Lessons from public speaking
These are the rules that most of the successful public speakers you know followed in order to influence people effectively.
1.Know your audience: age bracket, social class and level of education and interests etc.
2. The title of your speech should attract the attention of your audience right away. Title should not be a definition or long phrase. The lesser the number of words that make up the title the better. 2-3 words is preferable. For example, “The dance” “Coming to America” If the audience remember the title of your speech throughout the speech, it will be easier for them to follow the speech.
3. Opening should capture the attention of your audience and prepare your audience for what is coming. A question, a common saying, a short personal story, or a joke will work.
4. Use vocal variety: vary the tone of your voice, vary the volume of your voice, vary how fast or how slow you speak. Visualize public speaking as a road ride. People can fall asleep if the road is too smooth. They need little bumps on the road to stay awake. Monotone voice put people to sleep very fast.
5. Punctuate your words with appropriate body language: Public speaking is 50% body language: hand movements: eye movements: head movements and neck movements.
6. Intentionally, change the side of the audience you are facing when you are making a new point.
7.Hold your audience attention with appropriate humor and drama.
8. Say the truth in an unusual way and you will be funny.
9.Say it so it sticks: For example, People do what people see.
10. Say it in such a way that the audience will respond with an action right away: public speaking is about the audience experience and connection. Therefore, knowing your audience is reacting right away to your speech is a proof that you are communicating.
11. Move your audience with specific emotion: anger, love, happiness and sadness etc. Emotions rule the world not logic. Too much logic can make you lose some audience.
12. Use a personal story to explain the point you are making. In other words, do not make a point without telling a personal story and do not tell a personal story without making a point.
13. Add your individuality to your speech. For example, your: country of origin, skin color, childhood memories, likes and dislikes. Public speaking reflects your daily conversations. The difference is that it is now done publicly.
14. Be authentic. People easily discover lies more than they discover themselves.
15. Practice! Practice!! Practice!!! When you are on stage forget how you practiced. Let it go. Say the words clearly and confidently as they come. You do not have to say every word just the way you practiced it. Besides, none of your audience know what you practiced.
16. Enjoy your speech yourself, your audience will make effort to enjoy themselves if they see that you are enjoying yourself.
17. Your conclusion should be a call to action
18. Finish strong and tie conclusion with your opening. There should be an obvious connection between your opening and your conclusion. If the opening raises a question on the mind of your participants, your conclusion must contain the answer to the question.