Help ! Public Speaking !

[Stafford]

Unaccllustomed as I am to peeblic spucking...... :eek:

Any advice on my first big public speaking engagement ? Scared sh!tless of course and looking for websites, any past experiences from Ppruners, introductory jokes and anything which will keep my mind focused and stop me speaking gibberish and making a prize d!ck of myself.

Watching the Noo Labour conference of course for tips but never was much good at bull****ting my way through !!:}

[Wader2]

One hundred words to the minute. Write the entire speech out verbatim. Stand up (in a quiet room) and read it out aloud. Change all those words you trip up on. Read it again. Amend it again.

You can tell jokes? No problem.

You can't? Then don't.

A casual aside can work far better even if it is one that potentially embarassed you at the time.


prattle prattle prattle dying for a cuppa and this mate starred. Brought me a cup of hot tea just in time. Then this conker dropped in it. Went everywhere. .............. at least it warmed me up. prattle prattle prattle

[Skunkerama]

Start with maybe

"They say that public speaking is like making love to the Queen.......it is a great honour but nobody wants to do it"

[Not_a_boffin]

Or as per Homer Simpson..

"If I could just say a few words......I'd be a better public speaker......"

[Army Mover]

Know your subject, try and know your audience - don't forget to keep breathing !!! :ok:

[charliegolf]

Unless you are a really good reader out loud-er, write up your spiel, and rehearse it with cue cards. Not everyone can do the Richard Burton, Under Milk Wood thing- it's a different skill to being yourself and 'addressing' the audience. And, if you're going overtime, you can't cut bits on the hoof so easily.

CG

[ChristopherRobin]

any books by this guy (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blank-Page-First-Draft-Minutes/dp/1857037308/sr=1-3/qid=1159357574/ref=sr_1_3/202-5591985-5627823?ie=UTF8&s=books) are excellent, particularly the Blank Page to First Draft in 15 minutes one.

Having done many public speaking engagements (presentations to 500 people, best man's speeches etc), my advice is:
1. write it - don't worry too much about the content - people rarely remember it, but they always remember the delivery.
2. read it (as above, cut out bits that you stumble on)
3. re-write
4. read to mate who will give you honest feedback
5. read aloud so many times that you are sick of it, but you also know it almost by heart - you won't - quite - but you will know it enough so that you won't lose your place on the page and won't have to read off the page. About 20 times usually does it for me. If you know it well you will be more confident.

I learned this lesson in my first ever public-speaking engagement in the debating society at school. At the tender age of 16, I had rehearsed my 2 min stint (approx 10 or 15 cards) 30 or 40 times. I got to the school (half an hour away by car) and realised with 10 minutes to go that I'd left the cards at home! Utter horror. In deperation I wrote the entire speech down in note form on 2 cards in 10 minutes and delivered it as written - thank God I'd rehearsed it.

6. Smile and eyeball people in the audience - if you know the speech well, you will feel happier about tearing your eyes away from the page.
7. Breathe deeply and speak slowly, even if it sounds unnatural (it won't)
8. Never, ever apologise in advance of what you are doing.
9. Invoke the spirit of Troy McClure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_McClure) in your introduction...."Ladies and Gentlemen good afternoon, I'm Stafford McClure and today I'm going to talk with you about...."

This is a skill that you can learn - if you put the work in. Good luck!

[SkyHawk-N]

When you look at your audience imagine they are all naked.

[Wader2]

9. Invoke the spirit of Troy McClure (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_McClure) in your introduction...."Ladies and Gentlemen good afternoon, I'm Stafford McClure and today I'm going to talk with you about...."

There is a technique to avoid this bit and that is if you are introduced:

"Ladies and Gentlemen good afternoon, let me introudce Stafford McClure who is going to talk with you about . . . " Followed by cringe making applause.

Clearly if that was your opening line you will need to have a different starter. "Thank you for . . ." Those few kind words or Inviting me here today etc.

If you want to ensure that you are introduced then give your introducer the words for the introduction:

""Ladies and Gentlemen good afternoon, let me introudce Stafford McClure who has been a member of the Supply Branch for many years and who is going to talk about . . . "

Personally I like to be introduced as the audience often knows the introducer and will pay attention when he approaches the podium or whatever.

One other thing, get there early and either arrange the stage or whatever to suit you. Or learn how to use the stage. Maker sure you can be seen. Make sure you are not hidden behind a lecturn or standing in front of a screen if you have a presentation. Look up and look at your audience when you speak. If you need to look at your screen, then look, point, and then turn back to face the audience before you carry on speaking. Get a glass of water; great for a pause and thought gathering.

Do not drink alcohol before hand. Go to the toilet before hand. Make sure you have a clean hankerchief. Empty your pockets. No toys - keys - remote controls - etc.

[BEagle]

Have a large scotch.

Do NOT just read it out from a set of cards. People will look at the pile and think "Hmm - he's bored us fartless for 10 minutes and he's only about 1/4 way through his cards..."

Think of a structure.

Write down some cue headlines to remind yourself of what you were going to say.

Be natural between the headlines - and only use jokes/anecdotes which are appropriate and which you can remember.

Keep them interested and guessing

Don't use TLAs, service slang or yoofspeak.

Check your flies.

Don't stare at the girls' tits.

[South Bound]

You are there because someone has asked you. In that case, remember that they want to hear what you have to say because you are the right man to say it. Be yourself, relax and remember that it is the content that really matters and you are an expert on that content, presumably, so just share it with them as if they were all normal people!

[buoy15]

INTROS and SMEAC always saw me through - along with deep breathes and then breathing out to exaustion, saying, Relax- Relax- Relax

Introduction
Need
Title
Revision
Obkectives
Scope

Situation
Mission
Execution
Any questions
Check understanding

Cherry pick from the above to compose a balanced presentation

A reasonable opening line is "As I have limited time to give this important presentation, can I ask you all to switch off mobile phones and watch alarms, - and I will be pleased to take any questions at the end - thank you.
Buys you another 2 minutes to assess the audience

Best of luck
B15

[Mr Blake]

:yuk: I've just completed Best Man's duties, which of course involved the customary speech, and I am able to offer the following advice.

Know your audience - no crass jokes that may offend.

Write your speech down - as stated earlier rehearse it and if unsure on the day read it verbatim. You'll find after a couple of minutes it will flow without too much looking down at the page. (One other tip is too mark one's place with your thumb whilst your gaze is away from the page to assist you to quickly find your place.

Focus on one person - pick one person out from the crowd and pretend to address them personally, occasionally glancing across the room for effect. This will regulate your speech to the same tempo as a standard conversation.

Pause regularly - helps to control your breathing and emotions and judge the audience's reaction.

Remember the maxims - beginning, middle and end!

Keep back a banker - save your best one-liner (proven) as a reserve in case of emergencies or when the audience wanes, and try to involve someone in the audience in your speech, so that some of the focus is distracted from you.

And finally CHEAT! - I managed to find some good examples of speechs on t'internet, and was able to bastardise them to suit.

Good luck on the day, but remember to enjoy it. Once you get into the swing of it you'll be OK. If you look and sound nervous the audience will cringe. Prior planning etc.... always prevails!:D

[Rather be Gardening]

Lots of good stuff in the previous posts. Main thing is control your breathing. Tendency when nervous is to breathe shallowly - can lead to gabbling and running out of breath halfway through a sentence. And don't use a laser pointer if you're nervous - shaky hands effect will be magnified 100-fold. Good luck!

[Stafford]

Skyhawk - I'll keep the blokes dressed if you don't mind !! :}
RBG - Last time I used a "laser pointer", everything shook !! ;)

[modtinbasher]

There is superb advice from all of these posts here, but after you've planned it all, rehearsed it, decided whether to use cue cards or not, and if using an OHP make sure to check the bulb is working, and the spare inside! (People switch them over when one fails and don't replace the dud!) If using software and Power Point for example, know how to load and start your act!

Then, when ready, tell them:-

Who you are

Why you are there

What is the subject of your presentation

How long it will take you

And state your question policy if it is a formal briefing. This is important and will mostly likely keep any interuptions to a minimum. It should go along the lines of ....... 'so ladies and gentlemen, I've allowed sufficient time at the end of my presentation for your questions,....... I would prefer you to save them until the end if you can. If however, it's merely a point of understanding, then please speak up.'

If you get a question that you can't answer, say so, and tell them you will get back to them later.

Most people will do as they are bid, but just remember one thing when you are on your feet, YOU are in charge, just keep it that way!

Break a leg!

[modtinbasher]

Oh, I forgt, the 6 P's

Pre-Planning Prevents P!ss Poor Performance

[maxburner]

Winston Churchill - no slouch when it came to public speaking - advised something like this:

Tell them what you are going to say. Say it. Tell them what you just said. Sit down.

[no sponsor]

I do alot of public speaking, and my advice to you is:

Preparation:
- Work out the main message of what it is you want to say. Don't have too many either - 1 key message is perfect.
- Practice it, but don't write it out word for word. The written word will sound contrived and is less natural when spoken out. Sure, plan it like you would a document, but give yourself headers rather than precise words.
- Practice it in front of a mirror, or video yourself. If you stumble around, then re-do that section.
- Once you're confident, do it in front of a friend. You then need to ask them certain questions to make sure they got your message.

Day of Presentation
- If you get nervous, practice breathing, and think about something which calms you. I used to get nervous, but then considered nervousness didn't help matters at all, so I trained myself not to care. I simply don't get nervous anymore in big audiences. Strangely, I still get a few nervous pangs when presenting to a small audience of five or so people.
- Do another run-through in front of the mirror
- When you go up to the podium, or stand-up, make sure you slow down your actions, and try and be calm. I'll move my notes around, adjust the laptop, and generally get used to standing in front of all these people. I tend to pause for 15 seconds and look at the audience, even when I've been introduced. Silence gets peoples attention.
- The tendancy for people is to rush through their speech, look at their feet, and generally rush towards the conclusion of this whole terrible ordeal. The effect comes across as being nervous, and you'll end up spitting and generally looking a bit of a shambles. Slow yourself down. Cue cards help, since you can pause between them, but you should learn to pause between key points, or statements. Look at the audience in the pauses too. It will calm you, and once you've been speaking for a couple of minutes, you won't be nervous anymore and you could end up enjoying it.

Questions can be difficult. There's always some bugger who'll try and be difficult. If you get a difficult question which you don't want to answer, I always say 'that's a good question, can I come back to it' or 'I'll cover that later on in my speech' but I have no intention of doing so.

Good luck.

[airborne_artist]

KISS - Keep it simple etc.

How many times have you been bamboozled with data that was not relevant to the requirement of the presentation?

[walter kennedy]

Probably too late for your first - but for future reference, drop in at a local ToastMasters or Rostrum branch where practicing and coaching are usually free, friendly, and aimed at the business community - they normally meet lunchtime or early evening weekly and there is normally a branch in every major city.

[jumpseater]

A couple of things from me.
Don't pick up pieces of paper like crib sheets etc if you don't have too. I used to fold the 'used' sheets and put them down. One day I didnt, and spent the rest of the presentation runiing my thumb and forfinger along the fold line. By the time I'd finished the fold crease was so sharp, you could have cleaved your way through runny Camembert with it.
If you have time and you can get a vid cam, vid yourself doing the presentation. an excellent way of picking up any annoying habits you may have, like folding paper for example! No prizes for guessing how I found that out.
If your presentation is in any way contentious, do not allow any questions until the end, if really pushed make a note of the Q and ensure that you make it clear you will address the point at the end. I used to talk about noise to the public, one small question can rapidly lead to others and it snowballs, so you may not even finish the presentation. Then the audience think 'He's cr@p, what was he on about? it didn't make sense'. It also prevents a 'activist' hijacking your presentation. If you get a heckler, keep talking over them, so long as you don't lose your thread, it's very difficult for a questioner to successfully intervene. Maggie Thatch was brilliant at that technique, something the current Home Secretary could learn from when addressing the public:rolleyes:

[tonkatechie]

Remember to emphasise words as you are making your speech so that people don't get bored listening to a monotone drone!

Also watch out for any mannerisms / habits you might have (and worse, might not know you have) such as jangling keys in your pocket, playing with your shirt cuffs, saying 'erm' every other word etc etc. People like me pick up on that and spend more time counting how often you do it, than they do on listening to what you have to say.

Finally, a chinese proverb: "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand". It might not apply to your subject, but it demonstates the value of presentational aids and audience participation (where appropriate).

[Stafford]

Many thanks to all for the advice - still scared witless but I'm looking forward to it despite the nerves. I will take it all on board and remember your support on the day. Of course, once I am a Noo Labour MP, you can all go and get stuffed :} :} :E

[Flying Lawyer]

Lots of good advice above.

The only area where I'd disagree is starting off with an 'introduction' to your speech.

Your opening words should have immediate impact.
No intro. Straight in with something which immediately grabs their attention, and makes them think 'This is going to be good.'
Then an intro to what you're going to say, if you think it's really necessary.
Your ending is equally important. End with impact - don't just fizzle out.

If you have a good beginning and a good ending, the middle usually looks after itself - provided the beginning and end aren't too far apart. :)

If people start looking at their watches, move to your good ending as soon as possible, summarising the remaining good/important points you were going to make.
If they start shaking them, you've blown it. ;)

Good luck.

FL

[gravity victim]

It says much for the good taste and high intellectual standard of ppruners that nobody has yet suggested the traditional opening of:

"This is the second time today that I have risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand"

Well done all.:)

[It's Not Working]

Like the previous poster says, 'a good beginning, a good ending, as close together as possible as possible.' Or my favourite, 'synonymous to a 1960's Mini-Skirt, short enough to be interesting but long enough to cover the essentials!'

Make them laugh in the first 30 seconds (quote some of these replies would be my advice) and you have them in your hand. Don't stand still, walk around the stage, keep your hands out of your pockets. If the subject allows, ham it up but don't patronise (that's when you talk down to people).

Enjoy the occasion, it can be great fun but you must know your subject.

[teeteringhead]

It says much for the good taste and high intellectual standard of ppruners .... but unfortunatley PC prevents:

1. "I had too little time to prepare so I'm using a speech I used earlier this week to the local LGTB Forum .... so I apologise to those of you who've already heard it"

OR

2. "I must apologise for an obscure speech defect I have. For some reason my voice sends homosexualists to sleep ......" (always good for first speech after a good lunch!)

[BEagle]

"Or my favourite, 'synonymous to a 1960's Mini-Skirt, short enough to be interesting but long enough to cover the essentials!' "

I first coined that in 1972 when I had to give a speech at the ULAS Annual Dinner as Senior Student....

Actually I said "A speech should be like a mini-skirt. Short enough to remain decent, yet containing much of interest!".

I vaguely recall that after a good dinner at the Piccadilly Hotel, including copious amounts of wine, then a hip flask of Glenfiddich on the bus back to THQ, followed by a few beers, I decided it would be a great idea to try Guinness for the first time. It lasted about 45 seconds, including a 30 sec gallop to trap 2 where I said goodbye to it. I've never touched it since!

[Wader2]

I decided it would be a great idea to try Guinness for the first time. It lasted about 45 seconds, including a 30 sec gallop to trap 2 where I said goodbye to it. I've never touched it since!

Deviation.

New thread? Confessions of a Guinness drinker?

[Panther06]

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Preferably in front of several co-workers. Instead of looking your audience in the eye, look slightly over their heads at the back of the room. It will appear to the audience that you are looking at them but will be less distracting for you. ( I had to deliver a memorial service speech for one of my staff officers and got this advice from my chaplain). If you will be subject to questions rehearse with staff officers/co-workers and have them ask you the most difficult questions possible so that you have practiced these. Almost eveybody is somewhat nervous even if you speak often so be aware that public speaking is difficult for a majority of people.

Good Luck

[jobsworth]

Aside from the content, the best bit of advice I have ever had regarding public speaking is speed.

When you are talking to people you know in a small enviroment you will be speaking fairly quickly.

When you speak to a large crowd you should slow your speaking down. In your own mind reduce how quickly you speak each word, to you it should seem slow, but to others it will appear normal. If you are nervous, it is apparent to others by how quickly you rattle your speech/presentation out. Slowing it down will make you appear more confident, which in turn will make you feel more confident.

good luck

[OCCWMF]

On no account imagine a naked audience - I stood in front of 150 people with an obvious semi having thought about one of the Bridesmaids in a state of undress. Still, she appreciated it and I got to see it for real later! :E :E

"Follow your dreams, You can reach your goals, I’m living proof!"
Eric Cartman