Ideas for....
Improving Your Public Speaking Skills

• Join a Toastmasters chapter.  Toastmasters is a premier self-help organization that has led hundreds of thousands to master Self-Presentation in group situations.

• Practice, Practice, Practice.  Find any excuse to say a few Public Words at community meetings, volunteer organizations, fund-raising organizations, professional organizations, etc.  Practice in volunteer-work situations is an excellent training ground.

• Remember, it is normal to be nervous.  ALL OF US are nervous in public speaking situations.  Let your nervousness be the fuel to fire your enthusiasm and preparation.

• Never open your mouth in public unless you are PASSIONATE about your point of view.  Passion-Credibility-Care is what you "sell" as a speaker-communicator, regardless of subject.

• Don't memorize; don't read.  Stiffness will kill your presentation.  An effective presentation is almost "conversational" in nature.

• Be timely.  Tie your remarks to recent events reported in the local, regional or national news.

• If you use audiovisual aids, KEEP THEM SIMPLE and keep them clear.

• Repeat yourself!  Keep your basic ideas down to four or five, and hammer them home in ten different ways each.

• Tell stories!  Great public speaking EQUALS great story-telling. Period.

• Use simple, compelling handouts that summarize your key points.

• Make eye contact.  You really only connect with one person at a time (through eye contact) -- even in an audience of hundreds.  Literally think of yourself as speaking to only one person at a time in the audience.  This is a truly powerful public speaking concept and works in ANY group-speaking situation.

• Seek out -- with your eyes -- your supporters, friends and colleagues.  They already like you and WANT you to do well.  Their positive body language will definitely calm you down.  This one skill alone will work magic for your self-confidence.

• Ignore most rigid "speaking rules."  You don't need a "peppy start" to "grab" your audience; nor a "sexy" finish.  You need four or five clear points....to which you are TOTALLY COMMITTED....which you somehow, by hook and crook, compellingly convey in your allotted time period.

• Solve your audience members' problems.  Your proposal-plea should have something in it for them....personally. 
  

• Be modest and self-deprecating.  Nothing is a bigger turn-off than arrogance or boasting.
  

Quotes to Inspire