How to Perfect the Art of Public Speaking

①If you want to become the typeof speaker you’ve always wanted to be, read the following suggestions.　　①You can’t go from anervous speaker to a star speaker overnight. You shouldn’t expect to. Giveyourself time to get used to a large audience. Start with smaller groups andget as much feedback as you can. Keep on practicing and developing your skills.

　　②Be familiar with your speech materials. That doesn’t meanmemorizing your speech, which can lack enthusiasm and naturalness. Know yourkey talking points, supporting details and ways to move from one point to thenext.

　　③Positive energy can be passed. If you’re excited and enthusiastic, youraudience will be, too. You’ll be surprised at the positive cycle that creates:An enthusiastic audience can add even more energy to you. Use hand gestures. Whenappropriate, smile, smile, smile.

　　④Find friendly, interested faces in the audience and speak to them. Lookinto their eyes. It helps prevent you from staring off into the distance orreading from notes. It also helps make you feel like you are talking in aconversation rather than speaking to a group.

　　⑤When you look great, you feel great. That makes you confident. Lookinggreat doesn’t mean wearing new clothes. It means wearing clothes and shoes youfeel comfortable and appropriate to the setting. You can’t go wrong withbusiness suit. Simple is fine, but you should look clean from head to toe.