Lend me your ears
Seven tips to work the crowd
and get your point across effectively
Some people are born
speakers. And then t here a re t hose who ju st st a r t sweating bullets at
the idea of a speech. But, the good news is that anyone can give a good speech
if you just follow a few pointers. So whether it's for an award acceptance, a
company retreat or simply to raise a toast at a wedding, if you fall into the
latter category, this article is for you.
Start immediately
As soon as you find out you
need to give a speech, start working on it. The longer you wait to prepare your
speech, the further your anxiety levels will rise.Start collecting ideas weeks
before the due date. The sooner you tackle it, the less daunting it seems. Scan
books, magazines and websites for ideas and stories that will help illustrate
the point you're trying to make. Which brings us to the next topic...
Have a point
Every speech has a purpose.
Whether it is to thank, toast or roast, you cannot just ramble up there on the
microphone hoping it all ends up cohesive.
Ask yourself why you are
going on stage and focus on fine tuning your speech for that purpose alone.
Have a beginning, middle and end -you will need it.
Understanding your crowd
goes a long way in making your speech one to remember. Once you get a rough
idea of who will be attending, make sure your speech speaks to their likes,
interests and goals. A successful speech is one that the audience can relate
to.
Practice makes perfect
As soon as you have your
speech done and ready, start practicing on a small audience or with someone you
trust. Look at them to see where their interest falls and rises -this gives you
a good indication of which parts of your speech need work and which are the
parts that you need to play up.
It's not just about you
When you're giving a
speech, you need to work your crowd. You need to be as tuned in to them as they
are to you. So, find a few friendly faces in the crowd and look at them
directly for a few moments when posi ng a question or giving an example.
However, make sure to focus on at least four different faces in all areas of
the room to make sure you aren't giving any area special treatment.
Start smart
When giving a speech, it's
important to reel your audience in quickly. Your first minute is crucial. Start
with an interesting anecdote, joke or example to illustrate your point.
However, if you're not the best at delivering a joke, leave it out altogether.
There's nothing worse than making a joke and no one laughing . It will shatter
your confidence for the rest of the speech, so avoid it if you lack a funny
bone.
Keep it quick
Always keep the time frame
in mind. Too short and you'll come across as nervous and unprepared.
Too long, you're just
boring everyone. A good thank you speech should never last more than two
minutes. However, longer more in-depth speeches are allowed to go on, but
please, make sure you're making a point. A captive audience isn't always a
happy one.
|
glynda alves
|
ET20JAN16
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