Effective Public Speaking: Audience Contact
Although speaking in public is really a monologue of sorts, this monologue is addressed to a ready, able and receptive audience who wants to learn from you as much as you want to learn from them.
Speaking in public would be more effective if it is listened to. The following are effective tips to maintain that necessary contact with the audience.
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Why should I bother using humour in my presentations?
Can't I just deliver my information and sit down?
You sure can! That's what most people do. The problem is that most people are not effective presenters. They are nighty-nite, snooze-inducing, say-your-prayers, hit-the-sack, unlicensed hypnotists. They are ZZZZZs presenters. They might be experts in their field and able to recite hours and hours of information on their topic, but is that effective?
by Natalie H. Rogers
If you speak for a living, whether you are part time, full time or BIG time, you need to be guided by strategies that get you the bookings. Here is what my 20 plus years booking and coaching speakers has taught me. (... more)
At one time or another, your boss has probably said to you, "Don't get caught sitting down on this one." The problem is, many sales presentations are made while you're doing exactly that - sitting down.
It's more difficult to be impressive and in control when making a seated presentation than when standing, say Judy Stein and Marya Holcombe, principals of Strategic Communications, Inc., a consulting firm in New Haven, Conn. They believe sales people who don't adjust their delivery style inadvertently put themselves in the hot seat.
Fortunately, the problem is easily remedied with a few simple modifications. Here's what Stein and Holcombe suggest:
This film is pure nostalgia! Great for training in the office as an ice-breaker. It takes us through the basics of effective public speaking, with its focus on body posture and gestures. 
Before you open your mouth to say the first word of your speech, you are communicating with the audience. Your stance, facial expression and body language are a picture that paints a thousand words. Make it calm, confident and pleasant, and you start "on the right foot"! So plant both of your feet, stand up straight and smile at them. You'll feel confident, sincere and professional and the audience will know. Than you can play with them.
In the pursuit of confident public speaking skills, it is important to accept that nervousness may never be completely eliminated in some public speakers. This is not necessarily bad. A certain amount of nervousness can be positively channeled to enhance performance.
Nevertheless, confident public speaking does involve learning not to betray one's nervousness through obvious body signals
Familiarize yourself with the items in the list below and either check yourself through a video playback of your next presentation or have a close friend or colleague critique your presentation by looking out for these indicators that betray a lack of confidence in public speaking.
http://mitm-la.blogspot.com/2008/07/confident-public-speaking-check-this.html
Patricia Fripp simplifies and demystifies the process of designing your presentation...fast!
You will learn:
The one sentence you must clarify to start your speech
An easy-to-adapt formula to design your presentation
How to speak to be remembered and repeated
The secrets to connecting with every audience
What makes you and your presentation persuasive
