Jan Kantor: Controlling the speech "jitters"

Controlling the speech "jitters"

NAPLES - Has the boss come to you and asked if you would present a speech at the next company meeting? Or are you the boss and have been asked to make a speech at the next "Rah Rah's" association meeting?

If you are like many of us, you can already feel the butterflies starting to flutter. Most people list public speaking as the thing they fear the most. Many professionals see this nervousness as a plus. A lack of it can even indicate little interest or motivation. So, you may want to look upon those butterflies as friendly, not the enemy.

The main thing is to keep the butterflies from getting the best of you. And if you are well prepared and know your subject, your anxiety will be short lived. Preparation is as important as presentation, so make sure you are thoroughly prepared.

Here are some important steps to follow:

Establish your purpose.

A single purpose is the easiest to prepare and is usually the most successful. When you have determined your purpose, find out about your audience. Use this knowledge to help you shape your message. Certainly it will be different if you are presenting to the "Lumberjack Association" than if it's the "Tea Time Ladies".

Make an Outline. List your major points in a logical order.

Then go back and fit in minor points under each major point.

Gather information. Research needs to provide the information you need to support your points. After adding this information to your outline, your speech should be prepared.

Add power point or other types of visuals. Visuals are most effective when used only for the key points. Avoid putting the whole story in the visuals. Your audience will move their attention from you as it watches them.

Practice. Be alone when you make your first practice runs. Speak out loud and practice in front of a mirror. Tape yourself in a practice run. Then sit down and review it and see how you can improve.

Avoid reading your speech. Use the outline only to get familiar with your material flow. When you feel comfortable with the material have someone listen to the entire presentation, including visuals. Be open to criticism.

The best prepared speech can stumble and fall if the presentation isn't effective. Your delivery must be clear and audible. When you speak, your first objective is to be understood by your listeners.

If you speak fast and your words are distinct and can easily be understood, you will hold the attention of listeners. If you speak slowly with too many pauses, you many irritate or lose the attention of your listeners. You will or course want variations in pace and have strategically placed pauses for effect. But this is very different from slow speech with "uh,uh,uh" between every other word.

Tone is equally important. Monotone will cause your audience to lose interest. Remember falling asleep in "Mr. Boring's" tenth grade history class? This tone can be overcome by using inflection. And p-l-e-a-s-e don't drop or fade your voice at the end of sentences. This makes people constantly question what you said. Keep your voice "up" at the end of each sentence or statement.

Body language is influential also. A relaxed posture facilitates the exchange of information. Smiles and eye contact contribute as well. Aloofness and frowns will make it more difficult to get your message across.

Short sentences are usually more effective. This doesn't mean that complex sentences should be avoided. But you need to remember they can sometimes be hard to understand. Don't complicate things by adding "big" words either. It usually isn't necessary and can leave some listeners confused. Additionally, many people find vulgar and profane language offensive. The safest approach is to avoid it.

When you are well prepared and comfortable with your presentation your anxiety will decrease. Your butterflies can then become "user friendly", and no longer be your enemy.


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