Things Covered in Public Speaking
Stage-fright, also known as glossophobia, is one of the most common phobias, suffered by an estimated 75 percent of the public, according to the website Glossophobia.com. Glossophobia is defined as the fear of public speaking and manifests itself in symptoms like increased sweating and an elevated heartbeat. If you experience some trepidation related to public speaking, you can overcome those fears by learning about key principles related to effective public speaking.
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Dress The Part
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One of the key things covered in public speaking classes is how to dress when making a presentation. Your audience's first impression will be made primarily on the attitude you project and the clothes you're wearing. If they see that you're not dressed in a manner that conveys professionalism, neatness and confidence, they may begin to lose trust that your presentation will prove worthwhile. Dress for a presentation as if you're going to a business meeting, which will help make a strong first impression that can establish trust with your audience even before you start speaking.
Connecting With Audience
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One of the most important aspects of effective public speaking is learning how to connect with an audience. According to The Sykes Group, making eye contact with a few people in the audience for a limited amount of time can help you develop a connection. It signals to the audience that you're confident in your presentation, and that you're speaking directly to them as opposed to some imaginary visual mark they can't see. Another technique covered in public speaking classes is telling stories that help to illustrate the subject of your presentation. This personalizes the material for your audience and can make even a dull subject come to life.
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Proper Organization
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One of the mistakes ineffective public speakers make is thinking they have to stuff their presentations full of details and statistics. In fact, public speaking classes teach that including too many details can actually confuse your audience and make them lose sight of your main points. It may also force you to talk past your allotted time and you risk losing your audience's attention if your presentation rambles on without a coherent structure. To avoid this, Diane DiResta, a communication skills consultant to business executives, suggests organizing your presentation into no more than three major points and keeping each condense, even when providing examples.
Tone
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A common mistake people make in public speaking -- often without realizing it -- is to mumble or speak in a low tone that is barely discernible. This is a result of nerves and a lack of confidence, and can render your presentation ineffective. Public speaking classes advise that you use your voice as an instrument and project it in a clear, articulate way. Gauge the venue in which your presentation will take place and adjust your tone accordingly. If you're in a smaller location and the audience is situated close to you, you should lower your voice, but still focus on clarity. In a larger auditorium, you will have to speak more loudly to make sure people in the back can hear you. Another important thing that's covered in public speaking instruction is to keep the flow of your words at a measured pace and avoid talking too quickly or too slowly.
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References
- My Anxiety Attacks: Glossophobia -- Fear of Public Speaking
- Ragan Communications; The Top 4 Public Speaking Mistakes and How To Fix Them; Angela DeFinis; March 2011
- Impact Factory: Public Speaking -- The Art of Speech Making
- The Sykes Group; Five Public Speaking Lessons Learned From Judge Judgy; Joy Fisher-Sykes;
- Dale Carnegie Training: Public Speaking Training Courses and Seminars
- DiResta Communications; Media Training -- Top Ten Myths About Public Speaking; Diane DiResta
Resources
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