So you want to be a...Speaker? Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 2-Part Blog in our "So you want to be a..." Career Series.

So You Want to be a...Speaker?

Tips #6 - 10:

6. Your presentation begins as soon you enter the room. People know you are the speaker and your presence and body language introduces you as the speaker more than the actual introduction.

7. When you step up to the lectern or podium – be confident and be yourself! Make eye contact, smile, warm up to the audience. Remember they want to hear from you but you have to win them over and make them feel that they can trust you. Your opening is critical in building audience connection and trust.

8. Learning to ‘read’ an audience is like developing an 8th sense – it is a learning process. From the vantage of a platform you can tell who is with you, who is agreeing, who is bored, and who is ‘on vacation’ mentally. You notice those looking at their watches, or seriously taking notes. Focus on those who are intently listening and keep making eye contact with them. These listeners will draw you out.

9. Wear appropriate clothing – usually business or business casual – and stay away from dangling earrings, low cut blouses and clanging brackets. These draw attention and take away from the listener’s focus.

10. Be a reader. Sometimes women feel that their shared story will be their message. A personal life story will only take you so far. What you are learning beyond the life story will take you further into public speaking. All leaders are readers. Public speakers are leaders. Read to expand yourself and especially read books written by the “greats”. Dig deep into the spiritual well of A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray, Oswald Chambers, Elizabeth Elliot and other men/women of that caliber.

What have you learned from public speaking? Share your thoughts and tips with us!

Your friend,

Margaret

So you want to be a...Speaker?

So you want to be a speaker?

Is there something within you wanting to become a public speaker? Do you feel you have a pertinent message for women today? Do you watch public speakers and say to yourself “I think I could do that”?

When I was a teen girl, the thought of public speaking terrified me. On the list of terrifying experiences, public speaking is at the top! As a shy, introverted young woman, I never dreamed that the desire, call or gift to speak publicly was lodged within me. Yet in time, God used circumstances, situations, and people to draw this gift out.

Sometimes the gift of public speaking is naturally expressed even in childhood but for most others, it is a gift buried deep within waiting to be released and needing the opportunity.

My development in this area came the hard way because the biggest hurdle I had to overcome was my fear of people. Learning to speak publicly was yet another development process.

Here are some things I’ve learned about public speaking:

1. Be well prepared. Learn how to prepare a message/talk that has content, humor, stories and life applications. In every presentation there should be 4 legs – Information, entertainment, passion and a call to action.

2. Ensure that there is a good flow in your material because you are taking your hearers on a journey. Review your material so that you are not rambling or disjointed in the flow. Have a strong beginning and a strong ending. Bookend your presentation.

3. Listeners today have short attention spans so you must have variety not only in material but in tone and pause points. Listeners come from the perspective of “what’s in it for me.” So the focus is on giving to them. Too much material can be overwhelming….even in public speaking, ‘less is more’.

4. Ensure that you have enough material to fill your allotted time. Respect the time given to you.

5. Don’t use too many ‘big’ words – be ordinary in your use of grammar. Remember the point is to be clearly understood. Stay away from “Uh…Uhhh…Ummmm” and comments such as : “I haven’t really prepared anything…” Women want content or they feel that their time has been wasted.

This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Blog in our "So you want to be a..." Career Series.