Public Speaking Strategies for Success

Public speaking is an activity that causes fear and anxiety in many people, particularly for those who do not have experience in speaking before groups. There are many situations that may require a person to speak in public, including presentations at school or work and social situations, such as at a wedding or funeral. Skills related to public speaking can be learned and honed. With the proper training, most people can become sufficiently skilled at speaking in public.

Preparation

A good presentation is well prepared. Setting clear goals for the presentation is a key part of preparation. Goals will depend on the situation in which the speech is given. For instance, running a meeting or teaching a class involving interacting with the group. To prepare for this type of presentation, create discussion questions beforehand. These will help the group to engage with the material being presented. When preparing a formal speech or presentation to a large group, make sure the text of the speech is clear, highly organized and answers key questions about the topic as well as future areas of interest.Think of your presentation as a story. Look at it in terms of the beginning, middle and end, and try to create a strong storyline. This will help you organize your speech and keep your audience engaged.

Purpose

While giving the speech, it is helpful to focus on the task at hand. A good public speaker does her best to relay the content of the information as clearly as possible and works to put her audience at ease. Understand that the speech is not about you but about communicating specific information. Assess what the needs of the audience are, and how you as a presenter can address these. Practicing the speech out loud is a good technique for creating a speech that flows.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal reaction to public speaking; however, it can also be detrimental to the presentation. Relaxation techniques can be helpful in overcoming this anxiety. Relaxation can include simply paying attention to physiological cues that indicate anxiety, such as sweaty palms or increased heartbeat. Taking deep, calming breaths is a good way to quiet these responses and increase focus. Remember that often people believe that their nervousness is more apparent to the audience than it actually is. According to Kenneth Savistsky and Thomas Gilovich in the "Journal of Experimental Psychology," this is a common misconception.

Presentation Style

Work to use your presentation style to make your speech memorable. One way to do this is to make it as interactive as possible. Find ways to include the audience, such as asking questions (even rhetorical ones) and taking polls (how many people have experienced...?). Another way to make your presentation interactive is by the use of slides, or visual aids, such as Powerpoint. Opinions on the use of Powerpoint vary; however, using visually interesting graphics can help to move the story along and engage the audience. Be careful with your use of slides and remember that a speech can become dull if the accompanying slides involve too much content, which can keep audience members from engaging in the material.

References

• Psychology Today: How to Give a Presentation Part II: Tell A Good Story
• Psychology Today: How to Give a Presentation Part I: It's Not About You
• Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, The illusion of transparency and the alleviation of speech anxiety; Kenneth Savistsky and Thomas Gilovich; March 2003.
• Psychology Today: When you communicate---are you memorable?

Resources

• Psychology Today: The Science of Confidence