Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Prepare your presentation
• Part 2 of 3: Practicing your presentation
• Part 3 of 3: Giving your presentation
• Tips

Even the most experienced speakers sometimes wonder if their presentation is effective. Fortunately, it is quite easy to learn to speak better in public! If you want to learn to speak effectively in front of an audience, make sure you prepare a well-designed speech that suits your audience. Then practice the talk before actually giving your presentation. Finally, don't forget to connect with your audience as you speak, articulate your words well, and use body language, such as gestures and movements, to support your speech.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Prepare your presentation

1. Make sure you know your audience. This means that you know approximately how large your audience will be, how old the people will be, whether mainly men or women will come and listen, and what their educational level and their socio-economic status will be approximately. It is also important that you know how much people know about the subject you are going to cover. Finally, think about how the audience will perceive you and what you think they hope to learn from your presentation.
   • For example, are you going to give a presentation to people who are relatively unfamiliar with the topic, or are you going to speak at a professional event where people already know a thing or two about it? Either way, you will have to adapt your equipment to their needs. You should try to avoid talking over the heads of your audience, but you should also be careful not to tell them all kinds of things they already know.
   • The content of your presentation will also depend on how the audience sees you. If they see you as an expert on the topic, you should try to make sure you convey that knowledge and authority in your presentation.
2. Determine the most appropriate tone for your presentation. You could think of the tone of your speech as the mood of your presentation. You will determine the mood based on your audience, the occasion, the topic, and the purpose of your presentation. In addition, you will also have to take your own personality into account, because it is best to choose a tone that suits you.
   • If your subject is rather serious in nature, you could opt for a slightly heavier tone. For a speech at a festive dinner, on the other hand, you may be better off choosing a more humorous tone.
   • In general, you can maintain a relatively interactive tone for almost any talk, regardless of the topic or the size of the group. Either way, the most important thing is to be yourself!
   • Keep in mind that you don't have to be the same tone from beginning to end of your speech. For example, a presentation can start very well in earnest but end with a fun, more interactive part. In that case, try to adjust the tone in which you speak in the course of your presentation.
3. Do research if necessary. If you are already an expert on your topic, you may be able to write the presentation by heart or based on notes you have previously made. If you don't know certain things, it is just important that you do some research. Keep in mind that the public may notice if your knowledge is incomplete and ask you questions. Also, most audience members will appreciate it if you supplement your presentation with statistics and facts to support your views.
   • If you already know a lot about the topic, you may prefer to write your presentation first and then do some additional research. That way, you won't waste time reading all kinds of things you already know. For example, a biologist can probably give a presentation about cell division without having to do additional research. And to write a speech for your parents' golden wedding you probably won't have to do any research either.
   • If you don't know much about the topic, do some research first, and then set up your speech. For example, if you want to give a speech in tribute to a local monument, before you start writing, you might want to look up the history of the monument and some other important details about it.
4. If you want, make an outline for your speech. Many people say that by designing their speech, they can better organize their thoughts and write a speech that is more structured. To start, write at the top of the paper your statement, your goal, or the guiding thought of your speech. Then write down your main supporting arguments. Then write down the conclusion you want the audience to draw.
   • Limit yourself to three to five main points per presentation. Make sure you don't provide so much information that the reader won't be able to remember it.
   • After you have made a basic outline, you can make notes about what you want to say regarding each point.
   • You don't have to write complete sentences. Just write down enough words to help you remember what you want to say.
   • For example, a statement for a speech might look like this: "This new exhibition brings together the artist's personal history and his passion for color, creating a world that is almost tangible to the viewer."
5. Involve the audience in your speech using a catchy phrase or phrase. A catchy phrase or phrase can be a great way to get your audience's attention. Often you give people a personal share in what you have to say in this way. You could also think of a question that you want to answer in your talk. The point is that you give your audience a reason to keep listening.
   • It is best to mention the phrase or phrase referred to above in the first 30 seconds of your speech.
   • For example, you could say, "Like you, I once found it difficult to organize my time. Today I get more done in one day than I used to in a whole week, "or," When I started my research, I asked myself one question: How can we achieve the impossible? "
6. Include anecdotes or jokes. Of course people will want to listen to your presentation, but they usually get distracted quickly. Short stories, especially if they are a little personal, and jokes will help you grab the attention of your audience and make your speech more entertaining. Plus, it can help you bond with the people in your audience. Just be careful not to say anything that is inappropriate or that could offend people.
   • The audience will love to hear your personal stories! Personal experiences are one of the best ways to engage the audience in your presentation and make your speech more engaging.
   • For example, you could start a presentation about your scientific research by telling a story about something that failed on your first day in the lab.
   • You could start a workout at work with a joke about meetings at work.
7. Be prepared for questions from the audience. If you have an idea of ​​the questions the audience might ask, you can already include the answers to those questions in your presentation. That way you can be sure that your audience will get what they expect from your presentation. This also prevents you from being overwhelmed by questions during a possible question-and-answer session at the end.
   • Try to see the audience again. What do they expect your presentation to deliver? How much do they already know about the topic? Use this information to try to figure out what kinds of questions people might ask.
8. Prepare supporting materials for your presentation, such as memory cards. Of course, you're not going to simply read your presentation, but having some notes on hand can help keep your speech going and avoid skipping important things. It's a good idea to write down the main points of your talk so that you can take a quick look down in between if necessary to see what comes next.
   • If you want, you can write down a few key words to remind yourself of important points you don't want to forget.
   • Do not write whole sentences, because long sentences increase the chance that you will be mistaken. Write down only the most important words.
   • Memory cards also work well, but some speakers prefer to print out a draft on a single sheet of paper.
9. Be flexible. Planning in advance definitely helps, but you can't possibly foresee everything. Don't let last minute changes rock you. You do not have to follow the setup of your speech in detail as you have prepared it.
   • For example, you may have prepared your talk in front of a group of experts, but on the night before your talk you realize that the audience knows less about the subject than you thought. In that case, you could present a little less of the material you planned to share with them, and instead explain more so that a beginner will understand.

Part 2 of 3: Practicing your presentation

1. Practice your speech in front of the mirror. It is very normal to be a little nervous before speaking in front of an audience, even if you are already used to it. You can make yourself less nervous by practicing your speech beforehand. Give your presentation out loud in front of the mirror. That way you can see yourself, so you can practice your standing and any gestures and movements you will be making.
2. Record yourself on video as you practice your speech. Filming yourself is even more useful than practicing in front of the mirror, because then you can see exactly what the audience will experience! While watching the video, pretend you're someone from the audience. Write down the things you like about your presentation as well as the things you still need to work on.
   • If you want to improve certain aspects of your speech, it can be a good idea to film yourself several times.
   • Another option is to ask a friend to watch you practice your presentation and give you feedback afterwards.
3. Set a timing for your speech. Your presentation is likely to have a time limit, so you will need to make sure you can say anything you want within the amount of time you have. On the other hand, you should also make sure that you don't finish too early. Fortunately, by practicing, you can ensure that your presentation fits within the time limit. Use the timer on your phone, a stopwatch, or a clock to time your speech. Adjust your timing as needed.
   • Before timing your speech, it is best to practice it a few times, until you can deliver your speech fluently. The first few times you may need a few extra seconds here and there to figure out exactly what you wanted to say.
4. Memorize the main points. That way it becomes easier to give your presentation. Moreover, you can therefore be sure that you are discussing everything.
   • Don't try to memorize your entire speech. First of all, that is very difficult, and it can also make you look like a robot while giving your presentation. By memorizing only the most important points, you can ensure that your presentation sounds natural and smooth.
5. Practice using your visual aids if you are going to use them. Visual aids such as PowerPoint files, posters or video images can support your speech, but they can also ruin it if something goes wrong. Therefore, use them in your practice sessions, so that you get used to them and can use them in the right order without any problems.
   • Get used to speaking alongside your visual aids, without reading directly from the material. People don't like to be read to.
   • Keep in mind that technical issues can always arise and you may not be able to display a particular Powerpoint or Prezi file. Make sure that you can also give your presentation without those materials if necessary.

Part 3 of 3: Giving your presentation

1. Before giving your speech, be out in front of the audience and have a chat with the people. This gives you a chance to consider how they will respond, so that you can tweak your speech a bit if necessary, such as omitting a particular joke. You can also get a better idea of ​​what the audience expects from your speech that way. You also give your audience the opportunity to see you as a person, which increases the chance that they will look at you in a positive way.
   • Stand at the door and welcome your audience.
   • Picture yourself as the people take their places.
   • If you are in the audience before your speech begins, have a chat with those around you.
2. Before your speech, check your notes. On the day of your presentation, glance at your notes once or twice. This will refresh your memory so that you are less likely to forget certain information.
   • Don't get stressed! Trust that you will remember what to say.
3. Articulate your words. Speak slowly and in a clear voice. Take the time to pronounce each word carefully. Sometimes it may feel like you are speaking too slowly, but you are actually making it easier to follow the content of your presentation.
   • To prevent you from speaking too quickly, it helps to take a few deep breaths just before you start speaking.
4. Use gestures to emphasize your arguments. These include, for example, conscious movements with your hands and the way you move across the stage. For example, you can use your fingers to indicate which point you are talking about, or move your hand up or down to emphasize a particular point. Use gestures that feel natural to you, because if you make forced gestures it will quickly seem fake.
   • Try to avoid nervous gestures as much as possible. Make sure your movements have a purpose and that you don't flap your hands aimlessly because you don't know where to put them.
5. Make adjustments based on the reactions of your audience. Sometimes the audience reacts differently than you expected, and that's fine in itself. For example, they may not appreciate certain funny parts. If that happens, adjust your tone and your speech to meet the preferences of your audience.
   • For example, if your audience laughs at your jokes, wait a while until the room becomes quiet again before continuing. If they aren't smiling, but they are smiling or nodding, you don't have to leave out your jokes. Keep in mind that a larger audience often reacts in a more intense way than a smaller audience, because as part of a larger group, people are less aware of themselves.
   • If you feel like the audience can't follow you, you may need to lighten your tone and explain a bit more.
6. Only use audiovisual aids where necessary. Unnecessary audiovisual aids can distract people in the audience. That detracts from the level of your presentation.
   • Do not read the text on the pictures, because people do not like to be read.
   • You can use audiovisual resources in fun ways to spice up your presentations. For example, you could record a short video about the latest discoveries in your field.
7. Involve the audience in your presentation. This is one of the best ways to keep your audience engaged with what you are saying. It can also ensure that people will remember more of the content of your presentation. You can do this by asking the audience to answer or respond, or by having the people ask questions.
   • Ask the audience to repeat the main points you have mentioned.
   • You could also ask the audience to make a certain sound or gesture at specific times during your presentation.
   • Ask the audience to provide examples or suggestions.
   • Answer questions from your audience.
8. Be yourself. It may be tempting to play a role, but don't try to pretend to be someone else. The audience has come to see you! Make sure you have enough confidence to add some of yourself to your speech. Remember that it is entirely possible to give a professional speech and be yourself at the same time.
   • For example, if you are quite lively and noisy in everyday life, make sure you are that way during your presentation. Just don't try to force yourself to behave in a way that doesn't feel natural.
9. Calm yourself if you start to get nervous. It's perfectly normal to be a little nervous when you have to speak in front of an audience, so don't be too hard on yourself. If you find yourself getting nervous, there are a number of ways you can try to calm yourself down:
   • Imagine that your presentation will go well.
   • Instead of focusing on your nerves, focus on the purpose of your presentation.
   • Take a deep breath from your stomach to calm down.
   • Take a jog in place or swing your arms over your head to release the energy from your nerves.
   • Don't drink too much caffeine before giving a presentation.

Tips

• Try not to feel more insecure because you are nervous or jittery. Make use of those feelings by expressing them as enthusiasm and excitement.
• Always remember that you are the only one who knows the content of your speech.
• Speaking will become easier with every speech. Don't give up if your first few speeches aren't such a success.
• The audience showed up to hear you speak, so they are interested in what you have to say. Enjoy being the center of attention for a while!
• Try not to see public speaking as an obligation, but as a unique opportunity to share a part of yourself with the world.
• Always try to stand upright to gain confidence.