Public Speaking

1. Public Speaking

2. Importance of Communication • Class Presentations • Field Research • Business Communications • Public Speaking (Politics)

3. Fear of Public Speaking • Population • No. 1 fear - Public Speaking • No. 2 fear - Death • Stage fright - Being in spotlight - Being unprepared - Being inexperienced

4. Sample Speech Outline I. Introduction • Thesis II. Body • Support arguments III. Conclusion • Review

5. Effective Communication • Preparation • Practice • Presence

6. Effective Communication • Preparation • Know your subject - It is much easier to speak on what you know • Do research to support your thesis • Notes - outline the main points or create a PowerPoint presentation - Slideshare.net - Note cards vs. the 8½ x 11 “shield”

7. Effective Communication • Preparation • Research - research the subject • Format - speak on what you know - Notes - outline main points - Note cards vs. full sized paper “Most people are more deeply influenced by one clear, vivid, personal example than by an abundance of statistical data.” • Eliot Aronson, Social Psychologist

8. Effective Communication “Practice is the best of all instruction.” • Practice - practice makes perfect - getting timing right - making revisions

9. Effective Communication • Presence - Nervousness - fear is natural - Body language - voice/tone - gestures - eye contact - Positive attitude

10. The Pros of PowerPoints • Simple to prepare • Can be easily changed and edited • Can be used again and again • Portable • Impressive and Entertaining

11. The Cons of PowerPoints • They can become a crutch • They take time to prepare • They can be a distraction for your audience members • What could go wrong? (and other famous last words!)

12. Things You Should Do • Make Eye contact • Don’t read from notes -only glance at them • Use Appropriate gestures to illustrate a point • Use Rhetorical questions to involve the audience

13. Things You Shouldn’t Do • Read directly from notes • Read directly from screen • Turn your back on audience • Slouch with hands in pockets • Fill pauses with um, ah, okay • Repetitive nervous gestures • Talk too fast or too quietly

14. Ten Successful Tips toControl the “Butterflies” 1) Know the room - become familiar with the place of the presentation 2) Get to know the audience - greet or chat with the audience before hand. It’s easier to speak to friends than strangers 3) Know your material - increased nervousness is due poor preparation

15. Control the “Butterflies” 4) Relax your body by stretching and breathing to ease the tension 5) Visualize giving your speech from start to finish. By visualizing success, you are more likely to be successful 6) Gain experience-experience builds confidence, which is key to effective public speaking

16. Control the “Butterflies” 7) Remember, people want you to succeed - the audience is not there to see you fail 8) Don’t apologize - by mentioning your nervousness or apologizing, you’ll only be calling the audience’s attention to mistakes which they might otherwise not be aware of

17. Control the “Butterflies” 9) Concentrate on your message-not the medium. Focus on the message you are trying to convey and not on your anxieties 10) Turn nervousness into positive energy-nervousness increases adrenaline, transform it into vitality and enthusiasm

18. Positive Non-Verbal Feedback • Smiling • Nodding • Eye Contact • Relaxed Posture • Facing you directly • Unbuttoned jackets • Leaning forward • Sitting on edge of chair • Hands in open position • Legs and arms uncrossed

19. Dead expression Tight lips Frowning Avoid eye contact Squirming Doodling Fidgeting Negative Non-Verbal Feedback • Fiddling with hands • Turning away • Slumping posture • Sitting or leaning back • Crossed legs or arms • Yawning • Snoring

20. Practice takes you from this..

21. To this….