To ensure triumphant communication within a group, it is essential to enhance your communication skills. Speaking in front of an audience can be fun only if you are well-prepared. Here are some techniques that can help you improve your public speaking skills.
Make eye contact. It signifies your interest and desire to be honest and credible.
Posture and gesture are also effective ways to communicate your message.
Dress Appropriately. How you look is also important. Your appearance should convey a message of dignity and respect.
Be conscious of other people's space.
Keep your message understandable and straightforward. Remember, "Less is more." Clarity is essential because it affects all areas of your message. Avoid using jargon. Use words that your audience can understand.
Why "Less is more"? First and obvious is to avoid information overload. Speaking involves excellent concentration. If you provide too much information, your audience will likely not listen to you anymore.
Second, clarity and pausing allow your audience to understand and acknowledge what you are saying.
Be prepared. Remember the 6 W's:
Who? - Determining your audience's age, gender, and interest are among the ways you can classify them.
What? - What topic would you like to discuss? Usually, when you get an invitation to speak in public, follow their theme and purpose.
How? - How can you communicate your message? Language and non-verbal cues are essential. Proper choice of words helps your audiences understand you better.
When? - Obtain a logical timing for your discussion. For example, learn how to pause when necessary.
Where? - If you have time, visit where you will conduct your speech. Determine the best seating arrangement according to the type of your audience. It would help to consider the area's temperature, space, and lighting conditions. Visiting the area also lets you determine where to place your visual aid.
Why? - Convey the advantage and purpose they will gain if they listen to you. Preparing a list of objectives can help you narrow down the key points you must emphasize.
Do not overwhelm your audience with numbers and statistics. Instead, you can put this information in handouts for easy reference in the future.
Use visual aids to support your message.
Establish dialogue and rapport. Allow your audience to participate in the discussion. You can also create rapport by calling your audience by their names.
Check out Mike Acker's new book on Public Speaking: Speak with Confidence, published by WILEY.
A breakthrough to develop confidence in speaking, leadership, and life. A follow-up book to his best-selling book, Speak with No Fear.