Public Speaking - 6 Simple Tips to Be More Effective

Public speaking is the combination of the lungs, larynx, and lips to talk and imagination to come up with ideas. To improve in speaking it is necessary to add eyes, ears, combined with the right attitude and application to the mix.

Your delivery should be natural but it is capable of being improved by eliminating your bad habits and improving your strengths without sounding artificial. The key is to identify your strengths and weaknesses and take steps to improve as follows:-

- Observe other speakers every chance you get. As they present, study and analyze what they say, how they say it, the gestures they use. Also study the listener’s reaction to the other speaker’s delivery. You can learn what to do from the effective speakers and what to avoid by studying the poor ones. Recordings of their delivery are also useful for studying and analyzing. Use the information gathered to improve your speeches. Use the information to model the best speakers.

- Record yourself on video and audio. There are two opportunities for this - when you are practicing and when you are delivering your presentation. Play the recordings again and again. You will recognize the good parts and the areas for improvement. The recording of your “live” presentations will also provide you with the opportunity to observe the audience’s reaction to your talk.

- Evaluate yourself. This is a vital step to improve your speaking. Without this it will be very difficult to improve. Listen and look for what you did well and also for what needs improvement. Identify where you speak too fast, too slow etc. Be detached when reviewing your performance but do not be too tough on yourself, you are looking to build on your previous delivery, not to tear it apart.

- Have others evaluate you. Find supportive experienced people who will be honest with you in a positive way. The key here, as with, self evaluation is to continually build on your previous presentations.

- Add and vary the content. Include different stories and illustrations, begin differently etc. Make small changes. This serves two purposes - (i) it will keep your speech fresh and interesting for yourself and your audiences - this is very pertinent when you are asked back, (ii) you will be challenging yourself and expanding your “comfort zone.” To be truly effective you need great content as well as being great at delivering it.

- Speak frequently and practice often. Speaking more than any other human skill improves through performance and repetition. This is providing you want to improve and you analyze your previous performances and adjust accordingly. Of course, time and frequency of speeches and practice will not improve your presentations, if you do not do anything to develop your skills. Giving short speeches and often is much more effective than delivering long speeches but infrequently in becoming a better speaker. Use practice fields, as you would if you were learning to swim. There will be many places in your area e.g. local clubs, PTA meetings etc.

To summarize, you must want to improve and put aside time to practice and evaluate your delivery, and speak as often as possible, and consistently add new content to your speech.

by Edward Hope