Total Guide to Public Speaking: Delivering Your Speech

This is the final of our 3-part feature, and here we take a look at the final deliverance of your speech.

Even before you open your mouth your audience will have made many assumptions about you.  They may have met you in the past, seen you around the office or at networking events.  And they will make up their mind very quickly whether they are going to enjoy your presentation.

To make that good first impression you have a great opening organised you have rehearsed thoroughly and you know what you want from the audience. So what might get in the way?  Well it might just be you.  In any new situation where you are feeling a little nervous or tense, your body can send some very undermining signals. Research shows that when an audience is presented with the two conflicting messages it tends to believe the body language over the words.

So “SMILE”.  It is an important sign showing friendship and yet when lacking in confidence we really find it difficult to do.  Smiling at the audience, says “I’m really happy to be here and I am really glad that you are here too”.  Now, that probably isn’t what you are feeling when you first get up to make a speech but it is the signal that you want to send out.  And more importantly people are programmed to respond to smiles with a smile too.

Follow up your smile with your eyes.  To be successful and to involve your audience you must give as much eye contact as you can.  To do this you need to look at as many people as possible while you speak.  You will see in their faces their warmth and their interest in what you are saying.

There is one more trap for the unwary speaker.  Under stress the body sometimes does very odd things.  These are the irritating habits or mannerisms that in one to one conversations seldom surface.  It’s your arms, your legs, your hands and your feet which all conspire to cause you maximum distress.

Don’t let your arms and your hands have a completely separate identity.  They should only move when you want them to demonstrate a point for example.  So don’t move or flap your hands like a demented penguin.

Don’t pick things up which you then rattle.  Keep your pen in your pocket, your watch on your wrist, your necklace undisturbed and your small change away from your pocket.

Watch your feet and avoid hopping from one foot to the other. Avoid swaying or bouncing which is quite interesting to watch but will distract from the speech.  Undirected walk-about is a ‘No-No’ too, especially if you are using a static mike.  If you feel the urge to walk, make sure you are going somewhere, don’t drift in one direction and then drift back.  And don’t pace up and down like a caged animal. 

To be a great speaker you need to be able to manage your voice.  Some speakers have naturally varied voices, where others have to work really hard to make their voice sound more interesting.  To make your voice effective monitor your speed of speaking and vary your pace.  Work on your inflection and the emphasis you use and, finally, manage the volume so you do not end up talking too quietly. To be successful you need to utilise speed, pauses, emphasis, volume and articulation. 

Deep breaths before you start will fill your lungs with oxygen.  By slowing down your deep breathing (that is, by drawing in air, counting to three and then letting the air out slowly) you will be sending a signal to your heart to slow down too. 

You can relieve a tight throat by yawning, (obviously not straight in front of your audience!) but step out for a moment and yawn to relax your face and throat. 

Visualise your success.  Create a picture in your mind of what it is going to look like after you have spoken.  Visualise your audience smiling and asking for more. 

It should go without saying that drinking alcohol does not improve your speech or remove the nerves - though it may make you think you don’t have any!  You know you should not drink and drive and it is great advice for speech makers too.  When you are the after dinner speaker keep your alcohol drinking until after your speech.

At the table you will need:

·         A glass of water.  You probably won’t need it but it’s very reassuring if you fear a coughing fit or a dry throat.

·         Your notes or mind map

·         Microphone, if you are using it, and know how to switch this particular microphone on and off.

·         Your presentation slides on both laptop and on an extra memory stick,  any handouts or props which you may wish to pass around your audience during the presentation

·         Reading glasses (and spares!) if you use them.

So there we are.  You have prepared your speech, researched your ideas and examples and practised it carefully.  You have your notes, you know what you are going to say, you know it’s good.  So now there is nothing else left to do but to enjoy the occasion.