Whatever your audience, whether it's an executive boardroom of business managers or a small group of teenagers anxious to leave the parents' basement, there are some basic principles everyone needs to know in order to have successful public speaking experiences.
In this article, I'll share with you my top five tips for getting ready before your speech. These fundamentals will not only help you prepare effectively and feel more confident when your time comes up but are also timeless and applicable for any type of event or setting.
1) Find Your Audience's Needs: This is the most important step during the pre-speech process because it helps you avoid talking about topics that don't apply to what your audience is passionate about or interested in learning. If you're giving a speech on how to diet, it won't make sense to talk about how healthy a vegan diet is if your audience is looking for the latest tips on carb counting.
2) Get Organized: Nothing is more frustrating than sitting down at the podium and realizing, "Whoops! Forgot my notes!" So make sure you have all of your materials ready before you arrive: all of your visuals, audio/visual equipment, etc. Remember that even if computers are involved, an extra battery or two will keep these items in working order for as long as you need them during the speech.
3) Practice Your Speech: If the thought of practicing in front of someone fills you with dread, you're not alone. This can feel like one of the most nerve-wracking parts of preparing for a speech. You'll want to avoid these common mistakes that speakers make during practice and spend as much time as possible perfecting your speech:
A) Don't over-rehearse – While it's important to practice your speech, taking so much time out of your schedule to practice that you don't have time to get in quality speaking and networking time will only make you more stressed. The goal is practice enough so that you feel confident on stage but not so much that it takes up all of your spare time.
B) Practice as if you were giving the speech to your audience – If you practice in front of your friends and family and then give the speech in front of a cold audience that hasn't heard the speech before, it will be much more difficult for you to get used to delivering your message. It's always better to practice in front of an audience rather than no one at all.
C) Do a "Rehearsal Run-Through" – This gives you a chance to deliver your speech without having any notes or visuals. It helps you memorize your speech so that when it comes time for the final run-through with visuals, you'll be able to focus on getting through each slide while also speaking clearly.
4) Develop Your Opening and Closing: Your opening and closing should be crafted so that your listeners are left with a strong message. You'll want to plan three to five key points for your body (middle) of the speech and think about how you'll begin by building attention and end by leaving a lasting impression.
5) Make it Personal (If Applicable): Most people don't know about your organization or you being on the program for one reason: you haven't told them yet! If there's a way that you can put a personal touch on your story, whether it's from why you're taking on this project or what impacts it has had on your own life, do so. It helps your audience connect with you and feel as though they know you.
Understanding each of these five basic steps will help you feel more confident during your next speech preparation session, whether you're giving a keynote or a nice speech to your old college roommate. But remember, doing this work before hand is only half the battle: delivering an incredible speech takes time and practice. Make sure you have plenty to fall back on in case these tips are not enough for the technical aspects of your speech: check out my previous post entitled "5 Tips for Public Speaking for Technical Speakers".
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