Know the needs of your audience and match your contents to their needs. Know your material thoroughly. Put what you have to say in a logical sequence.
* Maintain sincere eye contact with your audience. Use the 3-second method, e.g. look straight into the eyes of a person in the audience for 3 seconds at a time.
* Do not read from notes for any extended length of time although it is quite acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently.
* Speak loudly and clearly.
* Pause. Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think.
* Speak to your audience, listen to their questions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adapt.
* Body language is important. Standing, walking or moving about with appropriate hand gesture or facial expression is preferred to sitting down or standing still with head down and reading from a prepared speech.
* Speak with conviction as if you really believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively.
* Add humor whenever appropriate and possible.
* Leave your listeners with a positive impression and a sense of completion. Do not belabor your closing remarks. Thank your audience and sit down.
* Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
4 Planning Questions to a Managers and Their Answers
16 years ago
