How to deliver an effective speech in public. Review on Delivering an Effective Speech

Contrary to what most people think, the art of effective public speaking is not something that is ingrained when one is born.it is something that can be cultivated and perfected with a lot of practice over a period of time.

Preparing for the speech – One needs to collate information pertaining to the particular subject and have a clear idea regarding the “phasing” of the talk/speech. Sources for collecting information about a particular subject/topic are myriad and in this day and age of the internet, all information on any conceivable topic under the sun is just a click away, thanks to search engines like google( http://www.google.com).

Collecting a while lot of information does not, by itself imply that half the work has been done. Considering the time that one has at his/her disposal for the speech, a person needs to work out as to how exactly to go about with the speech(what aspects of the topic to touch on, whether one needs to go in-depth, etc.) which depends on the kind of audience one is going to face.

After jotting down all the info and classifying them into sub-categories, one would do well to be thorough with the subject matter.mugging up won’t help here.it would be better to be very well-versed with the matter though. The disadvantage in trying to mug the whole speech is that if the speaker forgets a particular section of the speech, he is rendered speechless for the rest of the duration at the podium.

It is better to have “trial runs” of the speech before the grand finale.initially by oneself in front of a mirror, subsequently in front of a small audience(family or close friends). This helps in building up confidence considerably and working on the finer aspects like voice modulation, histrionics, etc. The feedback(both positive and negative) that one gets by speaking in front of the sample audience also helps in ironing out deficiencies, if any.

In case the topic to be spoken about is something abstract, it would do a world of good if the speaker includes a few anecdotes or quotes to ensure that the audience does not lose interest. Even the most experienced speakers generally carry a slip of paper which contains the important points of their speech. If at all a speaker is lost in the middle of the speech, one only has to peek into the paper and find his bearings.

Coming to the presentation/speech itself, one should ensure that one is properly dressed and groomed for the occasion. It doesn’t help to wear loud clothes which speak of a fashion statement. The dressing needs to be according to the atmosphere of the occasion.

The impression of the audience on the speaker is made up in the first few minutes of the speech itself. Always ensure that your face carries a friendly and smiling disposition, looking like one has just got up from bed and come straight onto the podium doesn’t help one bit. The poise at the podium should be one of confidence with no signs of nervousness at all. Eye contact should be maintained with the audience at all times. This aids in gauging the mood of the audience.if the speech seems to be taking a “heavy toll” on the audience, one can change the tenor of the speech accordingly to make it more “edible”.

The discharge of the speech should be in a clear, unwavering and confident tenor. This is very important as it holds the attention of the audience. In the unlikely event of forgetting a point or two, one should “squeeze in” a smile or an anecdote and continue with the next point instead of grimacing and making all kinds of irritating faces in front of the audience. Under no circumstance should one give the impression that something is amiss. While delivering the speech, the speaker might get a lot of new ideas which were not originally intended in the speech.these might very well be included if they go with the topic. After all, going extempore in a prepared speech is perfectly permissible.

If the presentation is a seminar or some such thing, using illustrated presentation aids like powerpoint slides or transparencies is recommended. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The above review is a collection of my own thoughts, partly from my own experiences while giving a speech and partly from being in the audience and observing others giving speeches. There are many more points and “Do’s and Don’ts” that help in giving effective speeches. May be someone else would help me out in this regard.