14 Public Speaking Tips

We all have to speak in public from time to time.  We have compiled 14 tips from a range of public speaking experts to improve your overall delivery.
1. Careful with the use of PowerPoint

The first time a speaker brought a drawing, a piece of art, a flip chart, a slide show or any object on to the stage to stimulate the audience’s sense of sight as well as sound, speaking became presenting. PowerPoint is but a tool, used well by some, miserably by many. Using this tool allows presenters to engage one more of the audience’s five senses. As each sense is stimulated the retention of the material grows exponentially.

2. Don’t shoot the messenger

Move the audience from the amygdala part of their brain to the neocortex. Laughter is an excellent stimulus to accomplish this.

3. Engage all of their senses

Engage all five senses and your presentation contents will remain with the viewer measurably longer.

Paull Murray, Managing Director at TTG International Management

4. Find a friendly face

The great 17th-century philosopher and scientist, Pascal,  had a thought that applies to public speaking rather well.
It states: “There are some who don’t write well, but speak well. The place or the audience warms them, so much so that they are able to draw from their mind more than they could without that warmth.”
During our face-to-face with the audience, most of us would feel much more at ease, if only we could find that warmth Pascal mentions… We will not find it if we do not look for it. Find a friendly face in the audience, and let its warmth release your thoughts. Return your smile, not just to that face, but to all, to thaw the audience. You may not have much control over the place, but your smile certainly has the power to defrost any audience. Then let the defrosted audience contribute to the total release of your brilliant mind.
Jean-Luc Lebrun, Writer & Trainer

5. Get to know your audience

Nothing is more important, in my opinion, that getting to know the group to which you will be presenting. A little homework goes a long way. Every time you speak it needs to be a “personal” experience for the audience.

Sue Fiedler, PHR Sr. Training & Dev Specialist at Driscoll Children’s Hospital

6. Get to know the room

Familiarise yourself with the room.  Allow plenty of time to walk around and practise using the microphone and any visual aids.

7. Don’t apologise
The audience don’t know what you are going to say, so if you make a mistake, they won’t even realise.

8. Speak with confidence

Remember to project your voice clearly but without shouting.

Jo Robinson, Presentation Magazine
9. Smile
Always have a smile on when you present in public.

Sminesh Babu, Sr. Manager
– India Sales at Harbinger Knowledge Products

10. Look around for advice

There’s a blogful of tips going back more than two years at the PitchSmarter blog, http://neocortexconsult.com/blog

Robert Buccino, Owner, Neocortex Consulting Group

11. State the obvious

Don’t be afraid to the state what is obvious to you, it may not be obvious to the audience.

Sir John Harvey-Jones
– Chairman of ICI from 1982 to 1987 and probably best known for his BBC television show Troubleshooter.

12. Be prepared to adapt

Be prepared to adapt what you have to say at the last moment to accommodate your audience.

Terry Waite CBE
– British humanitarian and author

13. Make each audience think you care about them

Don’t treat every audience to the same presentation as though they were all mere listening machines. Wherever possible, make each audience think you care about them and you feel lucky or honoured to get the chance to address them.

Ranulph Fiennes
– Explorer

14. Concentrate on tone and pace

80 per cent of your speech or presentation will be forgotten! I think the most important thing to remember is your tone and pace.

Martha Lane Fox
– Co founder of Lastminute.com