Public Speaking : Hints & Tips

barryhynd · 19-12-09, 15:39

We've spoken about public speaking on various threads on the forums but I thought it would be a good idea to maybe have one thread where people could leave tips on what they've found helpful.

I'm hoping 2010 will be a big year for SBF and which will hopefully mean we have a few events. This is an area I'm really going to have to study alot if i'm going to be the guy that really pushed SBF forward.

So any hints or tips are greatly appreciated

amestaper · 19-12-09, 15:58

Very difficult Barry. I still haven't mastered this fine art and it seemingly just takes practice to combat the butterflies. I have done it on 3 occasions to an audience of over 100 people and my best delivery, by miles, was when I turned my giveaway speech at my sisters wedding into a funny but well rehearsed Burns style poem where I imagined the audience had no clothes on,

but hey, it worked and I could relax after that.

Unfortunately the other two times I choked and made a complete arse of it. It's definitely easier to do in front of people you know and are familiar with than in front of a group of strangers... but in 5 years time, who would remember anyway. Maybe keep 2 or 3 one liners handy with a glass of water for any awkward moments.

My tuppence worth, hope it helps.

Canary Dwarf · 19-12-09, 17:28

Good idea Barry, this is something I've struggled with in the past, but something I have to overcome. I made several videos this year, and did voice overs for some of them. I will be making many more in 2010 and will be appearing in them.

I know it's not real public speaking, but it's something I still find difficult to get to grips with. However, I think it is also a good primer for public speaking.

So my tip is: make a video, even if you don't publish it.

Gordon N · 19-12-09, 19:48

I don't have any tips to throw in to the pot yet, but I will be following this thread closely as I too am planning a couple of events for 2010. I have done some (rather poor) talks in the past but would like to appear slightly more professional at the events I am organising!

profitxchange · 19-12-09, 21:39

Is this any help for anyone?

ProfitXchange the business forum for entrepreneurs

EmployEasily HR Services · 20-12-09, 08:51

Speaking in front of a group of any size is certainly daunting and something that many people find challenging.

The good news is the more often you do it, the easier it becomes, but its certainly worth remembering that being nervous is completely normal and nothing at all to worry about.

A few tips I hope you find useful would include:

1) Know your audiance.......make sure the pitch is appropriate for the group you're speaking to........getting overly technical with non-technical people is pointless.

2) Know your subject........if you're speaking on something make sure you know your stuff inside out and be sure to have a clear 'objective' for the event. Knowledge is power and in public speaking scenarios it also give you confidence.......remember your audiance doesn't know what they don't know!

3) Prepare.......make sure the venue is ready, any props you're using (laptop/projector, microphone, video, etc) have been tested in advance and that you've done a final check just before you're due to start.........a last minute malfunction discovered during testing can be overcome but it could be less easy to get past a technical glitch mid presentation.

4) Practice........being a subject matter expert won't ensure your presentation runs smoothly so make sure you rehearse it, several times. By rehearsing it, you'll be able to iron out any wee problems with the flow of the content and the timings........there's nothing worse than being told an event is going to last 60 mins only to find it lasts 90mins

5) Always have a contingency plan.........once you've got your final presentation in place develop a back-up plan so you're covered in the event something goes wrong at the last minute. It could be something as simple as ensuring you have a second projector or spare seats or simply some 'non-technical' props that you could deploy in the event your projector fails.

There are a number of other things you can do to help ensure your event is as successful as possible but in my experience the five tips above are the most critical in ensuring the actual presentation bit goes well.

This is an area that I've got considerable experience in Barry so if you'd like a hand in putting together an SBF event just let me know, I'd be happy to lend a hand!

barryhynd · 22-12-09, 20:27

Thanks for the posts on this so far - all very helpful

I have a plan formulating that could involve SBF members in events for 2010 but let me just chew over that for a while

I guess what this comes down to in a big way is practising and doing it regularly enough to try and improve your skills. Is that how others did it? What about books or audio stuff was there anything in that area that helped you at all. Any recommendations?

profitxchange · 23-12-09, 09:56

There is nothing better than DIY. do you have a friend or family member that is willing to listen and critique you. Do scottish enterprise run any courses.

anned · 30-12-09, 10:30

I've been doing quite a bit of this over the last few months, speaking at schools conferences. One key thing I have picked up is there are very few truly dynamic speakers, so you don't have to compete with them. I was pleasantly surprised to find I am at least as good, if not better than many of the other speakers - maybe the schools sector is exceptionally dull.

I start by saying up front I am not a professional speaker, but rather a practitioner who has come to share my experience. This seems to go down well on 2 fronts. Firstly, they don't expect a slick talk and secondly (and in my view more importantly), I am sharing my real life experience and not preaching from a manual - unlike many from Govt agencies.

The feedback that I get from my talks is "very knowledgable,enthusiastic, approachable and informal". If you take this approach you won't go far wrong ( may be more formal depending on context). Encourage participation right from the outset and once you get into the flow it does get easier.

Practice timings. I never over-run, mainly because I start speaking faster when I'm nervous and that's something I have to work on.

If you want to practice speaking, I would recommend finding a local toastmasters club. Doesn't cost much and is great for confidence building. For various reason's I had to stop, but there are 2 clubs in Edinburgh and 1 in Linlithgow

And as others have said-the more you do it, the easier it gets. That's waht I'm hoping anyway

abs · 30-12-09, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by anned

If you want to practice speaking, I would recommend finding a local toastmasters club. Doesn't cost much and is great for confidence building. For various reason's I had to stop, but there are 2 clubs in Edinburgh and 1 in Linlithgow

I agree, I have only been to a few Toastmasters meetings but already feel that my confidence and ability have improved.

Theresia