Things You'll Need:
- highlighter
- handouts
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Step 1
Know Your Material - Reviewing and becoming familiar with your material is worth it's weight and gold. This allows you to focus more on your topic and your audience as opposed to your notes.
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Step 2
Highlighting your most important points will pull your eye to that part of the page. It will also help you remember that particular passage, just as it did when you were in school and studying for an exam.
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Step 3
Don't try to be funny. Ever notice when someone is trying to be funny, (and possibly failing at it), it is almost painful? As you become more comfortable your natural sense of humor will make an appearance without a set up joke.
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Step 4
Plant someone in the audience who you know and are comfortable with. When I first began giving speeches regarding domestic violence I had a co-worker/friend sit and listen while I spoke. This allowed me to have a friendly face to look at. Also, during the question and answer portion, many people are reluctant to ask the first question. My friend would break the ice by asking the first one.
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Step 5
Remember a second is not an eternity. When you are in front of a crowd a second feels like forever. It's not. It's just a blip on the screen. So, if you ask a question, give people some time to formulate an answer. If anything, count to ten in your head before proceeding.
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Step 6
If possible, discuss something you are passionate about. When I was a domestic violence counselor, it was very important to me for people to have a better understanding of dangerous relationships. Because it was something I believed in, it was familiar ground for me, and it was something I was spirited about.
