One of the most famous speeches is “I Have a Dream,” by Martin Luther King Jr. This is not his only speech, but it is one of his more famous ones. Other notable public speakers: Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. Listen to Ted Talks to see examples of great public speakers. These are especially helpful if you are giving a speech with time constraints, as Ted Talks are 18 minutes or less.
Speaking slowly does not mean speaking in a monotone. Just because you’re taking your time doesn’t mean you need to be boring. The best public speakers will keep a steady speaking pace and use that extra time to inject more expression into their act.
If you need a moment to recollect yourself in the middle of your speech, pause. [2] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source While filler language will only detract from your presentation, a pause can give your audience time to mull over what you said. If you freeze up, turn it into a joke. Say something like, “My memory was a lot better when I practicing this speech in front of my dog, Samuel. ”
Your audience will immediately pick up on this and will take extra care to remember that point. A good example of this is through the repetition of “I have a dream” in Martin Luther King Jr. ’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Avoid a monotone delivery. This approach is common with people who put too much emphasis into a rote memorization of the speech lines, and didn’t leave room for an organic quality. Another good reason to avoid a monotone delivery is that you will simply bore your audience. They will lose interest in what you have to say. However, make sure you’re in control of your emotions. Avoid getting overly emotional, tearing up, or actually crying. These may be signs that you aren’t ready to discuss the topic publicly.
Take advantage of the pause. Use it to catch your breath, steady your breathing, and recollect your thoughts. Be sure to maintain eye contact with your audience. Don’t lose that connection!
An audience won’t interact with a speaker unless some stakes have already been raised. You have to get an audience interested in what you’re talking about if you want them to respond actively. [4] X Research source Trying to engage the audience yourself is always a risk. You can’t control what an audience member will say, and you’ll need to improvise a response to whatever they say. Worse still, getting no response from an audience will embarrass you as a presenter. [5] X Research source Avoid putting the audience on the spot or asking too many questions. Let the audience know if you’ll have a question and answer session at the end of your speech. Avoid taking questions or comments while you’re talking, as this could derail your message.
If you’re someone who struggles with a slouched posture, it may take some time to reprogram yourself. After a while, however, you’ll be able to do it without thinking.
Don’t force it, however. While you certainly want to make yourself animated, you don’t want to appear unnatural. You want your expression to match your tone and words.
If you’re addressing the audience directly with someone, you should walk towards them on the stage. This creates an effect of urgency. [7] X Research source It’s best to move while you’re transitioning to a new topic, as this lets the audience know that something is about to change.
Pace yourself. While you don’t want to stare at any one person for too long, you don’t want to skim too fast either, or you’ll appear nervous. If you find yourself skimming too much, consider focusing on the wall behind the audience. Don’t stare at it for too long–keep your gaze moving slowly.
Keep your gestures natural and spontaneous. Match them to what you are feeling. If you feel an urge to clench your fist or raise your arm, do it! Rehearsing gestures ahead of time is not always a good idea, as they may end up looking forced, static, and unnatural. However, you can rehearse your speech in front of the mirror and watch how you move naturally.
Consider practicing your speech in front of a friend or family member and ask them to note any fidgeting or squirming. Alternatively, record yourself giving your speech, then watch the recording. Look for any subconscious movements, such as playing with your hair.
An introduction. This is where you will introduce either yourself or the topic that needs to be discussed. The main body and supporting points. This is where the details of your argument or discussion are fleshed out. This is by far the biggest part of a speech and is analogous to all of the paragraphs in an essay between the first and last. Closing statements and summary. At the end, the audience will be looking for some closure to signal the speech’s end. Take this as an opportunity to note the widespread implications of the topic, as well as a to-the-point recap of the ideas you explored in the main body.
Telling your audience to do or reflect upon something on their own time will hopefully keep your audience attentive on your subject long after the presentation itself has ended. Any messages of particular importance should be spoken more boldly, more slowly, or repeated.
If you think your speech could be shorter, give it a run through and decide for yourself which lines could be done without. If you start to run out of time in the middle of your speech, don’t speed up! Cover the most important points, and close your speech.
It’s a good idea to give your speech a run-through in front of a friend or family member before going live. That way, the other person can offer you feedback from a fresh perspective.
