How to Use Proper Public Speaking Technique

Many people are more afraid of speaking in public than going to the dentist. Like any other skill, it's something anyone can learn. Follow these steps to make your oral presentations more persuasive and your delivery more effective.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Notes
• Podium or lectern

1. Be well-dressed and well-groomed. You can win or lose an audience on appearance alone.

2. Know your material. If you are going to convince your audience, you had better believe it yourself.

3. Speak in clear, loud voice, but don't yell.

4. Articulate. Pronounce each word properly. Don't let "the" become "da", "to" become "ta", and avoid anything that remotely resembles "gonna", "gotta", and "hafta."

5. Do not use gap fillers like "um", "ah", or "er." If you don't know what to say, don't speak.

6. Start speaking while looking at one side of your audience, then slowly and steadily sweep to the other side, pause, and sweep back.

7. When you are approaching the end of your presentation, stop for a moment, adjust your notes, then finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice in a mirror until you know your material well.
• Practice more.
• Don't gesticulate.
• Don't shift from one foot to the other.