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Public Speaking Tips, Tricks and Training

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Learn to Improve Your Speeches With Less Anxiety and Better Performance

Throughout middle school, high school and college, I excelled at giving speeches, debating and performing on stage. I wasn't a gifted thespian or a chatterbox, and I wasn't the most popular kid in school. I simply had a knack for organizing my ideas, knowing how to deliver, and learning through trial and error what made a good speech.

You can't get through school, and in many cases your professional life, without good public speaking skills. Even if you aren't going to be the next President or a famous actor, you still need to be able to speak well and cogently in meetings, in front of shareholders, or heck, you might become President. Don't let me stop you.

The point is, you need good public speaking skills. I don't have all the answers, but I have quite a few, and I'd like to share them with you. Most people see public speaking as a disaster waiting to happen. I was never thrilled to give speeches (and I preferred writing essays to taking tests), but I was good at giving them, and my peers and teachers knew it.

Most of my tips, etc. are geared to school-age readers, but tips involving preparation, dealing with crowds, practice and your overall skillset are critical to your future career, whatever it may be, and many of the skills are applicable in your social life, so learning them can't hurt.

What follows are excerpts from the book coming out soon!

Public Speaking Guide

Getting Started - The Assignment, Show and Tell and Backing Off

We'll start slow and build up steam

Since most student's reactions to a speech are "oh no" I like to develop the strategy of relaxing on the day of receiving the assignment, to eliminate that initial rush of panic. This is "controlled procrastination" and will allow all that follows to go much more smoothly.

Learn to

Determine priorities
Collect all of the criteria
Take a moment to relax before getting started.

Doing Some Actual Work - Research

Okay, you can't sit around forever

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to not get the teacher's criteria straight, or just "winging it".

The syllabus is there for a reason - study it.

At this stage you should be able to decide what you want to speak about, how long the speech should be, what points you have to touch on including speech style, and other elements.

Learn to
Understand what you are speaking about, and how to go about doing it.
Develop your research

Getting Organized

Okay, you've done your research , now what?

Once you have your info, you need to organize it.

Learn to
Create clear outlines that can be read by your teacher.
Compile sources so you can show your work.

Devloping and Testing the Speech - Part 1

You have your information, and it's organized as if you were going to write a paper, but now you have to craft a speech.

Learn to
Organize your information into a speech format.
Practice your speech to get accurate timing.

Developing and Testing the Speech - Part 2

If the speech sounds good and presents well, not you just have to tweak it.

Learn to
Make modifications for time.
Make adjustments to perfect your speech.

Checking and Preparing The Stage

Your speech needs to work well where you are presenting it. Is the space suitable for your needs?

Learn to
Scope out the classroom or auditorium for features you need
Workarounds for difficult rooms
Sound and visual aid checks

Developing Visual Aids

Visual aids are a critical part of most presentations. Being able to present main or side information smoothly is essential to a great presentation.

Learn to
Develop a variety of visual aids
Identify pros and cons of certain visual aids
Integrate visual aids into your speech

Scheduling Your Speech

Do you want to go first or last? First day or second day?

Part of anxiety is moving inexorably towards the deadline. Take control by choosing your destiny.

Learn to:
Take charge and schedule to your benefit.
Use classmate presentations as a guide
Make changes on the fly and adjust to mishaps

Presentation Day

Getting There and Getting It Done

After everything you've done, there's still one hurdle - delivering the presentation

Learn to:
Make last moment checks and seal the final presentation
Remove anxiety
Setup for a successful presentation

Speech Tips, Tricks and Training Feedback

If you have comments, or have some good tips of your own, I'd love to hear from you.

If you enjoyed this lens, be sure to rate it at the top - thanks!

  • Tom_Antion Sep 5, 2008 @ 11:34 am | delete
    Hi,

    Great lens! Can't wait to read more. Please visit The Great Public Speaking Shop to find TONS of my speaker training products for cheap! CD's, Books, DVD's and alot of cool stuff to make you a great speaker onstage. Check it out when you can! Your friend, Tom
  • webmasterfroi Jun 6, 2008 @ 1:17 pm | delete
    Great lens...very informative and useful.
  • tdove Jun 2, 2008 @ 1:29 pm | delete
    Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
  • JHFSEO Apr 9, 2008 @ 6:55 pm | delete
    Thanks! All of this is from the handbook I wrote on the subject which is easier to digest page by page. I'll have to work on that here.
  • ElizabethJeanAllen Apr 9, 2008 @ 4:04 pm | delete
    Nice lens, but its a bit much to take in in one sitting.
    *****
    Liz
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JHFSEO

Hi all. I develop content for fun and for clients, and enjoy writing on everything that catches my attention including Arizona, sports, politics, civics,... more »

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