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So you've been chosen to say a
few words. Never mind what the event might be. The fact is you'reexpected to
stand up in front of a group of people - perhaps hundreds of people - and say
something appropriate. Something that captures the mood of the moment. Something
that people will remember as the high point of the evening. Something that will
secure your reputation as a person of wit, charm and remarkable insight.
Terrified? You should be if
you're putting that much pressure on yourself. You're psyching yourself out even
before you've had an opportunity to tackle the matter. Thankfully,
Occasional
Words makes public speaking something almost anyone can do, and can do well.
We're here to help, not only with material that you can use, but to give you a
few ideas on how to conduct yourself in delivering a speech that nobody will
forget.
So let's assume you've chosen
one of our speeches. You've gone through and inserted the necessary names and
personalized the material so it sounds like you've written the piece yourself.
Now it is time to familiarize yourself with actually saying the speech.
Here are ten key factors to
consider when deciding not only what you're going to say, but also how you're
going to say it in convincing fashion. Yes, of course we tell you how to deal
with nervousness, and what to do when your legs get wobbly and the sweat is
dripping off your forehead. But you also get some tips on using humor, handling
hecklers, and finishing strong.
So read through these ten tips
and you'll be ready to address the United Nations. Well, maybe not that, but
you'll be able to say some kind words about your mother-in-law or your boss.
WHO'S OUT THERE?
The single most important factor in giving a speech, no matter what the
occasion, is this: Know your audience! If you don't know whom you're speaking
to, then you run the risk of saying something inappropriate. So tailor your
material accordingly. Your audience will determine what you say, how you say it,
and the tone that you use when speaking. Don't doubt us on this one.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
Don't expect that just because you have the words in front of you that you'll
automatically say them in convincing fashion. Only if you are seasoned at this
sort of speaking does it come naturally, and even then most people are very
familiar with the material they're talking about.
If you take the time to become
comfortable with the words you're going to say, your speech will improve
dramatically. So don't just practice by reading your speech to yourself. Read it
aloud. Read in a way that's going to reflect how you're going to have to say it
to the audience. Consider taking these few steps in working on delivery:
Read the speech aloud to
yourself at the same pace you'll read it to the audience. Identify any lines
that don't sound correct and rewrite them. You may want to time yourself to get
an idea if you're speaking for too long.
Next, deliver the speech
standing in front of a mirror, trying to address yourself as you go. Say the
speech all the way through without having to back-track or pause and correct
yourself. The sooner you simulate the real experience, the easier the time will
be when you have to deliver the real thing.
If you can, deliver the speech
to some people - even one person will do. This will allow you to work on making
eye contact with somebody. At this point, try and memorize some of the more
crucial passages of your speech, particularly the opening and the closing. These
are both important times to connect with your audience and get your message
across.
Now try and say the speech
through as prepared. Simulate a real situation and see how you fare. If you have
an opportunity to speak exactly where you are going to speak (a dress rehearsal)
and make the room feel a little more familiar, by all means take the opportunity
- that is, if no one is around.
DELIVERING THE GOODS
Quite simply, you know a good speaker when you see one. They're comfortable,
confident and completely at ease with the words they're saying. Even more, they
keep the audience interested throughout the entire speech, even if the material
isn't that compelling.
On the other hand, you know a
weak speaker when you see one. They tend to speak without any inflection or
emotion. Worse, they may mumble or read the speech from the page in its entirety
without ever looking up from the lectern. This is almost as painful for the
audience as it apparently is for the speaker.
This is where delivery makes a
big difference in the success of your speech.
One of the main concerns is how
much material you should memorize for your speech. Let's make this clear off the
top - don't stress yourself out with trying to memorize a speech completely.
That's unreasonable. Some people like to have the speech in front of them in its
entirety while others prefer to work from cue cards containing the essential
points of their speech. If you can speak off-the-cuff, congratulations. That's
an impressive talent, but few people have the ability.
The success of your delivery
has a lot to do with your preparation. If you're comfortable with the material,
if you've had time to familiarize yourself with what you want to say, then it's
likely you are going to be just fine when you address the audience.
POISE
It's important from the moment you walk up to the lectern that you exude
confidence. If anything, in preparing to deliver a speech, don't rush. In fact,
this is the point that you must remember a fundamental of good speaking:
BREATHE! Make sure you're comfortable at the lectern and that the microphone is
at an appropriate height before you even begin starting (don't tap it! - if it's
not working, somebody will sort it out). And before you do start, look at the
audience and establish eye contact. Keeping breathing and then begin.
NERVES
It's really the most disturbing part of giving a speech, isn't it? The sweating,
the trembling voice, the dry throat and pounding heart. The simple fact of the
matter is, most people who give speeches get nervous. It's natural - really! But
how you control your nerves is the sign of a good speaker.
Furthermore, the fact that
you've been asked to say a few words probably means that you are the best person
to do the job. Don't take that as putting more stress on you. Enjoy yourself,
and more importantly, be yourself.
For starters, take a glass of
water to the lectern. If you need a drink, remember that there's no rush. Pause
and take your time sipping (not gulping!) the water before picking up where you
left off. If you have to cough or blow your nose, turn your head away from the
microphone and do it.
If the trembling voice kicks
in, focus your efforts on speaking distinctly and at an even pace. Don't rush
yourself, but merely try to establish eye contact with your audience and speak
up. Once you find your pace, you'll be fine.
You should also put a
handkerchief (not a paper napkin) on the lectern if you tend to perspire in
these situations. Again, don't rub your forehead vigorously or simply dab the
perspiration away. Take a moment to wipe your forehead, place the handkerchief
down and then move on.
Another couple of common
hazards of public speaking are shaky hands and the stuck-in-one place mannequin
stance. Standing in a frozen position is not a good way to win over your
audience. The best thing you can do is to occasionally shift your foot position
or move your arms. Again, keep breathing and relax your limbs. You can read more
about this under the section Eye Contact and Body Language.
Other than that, if you want to
ease your nerves before speaking, try to focus on something calming. Think of
something that relaxes you. If that doesn't work, try to treat the nervous
energy you have as something that you can use to your advantage. Direct that
energy into your speech.
VOICE
As you know, your voice is your most important tool when addressing an audience.
How you present your words, the tone, the rhythm and the volume are all
important aspects of speaking. Unfortunately, you're not typically aware of all
these elements when it actually comes time to deliver, so consider the following
when rehearsing your speech.
Make sure you pronounce all
your words clearly and correctly. If you're not sure about the pronunciation of
a word, ask someone who knows. This is especially true for peoples' names.
Altering the pacing of your speech and emphasizing the important words in
sentences will go a long way to helping give your speech mood. It will also help
distinguish some of the most important parts of your speech. Finally, avoid
saying "uh" or "ah" when there are pauses in your speech.
If you stumble over some words,
don't panic. Mistakes happen. People are far more likely to forget about it if
you give the matter as much thought as it deserves. If it's a small mistake,
merely move on. If it's a more noticeable mistake, simply pause, back-up and say
the word correctly. If you want to frame your correction appropriately, say
"pardon me, I mean…" or "rather, that is…" or something
to that effect. Don't apologize profusely.
THE EYES HAVE IT, THE BODY
GIVES IT
Backing up your words with confident eye contact and body language can be a
persuasive means of getting your ideas across. Consider for a moment some of the
more successful speakers you have seen. Typically, they look completely natural
addressing a crowd - as comfortable addressing five hundred people as they would
be speaking to five people.
When you stand in front of a
crowd, focus on standing up straight and projecting your voice to the audience.
Make eye contact with individuals rather than gazing out at the back of the
room. By making eye contact your speaking becomes far more intimate with your
audience. And don't be afraid to smile occasionally. If anything suggests
comfort, it's a smile. As well, gestures are a convincing way of helping
emphasize the ideas in your speech. Remember, commit to your gestures - don't
restrict them or you'll come across appearing uncertain.
And let's not forget the
lectern. Remember, it is not your dance partner. You don't grasp it by the sides
or slump over it. It is there to hold your notes, a glass of water and, maybe, a
handkerchief. If you are feeling comfortable and don't need to keep looking down
at your speech, feel free to step to the side of the lectern during the course
of your speech. This shows confidence on your behalf and also removes the
barrier between you and the audience.
HUMOR
Every one of us has had to endure a speech where the guy thought he was funny.
Painful, isn't it? The simple rule about using humor is this: keep it low-key,
make it smart and make it quick. Another valuable rule is to personalize your
humor - draw from your own experiences and your natural humor will come through.
Tradition suggests leading off
a speech with a joke. We say, WRONG! If your joke bombs, you've lost your
audience before you've even begun. Furthermore, as far as racist jokes, ethnic
jokes, sexist jokes and dirty jokes are concerned, in a word: DON'T.
HECKLERS
Let's not get you nervous for no good reason. It's not like you're doing a
stand-up at the local comedy club. But, just for the sake of being prepared for
anything, you must accept the presence of hecklers. We're not going to give you
any comebacks because you're smart enough to come up with your own. And if the
ceremony is a celebration, then by all means engage the heckler if he persists.
Remember, it's all in jest.
If, however, you are faced with
a more formal occasion and you have to deal with the ranting of some crazed fool
in the audience, the best defense from the start is to stay calm. We can't
emphasize enough how crucial it is for you to remain in control. Simply ignore
whatever nonsense they're spouting off - remember, this person is looking for a
soapbox to stand on. If the problem persists, you may have to acknowledge he
exists, so if you want to shut him up, be polite and firm. Say something to the
effect of, "We'll address all comments and questions from the crowd after
I've finished speaking, thank you." If that doesn't work, the situation
becomes worse, and the crowd hasn't told the guy to shut-up, you may simply step
back from the microphone and wait for somebody else to do something about it.
Let us reassure you, only in
special cases does this happen (politicians mostly, who deserve it usually). If
it does happen, we say again, remain calm.
THE WRAP
Always finish strong, both in the words you are saying and the manner you say
them. This is your last opportunity to get your point across to the audience, so
use it. Upon finishing your speech, avoid the impulse to gather your papers and
walk away immediately. Instead, finish your last sentence, hold your position
and look at the audience. After a moment, gather your note cards and with
confidence, walk away from the lectern directly to your seat. In sitting down,
don't allow your body language to suggest you are relieved at having gotten
through your speech. Maintain your poise until the audience has finished
applauding or the next item on the agenda is introduced.
There, that's not so hard is
it? Seems like a lot of things to remember, but much of this will probably come
naturally to most of you. And if not, then consider these points as a solid
foundation for your future speaking engagements. Who knows, after you've put
these tips to good use, you might be looking forward to the next occasion when
someone says, "Say, you know who's a great speaker…"
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