Your number one goal for any public speaking opportunity is to connect with your audience.
Public speaking or giving a presentation can be nerve-racking experience. But, like it or not, public speaking is an inevitable part of advancing your business. While you might not ever have to speak in front of thousands, there is a chance that you will have to address a group meeting or give a presentation. It’s natural to feel nervous, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are a few tips to speaking like a pro.
Know Your Material
Remember, you’re the expert on the subject of your presentation, so you should act like the expert. Make sure you are very familiar not only with the information you’ll be presenting, but with your subject as a whole. One mistake many public speakers often make is trying to prove they’re smart. Remember you’re at the podium for a reason and let your credentials speak for themselves.
Connect With Your Audience
Your number one goal for any public speaking opportunity is to really connect with your audience. Regardless of how well you address the topic at hand, if people don’t get it, it won’t resonate. Make sure to you make your topic relatable to your audience and talk to them, don’t preach at them. Try whenever possible to make your presentation interactive. Involving your audience can really give your presentation a spark.
Another good idea is to tell a personal story. Storytelling puts an audience at ease, humanizes you as a speaker and makes your message more memorable. It’s one of the most powerful tactics in a speaker’s toolkit. Audiences will remember your stories more easily than facts and figures; and by telling them a story they may enjoy your presentation more.
Prepare & Practice
The key to any public speaking engagement is to prepare and practice. If you’re giving a high-stakes presentation, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. “Winging it” won’t help you in front of a crowd if forget the key points during the presentation. You need to have a very clear roadmap of what you’re going to say and rehearse it. If you want to ad-lib a few stories, that’s fine, but be sure you know the key points so you stay on track.
Body Language
You should pay attention to your body language. Smiling and making eye contact are key to a successful presentation. Try keeping your shoulders straight. Bowed shoulders or slouching can make you look like you’re tense or nervous. Remember to keep your hands out of your pockets. It looks unprofessional and people may not trust what you’re saying.
The best way to see what you look like while giving a presentation is to video tape yourself. It will be much easier for you to see yourself doing things that may not work and then fix them to improve your presentation.
Just Keep Going
Finally if you mess up, don’t stress. Remember your audience hasn’t heard your speech and they don’t know how it is supposed to go. Make sure to stay confident and resist the temptation to say, “I’m sorry,” unless you have a real reason to be. If you don’t call attention to your flub, the audience may not even notice it.
The ultimate goal of any presentation is to make sure you get your information across. By taking steps to elevate your presentation, you’ll begin to overcome the common fear of public speaking while becoming a better presenter.
Special Offer: Complimentary Consultation
Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. is a public relations and social media management agency with teams in Silicon Valley and the Seattle area. We love working with small and emerging companies across the nation to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs.
Call 408-871-0377 or Contact us today to arrange yours!
Photo Credit: sheilaellen