The Art of Public Speaking | Peer2Peer Tutors Blog

When you hear the words ?public speaking,? do you automatically go weak in the knees as you dread having to give a presentation or speech in front of others? Or are you a seasoned veteran in the art of public speaking, relishing every opportunity to show off your orating skills in front of your peers? Regardless of your skill level as a public speaker, you can always continue improving your public speaking abilities. Like it or not, public speaking is a crucial skill in many aspects of life, including in education and in the workforce. Here are some tips to help you be a successful orator:

Before the speech:

• Unless you are giving an extemporaneous speech, rehearse your speech multiple times before delivering it. Not only will practicing allow you to become extremely familiar with the material you will present, it will also increase your confidence.
• Is there a time limit for giving your speech that you must observe? If so, be sure to time your speech multiple times while you practice, in order to ensure your speech follows the time limit.
• Record yourself practicing your speech, so you can be aware of what you need to improve. While watching the recording, be sure to listen for pacing, articulation, and vocal pauses. Get rid of unnecessary ?like,? ?ums,? and other vocal disfluencies and inarticulates. Take note of your body posture and eye contact. Avoid fidgeting, playing with your hair, and other unprofessional body movements.
• Practice in front of someone to get used to having an audience and have them provide you with feedback in order to improve.

During the speech:

• Walk up to the podium or stand confidently. This will send the message to the audience that you are ready and know what you are doing, which will increase your credibility as a speaker.
• Take a deep breath before you begin talking to calm your nerves and last-minute jitters.
• Make sure to maintain eye contact as you speak. Also, vary your eye contact; look at various members of the audience. You want to establish a connection with all of your audience members.
• Some people have a tendency to talk extra fast when they are nervous. If this is you, be extra conscious of the how fast you are talking to ensure that you talk at a pace that will allow your audience to fully grasp what you are saying.
• If you make a mistake during your speech, do not to call extra attention to it. Just continue on. If you don?t make it a big deal, your audience won?t either.
• End your speech professionally. Maintain the rapport you have built with your audience all the way until you walk off the stage.

After the speech:

• Evaluate your performance. What did you do well? What do you need to improve? By critically evaluating your speech delivery, you can improve as an orator.
• Celebrate! Reward yourself for all your hard work!

Want help preparing before you have to speak publicly? Contact an Aristotle Peer. We offer tutoring in numerous extra-curricular activities through our Peer+ program.

Source: http://blog.peer2peertutors.com/2013/01/the-art-of-public-speaking/

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