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PRACTICAL PUBLIC SPEAKING

Purpose:

The purpose of most speeches made in the public arena meets one of the following eight objectives:

To Inform To Educate To Convince To Convert

To Persuade To Market To Sell To train

Prerequisites:

There are four key prerequisites to a successful Public Speech:

Planning Preparation Practice Presentation

Special Considerations:

In planning. preparing and presenting a speech, special consideration must be given to key aspects:

Purpose What is the primary objective of the speech?

Speech Content What is the main Theme - the key Thrust - the overall Emphasis?

Humour What part will Humour play in your speech?

Introduction Will you introduce yourself? How will you introduce yoursubject/topic or your theme? Whom should you acknowledge?

Structure How should your speech be structured? What will be the three (3)main aspects of the Body? Will these three (3) aspects each be

comprised of three to five sub-segments? Is there a Linkage thatthe audience can follow and know where they are at?

Closure/ Conclusion How will you conclude? - a-Summary - a Challenge -Question/Answer session- With Thanks?

Period-Length How much time has been allocated for the speech?

Audience Who will comprise the audience? - Age - Culture - Ethnicbackground? How will you welcome them?

Your Language Level What is the English proficiency level of your audience?

Delivery-Presentation Is it a Lecture? Is it Formal or Informal? - Do you want MaximumParticipation? -Is it to be Highly Visual?

The Venue What is the size - seating - sound acoustics of the venue?

The Speaking Aids What type of microphone is available - hand-held - fixtureand Equipment on lectern - mobile - battery-operated? Are the LCD - Power-point

projector and your computer compatible? Is there a Whiteboard -

Pens - Eraser - OHP?

OHS Have the required Occupational - Health and Safety requirementsbeen met? Exits - Fire Extinguisher, etc.

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Practice When will you set apart time to practice, practice and practice?

Why Practice?

Rehearsing and practicing a speech has many advantages, especially if the practice session is audiotaped or videoed, thus allowing a detailed, self-paced review on the event.

The final practice sessions should eventually be as close to a full rehearsal as possible. If possible,

there is value in involving a trusted observer or observers. The session should be an introspective,self-assessment exercise whereby a speaker can identify personal weaknesses and areas forimprovement.Practice engenders personal confidence as well as raises competency levels and also enables apotential speaker to pre-test:-

ones delivery skills and preparedness -

ones personal confidence -

ones competency at pronouncing difficult words -

the equipment to be used -

the sequence and flow of the subject matter-

if the subject linkages are sequential and effective -

the response to any humour to be used -

the suitability of illustrations and language -

the clarity and simplicity of the overall presentation -

grammatical and pronunciation errors -

the length and complexity of any sentences or jargon used -

the length and timing of the speech -possible questions that could arise from the audience -

body language that need to be disciplined -

the quality, volume and pitch of ones voice

the speed of delivery -

that you have achieved you objective -

Final Factors to Remember:

Your voice, your eyes and your personal presence can make or break a Public Speech. Making asuperior Public Speech is all about the Product (the substance), the Presenter and the Presentation.

Voice andVolume areVital! Eye-Contact is Essential! - Personality is a Plus!

Your task as a speaker is to make everyone in the audience feel they are important to you. Thisbegins by ensuring that you regularly canvass the auditorium like the hands of a clock or ploughing afield, i.e.- briefly eye-contacting individuals, couples and groups as you visually cover each andeveryone throughout the speaking session. Secondly, it requires your responding to questions andqueries from all sections of the audience, not just from those seated to the fore.

One also has to be mindful that those up the back may be at a disadvantage if the public addresssystem is poorly located or you are speaking to quickly - especially when the audience are notprimary English language speakers. Listeners who have to strain to hear lose interest.

Finally, remember, no one knows you are not the greatest public speaker in the world. Practice,Practice, Practice and Pretend that you are!