First impressions last and the impact of the first impression depends on the way you look and behave. This is the reason why you have to make sure that you look good in your presentation.
Your clothes: Since all eyes will be on you, ensure that you look comfortable with what you are wearing and that these are neat and clean. Avoid clothes that are too tight as these will attract attention to those bumps and bulges. Invest in a classic suit so that it will not go out of style. Neutral colours are good as these blend with any stage backdrop and it would not be too flashy to the eyes. Men’s ties should also have tame, solid colours. Avoid using ties with loud cartoon character prints on it.
A jacket or blazer may be needed so that your microphone can be clipped.
When you are scheduled to have your presentation after lunch or dinner, be careful when eating or that sauce may accidentally ruin your coat or dress. Have a spare outfit.
Your shoes: Shoes complete the overall impact of your outfit, so make sure that your shoes are comfortable enough that walking around the room or moving freely while on stage would not be a problem.
Your hair: Hair should be neat and clean. Hair should also be out of the face. A nice ponytail will keep the hair in place for the ladies.
Your nails: Nails should be trimmed and clean. Having nail art on is a no-no during the day of your presentation. For small group presentations, where your nails are visibly seen by your audience, ugly looking nails can leave a not-so-good impression.
Your perfume: You do not want to trigger an asthma attack during your presentation so it is advisable that you avoid wearing heavily scented perfumes.
Your jewelry and accessories: Keep your jewelry simple. Bangles are not recommended to be worn during your presentation, especially the metal, noisy bangles, because these can distract your audience.
Having contact lenses on your eyes are recommended instead of eyeglasses so that you can have better eye contact with your listeners.
Your makeup: Keep it appropriate. Makeup is essential as it reflects attention to grooming. Have your makeup simple though. For ladies, check that the lipstick colour is not too loud or that the lipstick does not stain the teeth. For men, use a little powder especially if speaking under strong lighting system.
On top of how you dressed yourself, it is important that you sit or stand up straight. Having a good posture exudes confidence. Have also that radiant smile. Listeners are more engaged when the speaker has an approachable demeanor.
Indeed, it is human nature that we assess a person through appearance. That’s why for speakers who will be facing an audience, no matter how large or small it may be, make a good impression. To make a good impression, knowledge of your presentation materials combined with appearance is very necessary.
The first thing you have to remember is to be on time! Any speaking engagement requires punctuality. Being present and ready to go at your event will ensure a good first impression from the audience.
1) Greet your audience. It is important that you properly address the audience with your warmest greeting before starting your presentation. Rapport will automatically be more deeply fostered when the speaker welcomes them with a sincere greeting. This will turn-out as a good start for both the speaker and the audience and foster an immediate connection between them.
2) Make a short but meaningful opening remark. This is the very critical part of the speech because this represents the whole presentation in a nutshell. Give a brief background on what the subject is all about so the speaker must be able to project a memorable opening remark.
3) Practice poise and composure. This is a vital requirement among public speakers. When facing an audience, the speaker must exude self-confidence in the most dignified way in the way he talks, uses body language and makes eye contact with the people in front of him. These elements of delivery will go a long way to holding the interest of the crowd during the presentation.
4) Learn to relax and be calm. Often times, public speakers appear nervous in front of the audience through the body language that he or she is displaying. Becoming fidgety, stammering, a cracked voice and other ‘tells’ will connote that you as the speaker are not confident. Believe that you know what you are saying and that you can convince the audience with your presentation.
5) Speak clearly and pronounce the words slowly. By doing this, you will be certain that the audience will be able to understand your presentation and can participate if they want to raise questions if necessary. The medium of expression is very crucial in every speaking engagement. It is important that the speaker be able to present to the audience in an simply understood manner.
6) Remember that with every word that comes out from your mouth, there should be a corresponding body gesture. This will exhibit a union of both thoughts and ideas which are transformed into action. It is also advantageous to use body language in order to highlight or stress an important subject matter in your speech.
7) End you speech with an insightful closing remark. It is important that the speaker be able to summarize his or her presentation by giving a sharp yet intelligent closing remark that will leave the audience with something to ponder over. The audience is wise enough to decide if the speaker was able to convince them or not. Therefore, it is a must for every speaker in their closing remarks share with the audience the very essence of his presentation to make a lasting impression.
Though there are no set rules to becoming a competent and engaging speaker, there are overarching guideposts that can be followed in mastering the art of public speaking. What follows will help you evolve your speaking skill-set.
The first requirement is to always be yourself in front of the audience. Presenting yourself as candid and genuine will impress the audience in an immediate way. To capture the audience’s attention can be challenging in the beginning, but once you establish some initial rapport, make sure that you give the audience what they expect from you.
The second requirement is to make sure that your opening remark is a go-getter. In most instances, the audience will only listen to the first few lines delivered by the speaker. It is a make or break moment for the speaker. Once the speaker has captured the audience’s attention, he or she must be able to hold it for the entire duration on the speech. On the contrary, if the speaker fails to deliver a captivating opening remark, the audience will not retain very much of the delivered speech.
The third requirement is to prepare a well-written and sensible speech. It is always essential to come prepared during a public speaking event. It is noteworthy to be mindful that the audience is perceptive. Each word that comes from the mouth of the speaker will elicit a reaction from them. It is important that the content of the speech is rational, based on reason and is realistic. The audience is wise enough to know if you are taking them for a ride or not.
The fourth requirement is to look presentable before the audience. Look your best. We have to accept the fact that packaging is important. The audience will always pay attention to an attractive and appealing orator who is speaking before them. When the speaker walks in front of the stage and is ready to face the microphone, the first thing the crowd will notice is the way he or she looks, from hair, clothing to shoes. Carrying yourself in the most pleasant manner (including how you dress) is one of the best ways to get noticed.
The fifth requirement is to be an engaging speaker. Apart from being physically appealing to the audience, it is also recommended that you ask them to participate. Throwing direct questions to the crowd will ensure that you will be engaging.
The sixth requirement is to be warm and friendly to the audience. A pleasant and gracious speaker is an indication that he or she is willing to interact with the audience. This will result to a positive feedback by building a connection with the listeners.
The seventh requirement is to be energetic, jovial and lively. If the speaker exudes an attitude that is full of life, the crowd will be infected with similar enthusiasm, making the speech become a surefire hit. Keeping a light mood while being assertive at the same time, will work as an advantage for the speaker.
Public speaking is an enhanced skill that is learned over time. It is not an inborn talent for most of us. A few people have the confidence to stand up in front of a crowd and deliver a speech without stammering lines in a confident, unflappable voice, but for most of us this ability must be developed and honed. It is always advisable to start young to be able master the art of public speaking. In school, students are required to present in class. This is the initial step towards achieving your goal of becoming an effective speaker. To be able to communicate well with your audience, one must be able to follow certain guidelines set forth in the general rules for effective public speaking.
First: Make an eye contact with the audience. It has been said that the first thing you have to remember is to pretend that you are just talking to one person, but the obvious truth is you are facing a number of people, potentially a great many people. In this manner, your audience will feel that you are connecting with them in a personal way. Holding your gaze by looking directly at the eyes of your audience will exhibit the level of assurance that you need to convince them that you are knowledgeable on your topic.
Second: Speak clearly. A good speaker must be able to pronounce the words in a crystal clear manner and the voice must be well-modulated.
Third: Be persuasive and direct to the point. Your speech or talk must be brief, direct and concise in order for your audience to be able to grasp the message you want to send across. Using words that are straightforward and upfront will make an impression that you are not there to waste your (or their) time. The length of your speech is also central to being able to deliver a successful talk. You must remember that you cannot hold the audience’s concentration for a long time.
Fourth: Use hand gestures. Using your hands as a means to prove a point is also recommended. It is a way of entertaining you audience by stressing your words through hand movements.
Fifth: Be novel and informative. It is also important that the speech or talk is full of new insights and is sufficiently informative. Your audience will feel bored if they keep on listening to the same ideas over and over again. Even jokes which are passé can also defeat their purpose of making people laugh. So you better make sure that your speech is unique, one of a kind and well-thought of.
Sixth: Be confident. Bringing oneself in front a large audience is already commendable. In order to make your speech truly worth remembering, as the speaker, you must be able to be assertive and self-assured that you can convince your audience of your talking points. When you are not confident, you will lose the attention of your audience and you will end up ruining your prepared speech in a basic way.
Seventh: Be sincere. Use words which are truthful, honest and heartfelt. Using words that beat around the bush and trying to lure the crowd with shallow ideas is unacceptable. You have to keep in mind that you are just borrowing a few minutes of time of the audience so the content of the speech must be informative and well-researched.
Eighth: Exhibit a positive attitude. Lastly, to become an efficient public speaker, you must be able to carry a pleasant attitude throughout your speech. Keep your head up, maintain proper posture and have an optimistic approach. Combining these various elements will ensure a conquering speech and a lasting impact.
When I was in high school, I had this one teacher, Mr. Adams, who was constantly fiddling with the change in his pocket. It was distracting to say the least.
Then in university there was Professor Evans, who when lecturing had a habit of pacing from one side of the lecture hall to the other four times in a row, stopping to take a rest by leaning against his desk for a couple of minutes, then getting up, clapping his hands together and starting the process all over again. His lecture laps, as my classmates and I liked to call them, were almost hypnotizing, and as a result I often found myself dozing off in class – though the intermittent handclaps were rather effective in jolting me awake again. (In fact, I wonder now if that was their intended purpose!)
Then there’s my co-worker Jane, who during work presentations incessantly twirls her pen in her fingers – dropping it regularly – so that you find yourself paying more attention to her pen and whether she’s going to drop it than what she’s actually saying.
This last one reminds me of this clip from the TV show “The Office,” where the staff are listening to a presentation by their boss, Michael Scott, but are distracted by the DVD screen in the background.
Funny, isn’t it? And true: Audiences are easily distracted.
We all have our own little quirks and mannerisms, and it’s important to know what they are so we can work on toning them down – if not eliminating them completely. (Confession: I myself have a pen problem. Put one in my hands and I’m either mindlessly clicking the nib in and out or pushing the cap around in circles with my thumb.)
One of the best ways to discover if you have any distracting mannerisms is to watch yourself on tape. Videotape your next presentation and then watch it afterward looking for anything you might be doing that could serve as a distraction. Do you make the same hand gestures over and over? Are you constantly adjusting your glasses or tucking your hair behind your ears? Do you clear your throat too frequently? Are you pacing back and forth?
Learn your mannerisms today and you’ll deliver a more effective presentation tomorrow. I promise. Now if someone could just tell Professor Evans….
P.S. In Inspiring Speakers news, we’ve added a new section to our Speaker Resource Centre this week. We now offer a series of teleseminar resources for building your speaking business. Visit the Speaker Resource Centre today to check them out.
