A year ago when I was relatively new to giving speeches, the distinct goal was to get in front of people and deliver my speech without looking too nervous, and without looking like a total robot. It's fun to feel the improvements that I've experienced in the last year. However, now there's so much preparation. Things that I have to keep in mind now:
Use of notes. Nobody wants wants to see a speech delivered as if it were being read from a book. That could be the easiest way to lose your audience. It should look like you are speaking on something you've known your whole life.
Body language - use of hands, but make it proper. Point when delivering a prudent statement. Pound the fist if you are really trying to drive something home. Instead of standing still, walk from one side to the other when transitioning from one point to another. Animate anything you are speaking about that is easy to animate. However, don't do any of these excessively.
Verbiage - you don't want to come off as pompous and use words that go over people's heads. You also want to appear you've been schooled passed the 3rd grade. Word plays are fun, and keep the audience listening. If you can add a little humor - that goes a long way as well. However, don't try to be a stand up comedian unless you KNOW you're funny. Nothing can fail more than a speech that is 100% trying to be funny, when it's not.
Speaking of stand-up comedians - they are some of the best speakers out there. I love stand up for the humor - obviously - but I also like to watch their mannerisms as they describe their situations and deliver the punchlines.
Time to go practice more.
No comments:
Post a Comment