Most people dread the idea of speaking in public and communicating with a large group of people. As much as we’d like to avoid public speaking, it’s an essential part of communicating with other people and must therefore be honed rather than be dreaded. Public Speaking Singapore says that to be a successful leader, one should know how to communicate with others effectively. Here are four easy preparations to ensure a good speech and a satisfied audience:
Choose your topic
The first thing to do when preparing for public speaking is to select a topic where your speech will revolve around. However, one of the most important things that speakers fail to do is to identify the central idea of their speech, or the main point that the speaker wishes to convey to his audience. So along with choosing your topic, identify the central idea to make sure that your speech is based on it and you don’t stray from it.
Write your speech
A good speaker is ineffective without a properly structured and well-written speech. It is necessary to include the three basic elements when writing: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. A good introduction will hook your audience and coax them to listen to your speech until the end. The body should have appealing points which the audience can relate to, and the conclusion should effectively wrap up your speech and make the audience want more.
Practice, practice, practice
Practicing your speech before the public speaking itself will make you more confident, and allow you to alter some passages as you see fit. This will also help you avoid making mistakes and saying filler words such as “umm” and “uhh”. You may also opt to practice in front of other people, such as your family or friends, so they can suggest anything that might improve your speech or spot mistakes that you didn’t notice. Or you can practice in front of the mirror, so you can correct your posture, gestures, and facial expressions early on.
Be confident
No matter how brilliant and engaging your speech is, if you are not confident while delivering it, then the content will not matter. Keeping calm and collected while under pressure is not an easy task, but standing up straight and tilting your chin up increases your confidence. As the renowned American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow said, “The best speakers know enough to be scared…the only difference between the pros and the novices is that the pros have trained the butterflies to fly in formation.”
