How to Prepare to Speak in Front of a Group
At some point in your life you may have to give a speech in front of a group. A student, job candidate, employee, a best man of the groom and many others have to stand before a group and talk. You can diminish your fear of public speaking by being prepared. A few simple steps and some time will ensure that you are ready to stand up and speak before a group with confidence. Read on to learn how to prepare to speak in front of a group.
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Instructions
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Select a topic to present to your audience. Choose a subject based on the type of group you will be addressing. Timely or relative topics are a way to keep the group's attention and interest.
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Prepare a speech outline for your presentation. Organize it as you would for a research paper. Begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. Arrange the main points in order of how you will present them. Three or four main points are best. Take into consideration the amount of time you have to speak.
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Make the introduction interesting. Use some sort of hook to get your audience's attention. Start by asking a question or telling a story that the resonates with the group. Let the audience know when the end of the speech is near. Don't just end the presentation abruptly.
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Transfer the outline to note cards. Keep the introduction, each main point and the conclusion on separate cards. This will help you from losing your place if you look at the audience and then glance back to the cards. Keep each point fairly brief. Highlight the keywords with a highlighter on all of the note cards. These are the words that will help you remember what point to convey at the appropriate moment.
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Practice everyday until the day of the speech. Go through the entire speech using the note cards. It is best to do this multiple consecutive times each practice session. Start by reading the statements in the outline. Focus on keywords that are highlighted. These words will be your queue for what you will say next. This daily exercise is significant in getting you to a point where you will no longer read from the cards. You will use them as a reference point for what to say next. You will know the material enough so that you can look at your audience and keep their attention. Rehearse with any visual aids or props after you are comfortable with the public speaking portion of your topic.
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Be prepared the day of the speech. Get a good night's rest the evening before. Make sure you have the note cards and props for the speech. The key to overcoming public speaking anxiety is to be ready on the day of the presentation.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep good eye contact and speak loud enough for the audience to hear you. Give the impression you are excited about the topic.
Avoid reading a speech or presentation verbatim. You don't want to sound like a robot.
