Most people would agree that public speaking is one of the scariest things imaginable. It ranks up there with death and spiders. But what if you could overcome your fear of public speaking and become a dynamic speaker?
Dynamic speakers are able to hold their audience’s attention and keep them engaged throughout their speeches. To become a dynamic speaker, you must first understand your audience and customize your speech to fit their needs. You must also be passionate about your topic and be able to speak with conviction. You must be able to control your nerves and master the art of public speaking.
Understanding your audience is key to delivering a dynamic speech. You need to know who they are, what their interests are, and how they prefer to receive information. This will help you effectively tailor your speech to meet their needs and maximize their engagement.
Passion is also crucial if you want to be a dynamic speaker. If you’re not passionate about your topic, it will show in your delivery and your audience will be able to tell. You need to care about what you’re saying and believe in what you’re saying if you want to get your point across.
Further, you must be able to control your nerves. Public speaking is nerve-wracking, there are no two ways about it. But the more you do it, the easier it will become. Mastering the art of public speaking takes time and practice, but it’s definitely achievable.
Below are some key tips that will help you to become a dynamic speaker.
Do some homework on your audience so that you know what they are looking for.
Understand your target audience and what you want them to know. Get a firm grasp on who your target audience is and what they need. (i.e. profession, standards of dress, education level). Prepare your presentation to suit their demands. People tend to forget many of the points presented in a speech. What are the most important items you want your audience to remember? To assist your viewers to recall those things, consider this:
– Tell them what you are going to tell them;
– Convey to them; and
– Then tell that what you told them.
You should learn to add humor in your speeches so that audience can enjoy it.
Make fun of things, yourself but not the audience. Humor is a wonderful way to spice up any speech, but even one terrible joke might ruin an entire presentation. When humor is employed, keep these guidelines in mind:
– This is a professional environment, and the jokes must be clean and non-obscene.
– Make sure the joke has anything to do with your topic; and
– As a speaker, the only secure bunt of a joke is you; never irritate the audience with epithets.
Don’t begin a presentation with an apology. Have you ever heard a speaker say, “I’m sorry I have a cold, or I’m nervous”?
If you have a cold, the sniffles do an excellent job of demonstrating it. “Please excuse my appearance. I know you’re tired, but if there are no immediate symptoms, who really needs to know?
Many people employ such phrases as a means of requesting special consideration from the audience. This kind of apology communicates to the audience,
‘I’m sorry, but the presentation you’re about to get isn’t as good.’ The apology is also a great opener for an individual to sabotage their own success.
Learn to grab your audience attention with some creative presentations.
Different people have distinct learning modes. Some learn by listening, while others require sight and still others learn best by doing.
If at all possible, include everything in the presentation to make it more complete. Visually-driven presentations are more engaging because they use visuals as aids. No matter what your medium (projector, flip chart, PowerPoint), there are a few things to keep in mind about visual aids:
– Allow for some white space, avoid filling the whole page or slide with information or photos;
– Use different colors to make it easier to see.
– The use of visual aids complements the presentation; do not rely solely on the visuals – prepare to include additional comments about the visual aids.
High energy and enthusiasm are valuable. Your presentations must incorporate both strategies. However, too much high energy and motion can be distracting at times, actually taking away from your message. The secret to an effective movement is moderation. Hand gestures may be enough to express a point. On the other side, it might be necessary to walk about the room. When your movement enables the audience to relate to your topic, it is most effective.
When you are excited about your presentation, your energy is contagious. The enthusiasm that you project should be genuine and not exaggerated.
Learn how to use your voice effectively during an interaction. You should know how to speak.
It’s simple enough to use your voice when you’re talking, yet there are some helpful hints on HOW TO DO IT Correctly:
– Speak up! – Nothing ruins a fantastic presentation more than having audience members act as if they’re selling Miracle Ear products, ‘What’d he say?!’ Have someone stand in the back of the room and signal if you need to be louder.
– No fillers at all – The best presentations, just like the greatest food, have no fillers. That is, there are no ‘um’s,’ ‘uh’s,’ or other noises to interrupt the gap between when you think of something and when you say it. It allows your audience to consider what you’ve said.
– Switch it up when needed – To draw attention to a point, speak louder or softer; the change in volume will catch the audience’s attention.
Respect your audience and they will pay it back as well. Answer their questions politely during your speech.
Show respect to the folks in the crowd and they will return it. Remember, the audience wants you to succeed, and even the most severe critics are won over by a little amount of respect. As you communicate with your audience, keep in mind that it’s vital to be courteous. Although emailing and texting are quick, one-on-one conversations are crucial for showing respect to individuals. Here are some suggestions for showing respect to your audience:
– Eye contact – You’ll want to make it easy for your audience to follow you around the stage. Maintain eye contact with the crowd at all times. Move from person to person and pause for a few seconds here and there.
– Honesty – When you don’t know the answer, admit it, offer to find out and get back to the individual.
– Save face – If you must disagree with someone in the audience, do so in a way that allows them to retain face.
– Self-correction – Walk closer to an audience member if they aren’t listening. As you talk, walk towards them so that they may self-correct. The ‘distractor’ will notice your approach and cease the interruption.
You’ll never be able to answer every question an audience member might have, but it’s important to try. It shows you’re prepared and interested in hearing their concerns. Here are some tips for answering questions:
Try to engage and answer the questions which are closely related to your topic.
– Don’t avoid questions – Answering a few tough questions will enhance your credibility with the audience.
– Don’t be afraid of silence – It’s okay to take a few seconds to think about the answer to a question. The audience will appreciate your candor.
– Stick to your message – When answering a question, try to relate it back to your presentation’s purpose or goal.
Props and visual aids help your audience understand your presentation better. They also add interest and variety. But be careful not to overdo it – too many props can be distracting. And make sure your props are high quality and in good condition. Here are some tips for using props and visual aids:
– Use props that are related to your presentation – If possible, try to find props that are directly related to your presentation’s topic. For example, if you’re giving a presentation on how to make a perfect scrambled egg, bring a frying pan and some eggs.
– Use props that are appropriate for your audience – If you’re giving a presentation to young children, use props that are bright and colorful. But if you’re giving a presentation to business executives, stick to more professional-looking props.
– Don’t rely on props – Props and visual aids should supplement your presentation, not replace it. Make sure you can give your presentation without any props or visual aids.
No matter how prepared you are, it’s normal to feel nervous before giving a presentation. The key is to not let your nerves get the best of you. Here are some tips for controlling your nerves:
Learn to stay calm and control your nerves during your speech.
– Breathe – Take some deep breaths and try to relax.
– Focus on your audience – Instead of thinking about how nervous you are, focus on your audience and how you can best connect with them.
– Visualize success – Picture yourself giving a great presentation and impressing your audience.
– Find a friend in the audience – Is there someone in the audience you know and trust? Focus on that person during your presentation and pretend you’re just having a conversation with them.
Stay prepared for every circumstance so that you stay confident even if anything goes wrong.
No matter how well you’ve planned and prepared, there’s always a chance something will go wrong. A slide might get stuck, the projector might break down, or someone in the audience might ask a difficult question. It’s important to be flexible and adapt to the situation. Here are some tips for being flexible:
– Have a backup plan – If something does go wrong, have a backup plan in place. For example, if your PowerPoint presentation doesn’t work, do you have handouts you can give to the audience?
– Be prepared for the unexpected – Try to anticipate what could go wrong and how you would handle it. This will help you stay calm if something does go wrong.
You never know what might happen during a presentation, so it’s important to be prepared for anything. Here are some tips for being prepared:
– Bring extra copies of your presentation – You never know when someone in the audience might want a copy of your presentation.
– Have a backup plan – If something goes wrong with your audio/visual equipment, have a backup plan. For example, if you’re using a PowerPoint presentation, have a printed copy of your slides in case the projector doesn’t work.
– Know the room – If possible, visit the room where you’ll be giving your presentation in advance. This will help you familiarize yourself with the layout and make sure everything is in working order.
The best way to reduce stage fright is to be prepared. The more prepared you are, the less nervous you’ll be. Here are some tips for being prepared:
– Know your material – Before you step on stage, make sure you know your material inside and out. The more familiar you are with your presentation, the less likely you’ll be to get nervous.
– Practice, practice, practice – Once you know your material, practice your presentation as much as possible. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll be when it comes time to give your actual presentation.
– Visualize success – Picture yourself giving a great presentation. See yourself being confident and in control. Visualizing success will help you achieve it.
End on a high note: Your conclusion is just as important as your introduction. You want to end your presentation on a high note so that your audience remembers your message. Here are some tips for ending your presentation:
– Summarize your main points – Quickly summarize the main points of your presentation.
– Address any questions – If you didn’t get a chance to answer any questions during the Q&A portion of your presentation, make sure to address them in your conclusion.
– End with a call to action – Tell your audience what you want them to do after they’ve heard your presentation. Do you want them to buy your product? Sign up for your service? Donate to your cause? Make sure your call to action is clear and concise.
That’s all there is to it! With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a dynamic speaker, and imagining the audience in their skivvies was not one of them.
Use these techniques as much as possible but don’t let them overshadow who you are and what you have to say.
Some of the most renowned speakers flout several or all of the conventional norms. Take these ideas and combine them with your own personality to ensure that your presentations are exciting!
This is how to become a dynamic speaker!
Giving a presentation can be incredibly nerve-wracking, and it’s hard to know where to start. Most people view public speaking as a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, you can make your presentations more dynamic and engaging.
This online public speaking course will teach you how to inject storytelling into your speeches, overcome any fear of public speaking, and make a lasting impact on your audience.
Learn How To Be A Dynamic Speaker at Your Own Pace. Register Now!
Dynamic speakers are able to hold their audience’s attention and keep them engaged throughout their speeches. To become a dynamic speaker, you must first understand your audience and customize your speech to fit their needs. You must also be passionate about your topic and be able to speak with conviction. Lastly, you must be able to control your nerves and master the art of public speaking. If you can follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a dynamic speaker!
Jeremiah O’Brian is a faculty member at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. His exceptionally diverse background – from gritty nuts-and-bolts firefighting to film and theatre credits and accolades – is bolstered by his several graduate degrees.
