High Power Presentations
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Public Speaking Tips by Kerrie EspugaPREPARE:Proper preparation exudes confidence. Always use an outline (not full sentences) for your presentations. Memorizing full sentences can result in “freezing” on stage. All you need to understand well is the flow (opening/main points/closing) and you’ll know where you are during all stages of the talk. Following this outline in your own words will make you sound conversational and relaxed. See yourself as the Expert. Know more about the subject than expected (have some reserve power for after your talk). PUT YOUR AUDIENCE FIRST: Why would your audience be interested in your talk? What are their needs? Why should they listen? What's in it for them? As an audience member, we enjoy Speakers who smile, tell memorable stories, are positive and passionate. V.H. Vroom developed the Expectancy Theory in the 1960’s: “We generally get what we expect.” Recall a time when you did a stellar presentation and focus your thoughts on that outcome. Are most of your 60,000 thoughts per day positive? Expect to do well and you will. Be approachable. Add stories for a personal touch to keep your audience engaged. PRACTICE: Practice in front of a mock audience (perhaps co-workers if they have a similar need). See if the stories work. See if the audience is engaged. Be open to implementing their feedback. Practice without coaching is like not practicing at all. Think of fluent speakers who had great impact. Chances are they took the above approach to overcome their fears to convey conviction and confidence. Trina Paulus once said, “How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” Take the opportunities to prepare, put your audience first, and practice, and you, too, will become the envy of others! TOP 4 MISTAKES PRESENTERS MAKE: Here’s a quick look at the top mistakes Presenters make. Although this is not formalized research, it takes into consideration 16 years in the business world. The next time you listen to a speaker, look out for these ineffective techniques. If they are NOT doing any of them, they probably have had a lot of practice and/or training in public speaking.
Speakers usually move their feet side to side, front to back, or they continually pace, so much so that the audience starts to look at their steps/feet, wondering if they will use the whole stage, or will they favor one side. Just as in acting, only move if there is a purpose (such as demonstrating a story or purposely getting closer to someone in the audience). 2. Memorizing Speech When you were in the audience of a rather large group, have you ever thought, “That Speaker sure sounds like he/she is talking to 1 person…How do they do that?” Participants in our public speaking courses often ask “How do I prevent freezing when I’m on stage?” The answer is to use your own words. Do not memorize, because if you are interrupted, it’s hard to keep track of where you left off. Do not write down full sentences. In real life, we use our own words, and 99% of the time, it sounds conversational. That’s how it works on stage, too. Use short sound bites…the rest should come from you, at that moment in time. I’ve heard that some folks memorize the first 2 minutes and the last 2 minutes of every talk. What’s most effective is memorizing ONLY the short sound bites, not the full 4 minutes. 3. Scanning the Audience Speakers usually glance over everyone’s head, sometime due to nerves or the spotlight. Wasn’t there a Brady Bunch episode regarding this theory? Try holding eye contact with the audience. Looking at one person per thought is appropriate. The audience will feel more included, interested, and engaged. 4. Holding Prop for Comfort Ever see those Speakers holding a pen, even when they are not using it? Then the audience keeps wondering: “Why is he/she holding a pen?” instead of attentively paying attention to the message/story. Some speakers hold their coffee mug or their bottled water (may be seen as unprofessional). When I’ve asked some folks why they’re holding a mug even though they’re not drinking it, they’ll say “Oh, that’s just for comfort.” To take your professionalism to the next level, try keeping your hands free, so they’re available for your gestures, which DO add impact to your message (versus the distractions of the “not-in-use” props). If your prop adds to the story, by all means, use it. If it’s just for comfort as a crutch, practice without it. In summary, only move if there's a purpose, use your own words, keep eye contact, and only use props that add to the message. Then you’ll be the one they’re referring to when they say, “How do they sound so conversational?” Kerrie Espuga, Managing Director, Corporate Trendsetters, LLC
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