| If you have been looking for public speaking tips, | | | | into disarray. It also means the speaker runs the risk |
| then this article will show you 5 things you can do to | | | | of being silenced by the Chairperson in 'mid flight'. |
| lift your public speaking to a professional standard. | | | | Members of the audience can also be inconvenienced |
| 1. Get rid of the 'ums' and 'ers' | | | | because they may have something scheduled right |
| These 'space fillers are annoying and distracting to an | | | | after the talk. |
| audience. A great public speaking tip is to listen to a | | | | A professional speaker always keeps to their time |
| good public speaker. You will soon notice that they | | | | limit - they know how to plan their talk to fit the |
| will regularly pause for a moment or two to allow the | | | | time available. The only exception to this rule is when |
| audience time to savour what they are saying and to | | | | the Chair or audience specifically ask you to continue. |
| give themselves time to think, but they never um | | | | If you have been asked to give a speech and believe |
| and er. Practice your own speeches in private and as | | | | that your allotted time is insufficient, you should |
| soon as you find yourself about to use a space filler, | | | | immediately discuss the situation with the event |
| stop and pause for a moment. In no time at all you | | | | organiser and negotiate a solution. |
| will have eliminated ums and ers from your public | | | | 5. Protect your reputation |
| speaking. | | | | As a final public speaking tip, if someone else in the |
| 2. Don't lean on the lectern | | | | speaking program has 'stolen' some of the time |
| If you lean on the lectern it sends out a body | | | | allotted to your speech, you need to seriously |
| language message that you aren't comfortable and in | | | | consider whether it is worthwhile giving your speech. |
| control. Another useful public speaking tip is to stand | | | | You won't do yourself or the audience any favours |
| up tall and don't touch the lectern unless you need to | | | | by trying to squeeze a half hour speech into 10 |
| adjust your notes or the microphone. | | | | minutes. Remember that with every speech your |
| 3. Keep your hands out of your pockets | | | | reputation is at stake and you owe it to yourself to |
| Once again, hands in pockets signals to the audience | | | | protect that reputation, even if it means annoying a |
| that you aren't in control. An easy-to-do public | | | | few people. Just make sure that the Chairperson or |
| speaking tip is to keep your hands by your sides | | | | organiser has been forewarned so that you don't |
| unless you need to make a gesture to emphasise | | | | embarrass them, and if possible, work out a |
| something you have said, or for dramatic purposes. | | | | compromise solution. |
| 4. Keep to the time limit | | | | In this article you have learnt the value of using |
| We've all been to talks or lectures where the | | | | pauses, being careful with your body language, and |
| speaker rambles on way past their allotted time. In a | | | | keeping to the time limit. By following these tips you |
| conference situation this can seriously inconvenience | | | | will be able to deliver your speeches with the |
| the next speaker or even throw the whole program | | | | authority and poise of a professional public speaker. |