must speak, speak, speak. At first, deliver 25-30 minute free talks to
service clubs and community organizations. Consider it to be your
off-Broadway tryout. A great opportunity to fine-tune your program…and
maybe get some future paid business!
Do the following to put at ease when delivering a speech:
1. Your speech needs a beginning, middle, and end. You must grab your
audience's attention in the first minute…so begin with a starting
comment, question, story, or humor. End your speech on a strong note
by asking a question, providing a quote, tell a story or leave them
laughing.
2. Every 5-7 minutes, back up your facts with signature (about you or
others) stories. Stories are out there – everywhere. Find them in the
stores, at restaurants, on the airplane, at home. People retain
information better when hearing a story.
3. Practice your speech out load. Record it on to a tape recorder
and/or video camera. Also do this when giving a program to a live
audience. Do it every time!
4. Practice pausing before and after important points. Don't be afraid
to leave open space. The use of silence is a key requirement to
becoming an effective speaker.
5. Use direct eye contact. You can focus on one person when making a
point…and everyone else in the audience will think you are speaking to
them also.
6. Don't just stand behind the lectern: move around, gesture. Be
animated. (Fifty-five percent of how people perceive you is by body
language; 38 percent by your voice; 7 percent by your words)
7. Smile a lot. Be enthusiastic about what you are saying. And have fun.
©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved
Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its
entirety, electronically, or in print fre*e of charge, as long as you
include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address
(http://www.schrift.com) in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a
courtesy link or email where you publish to sandra@schrift.com. Thank
you.
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