Rules for successful public speaking. Successful public speaking: sample text Ability to speak in public

How to speak in front of an audience

A person often has to perform in front of a large audience. In order for it to be effective, it is important to observe several necessary principles for constructing a speech.

A person often has to perform in front of a large audience. In order for it to be effective, it is important to observe several necessary principles for constructing a speech: 1. Determine the characteristics of the audience. 2. Clearly define the purpose of your speech. What result do you want to get, how do you want to win over the audience to your side? 3. On a large piece of paper in the center, write down the purpose of your talk, then write down the central ideas in the order you think of them, marking them on rays radiating out from the center in all directions. 4. A good speech usually consists of three to five parts. If you have more of them, then you either want to say a lot, or have not fully defined the meaning of the speech. 5. Write the abstract of your speech. Use Roman numerals for central ideas. For each central idea, choose from one to five sub-ideas, each of which may have even more ideas to reinforce. Fill up your notes with additional items if they come to your mind. 6. Individual items can be enhanced or simplified using visual aids. Prepare drawings, diagrams, note the sequence of their demonstration in the abstract. But - communicate with the audience, not with the materials. 7. Don't get carried away with visual demonstration. There is a good rule of thumb: one impression per key idea. 8. It is important to think about how you are going to establish trust with the audience, how you will earn their respect, what tone you are going to start. You have 20 seconds to grab attention and generate interest. Answer the question: “Why should people listen to you?” 9. Show your enthusiasm with movements, gestures and different postures. Talk to individuals, not audiences. 10. Smile not only with your lips, your voice should be cheerful and energetic. Your spiritual uplift must be transmitted to the audience. How to impress an audience during a speech: 1. Make strong, surprising, or ironic statements. "Everything you know about the influence of the teacher is not true." 2. Refer to scary statistics. “The first thing people fear the most is the fear of public speaking.” 3.. Share something about yourself. 4. Show your knowledge of the audience and their life experiences. “In your practice, you have succeeded due to the fact that…..”. 5. Refer to a catchphrase that accurately defines the topic of your speech. 6. Refer to current events that have attracted everyone's attention. Drawing a parallel between the topic of your speech and the sensational event can serve as a good start. How to write a speech correctly.

1. Write the way you speak, not the way you write. 2. Make each paragraph three to five sentences. If the paragraphs are longer, you may lose where you left off. 3. When writing, use active verbs more often than passive ones. 4. The number of words in a sentence should not exceed twenty. It will be difficult for the audience to keep up with you if the sentences are longer. 5. When speaking, use the first and second person pronouns more often than the third. "He", "she", "they", and "them" are impersonal pronouns and can give your speech the tone of a lecture. 6. Type your speech neatly and clearly. Type at two intervals within the text and three between paragraphs. 7. Underline those words or phrases that need to be emphasized. 8. Write the word "PAUSE" next to the points where you need to make a dramatic pause. 9. Leave wide margins on the right and left. Make notes about the use of audiovisual and other media. 10. Practice reading the speech. You must learn to pronounce it with minimal use of written text. 8. Read the way you speak, not the way you read. How to make a speech exciting and attractive:

1. Choose the topic that excites you. Build the performance assigned to you so that it causes a storm of emotions in you. 2. Tell someone before the performance how excited you are. 3. Don't deviate from 120 wpm unless you want to make an impact. This speed is average for delivering a speech; The best speakers speak at 200 words per minute. If you go below 120 words per minute, your listeners will start to wonder what happened. 4. Use your voice to influence. To keep your listeners interested, change the volume, speed, pitch, and stress. Lower your voice to emphasize the last words. 5. In a room with good acoustics and an audience not exceeding fifty people, it is better to speak without a microphone. It is much more convenient if it is possible to carry or attach the microphone to clothing than to stand in front of the audience in one place. 6. Don't stand still, approach your listeners. As soon as you leave the lecturer's seat and stand at the front rows of seats, the audience will feel that there is a connection between you and them. How to develop the right attitude to your fears in public speaking. 1. Develop the right attitude towards your fears. Be aware that audiences are rarely hostile. Remember that even the most professional speakers get nervous before taking the podium. 2. Analyze your audience. The more you learn about your audience, the more confident you will feel. 3. Get ready, get ready, get ready! The better you know the topic, the more connoisseur of both the topic and the audience you will consider yourself. 4. Make "soothing" cheat sheets. 5. Present your success. Two weeks before your speech, every night before going to bed, imagine a picture of your success. 6. Use audiovisuals to take some of the stress off yourself. 7. Practice three or four times before your speech, do this until you are satisfied with your speech. Never train on the day of your performance! 9. Relax, rest and avoid any excitement. Get as much rest as possible the night before the performance; limit your coffee intake. 9. Keep your introduction and conclusion timely. Be confident in your introduction and conclusion. 10. Dress to suit your success. Wear what suits you best. 11. Make eye contact with a few friendly faces. Protect yourself with warm looks. To organize a discussion, the following rules must be observed: 1. Look directly at the person asking the question, then communicate your answer to the entire audience. Do not participate in dialogues. 2. Listen carefully to the whole question. Pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. 3. Make sure you understand the question correctly. Get an explanation, ask to repeat the question. 4. Don't let one person take over the conversation. Turn your back on the monopolist and turn to others. It is possible that he is one of those who first needs to be reassured, then grinned and endured. 5. If you don't have an answer to a specific question, don't pretend to know it. Promise that after you deal with the question, you will answer. 6. Keep the purpose of your speech in focus. Do not allow questions that will distract you from your main topic. Don't be afraid to say, "That's interesting, but it's not relevant to my talk." 7. Maintain control over the audience. Don't let others use your Q&A time for their dialogue. 8. Answer attacks and objections only with facts, not with emotions. 9. Stay calm and cool. You will win, and hotheads will lose support in the face of the audience. The voice is an important tool. Therefore, you need to improve your voice. There are several ways to do this: 1. Record your voice on a tape recorder. Listen to him objectively. Experiment with different tones, pitches, accents, speed, power and diction. 2. Try to speak at 120 words per minute. This is the average speed for speech. 3. Speak clearly. Concentrate your efforts on pronouncing the final consonant of each word. 4. Underline key words and ideas with your voice. “Drive in” those important ideas that you would like the audience to remember. 5. Use your voice to create contrast. High and low, loud and quiet, excited and dead. 6. Practice speaking from deep within your diaphragm. Don't speak through your nose. Try to create vibration in your vocal cords. 7. Ask your loved ones to note any annoying vocal moments in your speech. Listen to them yourself. 8. Take care of your voice. A sick or tired voice needs rest and care - drink hot water in small sips or chew raisins. There may be people in the audience who interfere with your presentation. In order to deal with intruders, you can use the following methods: 1. Go straight to the intruders. If you can walk through the audience, get close to the intruders. They will understand what is required of them, although you do not say a word. 2. Ask the audience to calm down. Most people will understand who this refers to. 3. Stop talking. At this time, take a look in the direction of the offenders. If it doesn't work right away, other listeners will silence them. 4. Do nothing. Wait until the listeners get tired of the intruder and calm him down themselves. 5. Scare the entire audience. Say something special and interesting into the microphone to attract the attention of all listeners, including talkers. 6. As a last resort, seek help, embarrass offenders. Ask them a question about the topic of your speech; politely ask them to behave properly; joke about them.

Many novice speakers are interested in the answer to the question: “How to speak in public?”. There is an opinion that speakers are not born, but become. Therefore, we can say that any person with due diligence can master oratory. In order to give a speech in public, moreover, to do it well enough, you should learn a few simple rules and do some exercises regularly. If you remember these recommendations and apply them, you will definitely succeed in public speaking.

First difficulty One that every new speaker inevitably faces is excitement. It's one thing to sit at home on the couch and talk about how badly someone else did. And it is quite another thing to speak in front of an audience. As soon as we get into the eyes of people and understand that we are being evaluated, our speech changes dramatically. There is only one way to overcome embarrassment and excitement - to start speaking in front of people. You should practice public speaking whenever possible. As soon as you feel that fear and excitement are reduced, then you are on the path to success. So the first rule is: try to perform as often as possible, confidence will come with experience.

Next skill you will need to perform well is the ability to structure your speech, that is, think it through to the smallest detail. This skill will help you find the right arguments while preparing for a speech, it will allow you to think through your speech in advance. Remember, in order to perform well, you must set a specific goal for yourself that you want to achieve with your speech. Focusing on this goal, prepare the means to achieve it.

Third rule: to speak in public, it is very important to be able to speak beautifully. For public speaking, both the correct construction of speech and the setting of the voice are important. All successful lecturers and public speakers carefully watch not only what they say, but also how they say it. There is a power in their words and voice that gives importance to the information they want to convey to the listeners. In this regard, consider this simple rule: to speak in public it is very important to develop the ability to speak beautifully and correctly.

Fourth rule: to speak in public, you need not just read from paper, and not just speak well and beautifully, but you need to contact the audience. You should communicate with people, analyze their reaction to your words and, depending on this reaction, adjust your speech. That is, your speech should not be strictly regulated. You should be able to change the course of your speech somewhat depending on the reaction of the audience. Therefore, another skill that you must acquire in order to perform successfully is the ability to feel the audience well and the ability to interact with people.

Fifth Rule. After you learn to feel the audience, you need to strive to ensure that acquire the ability to manage an audience, maybe even indoctrinate and manipulate if you so desire. A real lecturer, a real speaker is a person who can perform all sorts of manipulations with the audience, for example, on the one hand, to persuade him to some opinion, and on the other hand, to dissuade him of anything. This is necessary so that the speaker always achieves his goal.

So, we have considered five simple rules, following which you will learn how to successfully speak in front of an audience:

1. Practice constantly.
2. Structure speech.
3. Speak correctly, clearly and distinctly.
4. Feel the audience and track their reaction.
5. Manage the audience to achieve the set goal.

By mastering these skills and putting them into practice, you have every chance of becoming a great speaker. And then you can answer the question: “How to speak in public?” - "Easily!"

We all sometimes have to speak to the public: during work meetings, interviews, presentations, and even family feasts. For many people, especially introverts, such moments are a real stress. Fortunately, you can avoid panic or at least significantly reduce its degree by following the advice of psychologists.

Today we will share with you 10 useful life hacks for those who have to speak in public.

Why is it important to be able to speak in front of an audience?

I think it’s worth starting with why everyone needs to be able to speak in public. Many of you may object: I am not an actor, not a teacher, and not even a sales manager, why should I? But if you think about it, situations similar to public speaking are constantly encountered in everyday life.

From graduation and job interviews to toasting at a relatives wedding and explaining the rules of the game to your own child and their friends, these are all situations in which you need to keep the attention of the audience for a certain period of time, and often this is not easy.

Fear of speaking in public is one of the most common human phobias. Even if you do not panic, it is possible that the need to prepare a speech or speech gives you some discomfort. But this feeling can be learned to control, including with the help of a number of tips that you will see below.

Psychologists say that in the first place, as in the case of any other fear, it is worth vividly imagining the worst possible scenario. What can go wrong during public speaking? They don't throw rotten tomatoes at anyone these days! Most likely, the worst thing that can happen is if you mumble incoherently or forget the prepared text. But all of us have experienced similar moments more than once or twice in life, starting with unsuccessful answers at the blackboard. Has anyone died from this momentary humiliation? Moreover, do you still remember them? Believe me, those who should listen to you in half the cases will not notice at all that something went wrong, and in the rest they will forget about it the next day. Nothing bad will happen, even if your speech is not brilliant. However, making this whole process a lot less nerve-wracking isn't all that difficult. Let's look at a few ideas on how to do this.

So, let's turn to the specific advice of psychologists.

1. Watch other people who speak in public.

Nothing teaches us so clearly as living examples. If you know that public speaking is your problem, start by listening carefully to other people. Go to conferences, lectures, watch videos on YouTube - whatever is more convenient for you. I bet you'll find both great performances that make you want to say, "Oh, I want to be like this guy!" stronger than me!"

2. Relax.

Let's go back to what we already talked about above: trust that nothing bad will happen to you even if you fail your speech.

Of course, if we thoughtfully prepare our speech, it seems very important to us to conduct it with brilliance. But even if something goes wrong, believe me, others will quickly forget about it or not notice at all. Yes, you may not fulfill some goal: you won’t convince investors, you won’t find partners, you won’t convey your idea, etc. But all this is definitely not the end of the world and it’s not worth the amount of nerves spent.

3. Prepare everything in advance.

Of course, if speaking in public is not your element, be sure to do your homework. Write the text of your speech, or at least the main theses, practice at home - in front of a mirror or relatives.

If you need to speak at an event, never show up at the last minute. Be sure to get to know the site, make sure you have everything you need (presentations, screens, materials, etc.). The more confident you are that the other components of your speech are under control, the less you will worry about your speech.

4. Know your audience.

The lion's share of the features of your speech depends on who will listen to you. If you have the opportunity to know in advance who your audience will be, then you can try to guess what exactly they want to hear from you, which means immediately capture their attention.

For example, if you are a guest lecturer at an educational institution or at a master class, it is better to know in advance what the approximate age of the audience is, as well as what their average knowledge of your topic is. This will help to avoid both a lecture that is too complex and therefore incomprehensible and boring, as well as a lecture that is too simple, from which your listeners will not learn anything new.

Also, knowing about the interests of the intended audience will help you pick up jokes or digressions that will certainly adorn any public speaking.

5. Involve the audience in your performance.

If you have studied your audience, then this will be the next logical step. You can ask questions by getting the audience to answer or raise their hands (for example: "Which of you have heard of ...?"), or joke about topics that are familiar to them.

In addition, psychologists emphasize the importance of eye contact: try to look at your audience or at someone in particular in the hall or class, this will help your speech sound more convincing. If the speaker only looks at the floor or the ceiling, nothing prevents the audience from burying themselves in smartphones and completely losing interest in his speech.

6. Tell stories from your life.

People love to hear stories from personal experience. Sometimes a short story about how you yourself, for example, were able to solve some problem with the help of what you are now trying to sell is ten times more convincing than any statistics.

At the same time, of course, brevity is important: do not delve into the details of your personal life too thoroughly, try to quickly return to the main topic.

7. Don't rush.

One of the most common mistakes when speaking in public is the wrong topic of speech. Most of us in life speak much faster than is acceptable for a lecture or presentation. Try to pause, if you feel that you have spoken too quickly, drink a sip of water, take a breath.

You can also arrange with a friend or relative present in the hall that he will give you a signal if you are in too much of a hurry.

8. Move!

Note that almost all successful speakers walk around the room and gesticulate while speaking. Take an example from them, do not hide behind a pulpit or a table!

At conferences, long presentations, and other work events, people are often forced to listen to speeches for hours, so their attention is already deliberately scattered. If you move, smile and show your energy in every possible way, you are much more likely to be heard.

9. Prepare good questions.

You are unlikely to forget to prepare your speech in advance, but it is equally important to prepare questions and answers on your topic. Why is this needed? Remember how many times at various events you have seen a similar picture: a person finishes his speech, asks: “Does anyone have questions?”, And in response - silence. You should set aside time for questions, but you can never guarantee that someone will actually want to ask you questions. In this case, you can get out of the situation as follows: “I am often asked the following question ...” They themselves asked the question - they themselves answered. Everything's under control!

10. Do not refuse to communicate with the public after the performance.

Most likely, most of the audience will quickly forget what you were talking about, and this is normal. But people will definitely appreciate if you were polite, attentive and took the time to answer their questions.

Conclusion

The ability to speak in front of an audience is not necessarily an inborn talent. Most often, this is a skill that can be developed and improved. Remember that Demosthenes, the legendary orator of ancient Athens, was tongue-tied in his youth and learned to speak clearly by picking up pebbles in his mouth, and famous comedian Jim Carrey struggled with a real phobia of public speaking early in his career. Do your homework, practice in front of a mirror, try to stay calm - and you will succeed! Good luck!

I am many years old, I have a favorite job, the penultimate iPhone and everything that successful people in today's society are supposed to have. At the same time, I am not the most self-confident person, however, when you meet me on the street, you will decide that I am a cynical lucky man who winks likes and life itself.

“He certainly has nothing to complain about!”

Don't deny too many of us think this way about others.

THIS IS CORNY

It's all pretty banal. In my youth, when choosing a future profession, I tried to proceed from my own problems, the solution of which, in my opinion, would be a qualitative way to become or at least get closer to the image of the person I always wanted to be.

In my second year of medical school, I learned three things:

1. I don't want to be a doctor.
2. It is foolish to try to be not who you really are.
3. The first two things are not as banal as they seem at first glance.

STRING

Due to the nature of my work, I often have to travel on business trips, make reports and presentations in front of different audiences. Like anyone, every day I run the risk of making a mistake or not being convincing enough, which in the end can ruin a future deal.

I can't afford to fail, to show up to a meeting or conference rumpled. I can’t get sick or offended by a lady who pushed me into a cafe, with a handbag studded with metal spikes. I risk not only myself, but also people who expect results from me, so I created a philosophy that I adhere to not only on weekdays from 9 to 18, but throughout my life.

1. HUMOR

We all remember that at first there was the Word, but contrary to the classical interpretation of the original source, this word – HUMOR. It is only important to remember that each of us has his own, but this does not mean that we should adapt to each.

Do not joke about sensitive political topics and do not get personal. The best way to win over is to open your humanity. Laugh at yourself, people love it.

I always explain complex things “on my fingers”. I really like the association about the dough, from which sweet pies can be obtained, which I really like, or maybe pasties, from which I have heartburn.

2. DON'T SHOW OFF

No, really, it's not worth it. Share your knowledge not in the form of “are you an idiot?”, but as if you were talking to a friend. Believe me, if instead of a dry fact in the “how stupid everyone is” mode, you accept friendly concern and say something like: “Recently I found out that ...”, then they will want to continue the conversation with you and not only about work. They will want to trust you, and this is the next point.

The image of Steve Jobs was clearly registered in my head. Simplicity, conciseness and properly built openness is a potentially successful case.

3. BE FRIENDS IN ADVANCE

At some point in business, a fashion arose not to keep promises, to seem better than you are and to lie to everyone in a row, just to earn more than your neighbor. Today it seems like the Stone Age or fantasy from movies about "brothers".

In business, it is important not so much to be friends in the generally accepted sense of the word, but to be able to trust. When you perform in public, the main task is to prove that you have become a friend to the audience even before you step on stage.

Greet everyone and add words to your introduction that speak of your closeness to the audience, for example: “We already know some of you, we were lucky to work with someone ...”. And at the end, be sure to wish a good day - trite, but it works with a bang.

4. RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT TO MISTAKE

I googled (to seem smarter) that at different times the classics spoke about mistakes, and found a simple and ingenious phrase, in my opinion: “To make mistakes is humane, to forgive is divine” (Alexander Pope).

If for some reason you couldn't avoid a mistake, then admit it, promise to fix it, fix it immediately, and come back with a thank you. It will be a shame, but everyone knows that nothing hardens from troubles like past mistakes.

It happened to me. Once I made an inaccuracy in the calculations of statistics, which I was absolutely sure of. One of the opponents immediately pointed this out to me. I apologized and took a two-minute timeout after the performance to sort things out. My colleagues received a small scolding, and I acknowledged the fact that I am not immune to ridiculous accidents.

5. YOU CAN BE HESITATE, YOU CAN'T BE NERVOUS

Shyness is nice. It can work for you, becoming a feature, but nervousness never. Drink any sedatives before a performance, but don't expect to instantly become a superhero.

Most of us are not afraid of an unfamiliar audience, but of looking like an idiot in our own eyes. Admit to the public that you are shy, and everyone will feel better.

I taught at the institute for several years, then spoke a lot in public, and I can assure you that the shyness never goes away. Each time you will be better at understanding the topic and a little better at people, but there is no way to just take it and stop worrying.

6. REFER TO OTHERS

Public events are very exhausting for both the audience and the speakers. One and a half - two hours of monotonous speeches by speakers in ties, who, let's say: did not get enough sleep, were not speakers, did not prepare, were upset by their daughter's engagement, and so on. Choose one or two interesting reports from previous speakers and find a way to refer to them in your message.

“... I liked how Mr. X spoke in his report about increasing the yield of ant farms in the context of the growth of technological import substitution ...”.

MESSAGE

Over the years, I have read 100500 million books, such as "How to become charming and attractive if you are over 80, you are a sociopath, and you have dyslexia" and so on in that spirit, but not a single book has become a desktop.

Be yourself and try to look and feel harmonious, this is really important.

Here are a few tips for successful public speaking. They will help make your speech interesting and engaging.

1. Preparing a speech

As you know, all good improvisations are carefully prepared in advance. A speech without prior preparation, especially for a novice speaker, will almost certainly be a failure. Remember Mark Twain's aphorism: "It takes more than three weeks to prepare a good short impromptu speech."

First, make a "frame" or "skeleton" of the future public speaking:

• Determine the motivation for people to listen to your speech. What do they need it for? What useful or interesting things will they learn for themselves?
• Highlight the main idea of ​​your speech.
• Separate your subheadings by breaking your idea down into several component parts.
• Identify key words that you will repeat several times so that the attendees remember what you are talking about.
• Think carefully about the plan and structure of the future speech. It should include an introduction, body and conclusions (end)

Having prepared the "skeleton", begin to build up "muscles" on it.

• Find vivid examples "from life", from history, literature that you use in the process of speaking.
• Prepare the necessary diagrams, illustrations, graphs for visual consolidation of information.
• Determine the moment during the speech when you turn to the audience with a question, asking them to name something, recount - this will help those present to concentrate on the discussion of the topic and significantly increase the efficiency of the perception of your material.
• Write the full text. Pay special attention to its beginning and end.

A feature of the introduction is that the audience will very quickly make an impression of you, and this impression will dominate throughout the speech. If you make mistakes in the introductory part, it will be difficult to correct them. It is important from the very beginning to interest the public in the success of your first shot. To do this, in the introductory part, you can use some kind of witty joke, tell an interesting fact or recall an outstanding historical event, be sure to link them to the topic of the speech.

The final part of the public speech provides for summing up. At the end, you need to recall the key issues raised in the speech, be sure to repeat all the main ideas. The successful construction of the last phrases, enhanced by their emotionality and expressiveness, will not only cause applause from the audience, but also turn them into your adherents.

Your main controller is time. The audience can listen carefully and perceive your ideas only for a limited period due to psycho-physiological reasons (usually no more than 15-20 minutes, then the audience's attention begins to weaken). Short, clear, understandable, persuasive and accessible phrases are expected from you. Follow Chekhov's: "Brevity is the sister of talent." Consider the pace of your speech. The most favorable rate for comprehension is approximately 100 words per minute. When planning your presentation, be sure to take into account the time that will need to be spent answering questions.

It is advisable to know in advance who you will have to speak to: the size of the audience, its interests, views, what it expects from the speaker, what kind of reaction you need to get from it. Depending on these indicators, adjust the individual points of your speech. You need to be on the same cultural level with the audience, communicate in its language, only in this case you can count on establishing psychological contact between the speaker and the audience. You should not touch on topics that are beyond the understanding of the audience.

Check the dictionaries for the meanings of the buzzwords you use. Find out the correct pronunciation. Language mistakes can cause ridicule in your address and ruin the whole performance, no matter how brilliant it may be in content.

When a speech is prepared, it is better to write down its main provisions or theses on small cards. Arrange them in sequence. These cards are very convenient to use during the performance. If this is not a two or three hour report, then it is not recommended to read the text, it is advisable to learn it by heart and pronounce it from memory, only looking at your notes from time to time.

Say the speech aloud several times (preferably in front of a mirror) to get used to the text and feel all the nuances well. For polishing phrases, intonation, facial expressions, it is desirable to work with a tape recorder or video camera. Such pre-training will reduce your anxiety, make you feel confident and greatly increase the likelihood of success in public speaking.

2. Place of public speaking

A pulpit or a podium, a stage or a balcony, in general, any elevation above the floor level always causes fear in people who do not have sufficient experience in public speaking. E. Morin called it "stage fright", and Mark Twain recommended to those who are afraid of performance: "Calm down, because the public still expects nothing from you" . It is better to set yourself up as if you first of all want to tell yourself something interesting, at the same time familiarizing everyone present with it.

Before speaking, it is very important to study the room in order to establish from which side the audience will look at you. When choosing a place, consider your height. You need to make sure everyone can see you. If you need to speak behind the podium, then if you are not tall, make sure that a strong stand is placed under the podium. The "talking head" looks comical and will not be able to hold the attention of the audience for a long time. It is necessary to ensure that the speaker is visible to the chest.

If you have to sit during public speaking, check the comfort of your seat. Sitting at the table, you can not slouch and put your hands on it; sitting in a chair, you can’t lean on the armrests and back, cross your legs, clasp your hands on your knees, try to sit on the edge of the chair, leaning forward slightly with your legs pushed back slightly and your heels pressed to the floor; it is necessary to sit straight, freely, radiating openness and goodwill; look people in the eyes, follow their emotions, gestures and facial expressions, demonstrate care and understanding with all your appearance.

3. Clothing

Speaking in front of a large audience is like a performance, so the speaker's clothing is of great importance. During a public speech, the speaker has to sit at a table, stand on a high pulpit, behind a podium, etc. Given this, pants and skirts should be long enough, socks should be high, and shoes should be in perfect order.

Wear things that you feel comfortable in and that don't distract you with their inconvenience. You should never have the thought: “How does it sit on me?”. It is better not to use completely new things that you wear for the first time. Clothes and shoes should not give you internal discomfort and distract your attention.

The universal rule of successful public speaking is to not allow an imbalance between what you say and how you look. In formal occasions, it is better to use a medium-dark suit, a white or ivory-colored loose shirt and an elegant expressive tie. Contrasting colors and a good suit will help create a positive attitude towards you and contribute to the success of public speaking. The tie should not have a bright pattern, so as not to distract attention from the face, however, it should not be one-color. Ties made of matte fabric, dark blue, red wine, burgundy with a barely noticeable pattern are best suited. The length of the tie should be such that its end barely covers the buckle on the waist belt.

If your jacket has two buttons, you need to fasten only the top, if three - only the middle one. Unless there is a very great need, you should not wear glasses when speaking in public, jewelry is also not needed.

If the speaker is a woman, her clothes should have long sleeves, the length of the skirt should be medium (to the middle of the knee), it should not be too narrow. Regarding colors, here the requirements are much more liberal than for men: the color just has to go to a woman. Women should also avoid bright massive jewelry. Shoes are best in dark colors with inconspicuous or solid bows; stockings of the same color as the shoes. Glasses should have a simple design and frames to match the hair color.

When performing in an informal setting (friendly parties, etc.), clothing requirements do not play a big role. You can dress however you like, but remember that if there is some eclectic detail that catches the eye in your appearance (a bright brooch, a flashy acid-colored tie, an original style of a suit with whimsical patterns), then it will distract attention from the content of your words. . The public will remember exactly it and will not pay attention to what you said.

4. Successful public speaking - a few secrets

When you enter the classroom, move confidently, do not scurry or make fussy movements. Walk with your usual gait, this will convince those present that you are not worried and are not in a hurry. When you are introduced, stand up, be sure to give the audience a slight smile and make direct eye contact with the audience.

In order to show your importance and earn the respect of the audience, you need to control the maximum allowable space. Don't try to be a small person and don't hide somewhere in the corner of the stage. Be sure to take a seat in the center, or at least direct your gaze to the center from time to time. Straighten your shoulders, raise your head and lean forward a little, demonstrating something like a bow to the audience, you can repeat this gesture several times later.

When you get up on the podium, stage, rostrum or take another place to speak, do not rush to start talking right away. Be sure to take a break. You can take every opportunity - ask for a glass of water, lay out the papers, move something. Use the pause for as long as you feel necessary to prepare yourself psychologically and set up the audience to communicate with you. If you are very nervous, take a few deep breaths in and out before speaking. A pause will also help you to explore the space around you in a few seconds, to figure out how you will use it. Remember the theatrical axiom: the more talented the actor, the longer he can pause.

Next, do not just take in your eyes, but carefully examine the hall, take a closer look at the entire audience. Stop looking at a few of those present who will become visual points of support, beacons in your speech. Then, if necessary, you can change them. Try to give your personal attention to as many people as possible, but be sure to take a look around the entire space of the hall - from left to right, from the first to the last row. Do not linger long in the back rows and again turn your eyes to the front seats. Remember that they are always occupied by the most interested people, in their eyes you will find support for yourself. Having fixed for yourself a few of these visual "anchors", start talking.

Your facial expressions and gestures give a person much more impressions than anything you say. With gestures, you will focus on the importance of information. When gesturing, there are three rules: first, do not put your hands in your pockets; second - do not hide them behind your back; third - do not occupy them with foreign objects. Hands are helpers that should always be free and ready to unite with your thoughts.

You can not use "defensive" or "defensive" body movements, for example, crossing the arms over the chest, laying them behind the back. Crossing the arms shows uncertainty about what the person is saying. It is best to take an open stance and show a smile from time to time. Constantly control your posture, keep your back straight, head up, move naturally.

During public speaking, do not stand still like a monument and do not throw your head back, as this will repel the audience and delay the flow of psychological energy that should dynamically affect those present. Be sure to move. You need to show yourself alive, energetic, dynamic. Your movements should be short, precise and convincing. When you want to emphasize something, move your body towards the audience or use the gesture of bringing your body closer to those present. If there is an opportunity to approach the audience, then do it when you want to tell her something important to convey and convince those present that you are right.

Maintain eye contact with your audience at all times. An experienced speaker always keeps an eye on the attention of the audience, looking from the front rows to the back. If you use notes, then do it very carefully: look down quickly and briefly at the text and look up again, transferring all attention back to the audience.

Consider the cultural, national, religious and other characteristics of the audience. For example, in the Chinese and Japanese, your open eye contact can cause negative feelings, since this is not accepted in Eastern cultures. Among the Caucasian peoples, a direct, firm look into the eyes of a man is perceived as a challenge to a duel, etc. Also, with great care, you need to use jokes on national or religious topics.

You should not have a frozen, motionless expression on your face. Otherwise, you will cause indifference and boredom from the public. The basis of your attractiveness as a speaker is a slight pleasant smile. Try to accompany the transition to each key topic with a special change on the face: slightly raise your eyebrows or move your eyes, use slow head turns. If you are sitting, include your hands in business: translate something or change their position a little. While sitting, emphasize the freedom of your posture at all times.

Repeated repetition of simple expressive phrases, vivid phrases contributes to the success of public speaking. However, try to avoid inappropriate and untimely use of them. The content of the phrases should not be allowed to be far from the thoughts that need to be conveyed to the audience.

Do not show superiority or frivolity when communicating with the audience, do not broadcast "down" in a mentoring tone. Be very serious about formulating answers to the questions posed - the answers provide an opportunity to once again emphasize the main points of your speech. Avoid irritation, hostility, or sarcasm, even if the questions are uncomfortable for you. Much better - calmness, goodwill and light humor.

Take philosophically any surprises and awkwardness - a microphone breakage, a glass of water falling on the floor, a sudden pause, etc. You can’t betray your confusion and show a negative attitude towards negative moments that arose by chance or turned out to be “home-made” by your ill-wishers. It is best to respond to this with humor, to beat it in a way that is beneficial to you. The speaker must control the situation, show that all this does not interfere with him, and troubles do not unsettle him.

If the speech is interrupted by applause, you must wait until they end and only then continue - so that the beginning of your next phrase is heard by everyone. Also remember that there is a difference between applause and applause. The speech must end before tired and irritated listeners begin to "slam" the speaker.

Concluding the speech, you need to look into the eyes of the audience and say something pleasant, demonstrating your satisfaction from communicating with the audience. Such a positive information impulse in the final will remain in the memory of people, in their perception of your public speech.

© Prepared by: I. Medvedev
Copyright © 2006 Psyfactory.