter sheets are generally what I use) for your audience to write down questions and their email address. However, only do this if you get back to them.

As an actual teacher this next one is a lot easier for me than it is for those who don't have a Master's Degree and a decade of experience in teaching: Don't stand behind a podium. Ask for a wireless microphone and walk around the room while you're speaking.

Absolutely do not read slides to people. If you need the audience to have background knowledge and they need to read a paragraph or more, give them time to read to themselves. This accomplishes three things: it doesn't insult them, gives people a chance to stretch, and gives you a chance to gather yourself.

Try to establish times for groups or neighbors to talk to each other about what you're presenting. Then, give them a a chance to share with the group what they've discussed. However: this only works if you ask the question in a way to make them think and you knwo what direction they'll take the discussion.

I try to work in cartoons into my PPTs. I don't tell jokes well, and incorporating the cartoons gives me a chance to drink water and provide humor.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Practice in the shower, in the car, when you're doing the dishes. Actually say the stuff outloud, not just in your head.

Good luck and Have fun!

[Deleted]

One thing I just remembered:  if you're doing Q&A, come up with a few questions and "plant" them with audience members.  If they're people you know, fine, but it might be a good way to meet other people, too.  It always takes one person to break the ice in Q&A with the first question, and this way you know there will be one, and you can be prepared with an answer.  I learned this from someone who asked me to present the planted question, which he'd written out on an index card.

It also impresses me when a presenter refers to an earlier session: "As (name) said in the keynote session, it's important that...".  It shows that you're not just rehashing a presentaiton you did someplace else.

[beergut]

Jun 4, 2013 23:23:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I'll second some of what's been mentioned at add some more:

Absolutely only talk about what you know. And if someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer to it, go with something like I'll get back to you. If it's a long enough presentation, have small-sized papers (quarter sheets are generally what I use) for your audience to write down questions and their email address. However, only do this if you get back to them.

As an actual teacher this next one is a lot easier for me than it is for those who don't have a Master's Degree and a decade of experience in teaching: Don't stand behind a podium. Ask for a wireless microphone and walk around the room while you're speaking.


Try to establish times for groups or neighbors to talk to each other about what you're presenting. Then, give them a a chance to share with the group what they've discussed. However: this only works if you ask the question in a way to make them think and you knwo what direction they'll take the discussion.

I try to work in cartoons into my PPTs. I don't tell jokes well, and incorporating the cartoons gives me a chance to drink water and provide humor.

Sorry but the bold portion is a horrible idea. I take it that despite your Master's degree and decade of experience in teaching, you haven't attended any academic conferences? I've attended multiple conferences, multiple seminars, and multiple clinics, and if someone asked me to get in a group with the fellow audience members and discuss the presentation, I'd take it as a sign they don't have enough material to lecture on, and are trying to kill time. 

This isn't a classroom with the seats in a horseshoe or facing each other, this is a public speaking event where you need to show mastery of a subject. I don't know what grade you teach, but I doubt the attendees want to be treated like elementary school students.

I think using a wireless microphone is a good idea ONLY if you are someone who likes to walk around and talk. If you are in a lecture hall or auditorium where there are multiple sections of seating, being able to walk in front of each section and find one section member to focus on so you are addressing everyone can be invaluable. 

If you are not someone who likes to walk around when talking, don't force it.

I am very comfortable talking to large groups, mainly because I am confident in the topics I lecture on. The reason for this is I only agree to speak on areas where I am a subject matter expert, so my confidence in my knowledge comes through when I'm speaking. Also, lecture on something you are passionate about. I've had people tell me they're exciting after hearing me lecture because my passion for what I am speaking about comes through when I talk. I only lecture on topics I enjoy, and that passion comes through in my speaking. 

You said you've been in your field for over a decade; I hope you are passionate about your work, and it comes through in your speaking. I've attended seminars where I wasn't particularly interested in the topic presented, but the passion of the speaker made me listen. 

I've also attended seminars on a whim, and found that the expertise of the speaker and their attention to detail had me spellbound, taking copious notes and questioning them after their lecture was over. This happened on topics I had no real interest in 5 minutes before the presentation began. A great speaker can not only inform you on a topic, but make you interested in something you formerly were happily ignorant about.