10 Things I Know About Public Speaking
10. IT CAN BE SCARY AT FIRST
I read somewhere that the No. 1 fear was public speaking. No. 2 was death.
9. TALK TO ONE PERSON AT A TIME
Even for an audience of 2,000 people, pick out one face at a time, and talk to just him or her.
8. BE GENUINE
Sure, prepare what you’re going to say, but if you just read it or recite from memory, it’ll be flat. Loosen up and improvise a little!
7. KNOW YOUR FACTS
It should go without saying that if you’re not an expert on the topic you’re speaking about, you probably shouldn’t be speaking about it in public. (But that doesn’t generally stop me.)
6. BE FUNNY
There’s no such thing as a speech where humor is inappropriate. You can always find something to laugh about.
5. BUT NO INSIDE JOKES
If everybody in the room can’t laugh at it, it’s a bad idea. And they might not find it so funny that you snort when you laugh.
4. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Is this a business meeting or a retirement party? Have they been drinking? (Everyone’s funnier if the audience is tipsy.)
3. RELAX
If you’re nervous, they’ll be nervous with you. If you’re relaxed, they’ll be relaxed with you. How to relax? Try screwing up early in your speech — nothing takes the pressure off like making your mistakes early and laughing about it.
2. DON’T LISTEN TO ADVICE
Have you ever heard someone say, "It’s less pressure if you imagine your audience naked?" Whose idea was that? You don’t think it would be awkward speaking to 2,000 naked people?
1. SHUT UP
Less is more. No, really. If they say 5 to 10 minutes, keep it to 7 minutes max. If they say 300 words, make sure you don’t use more than … (Editor’s Note: You learn well!)
Troy Siebels is executive director of the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester.
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