Public Speaking 101

 

Theodore Roosevelt

            I once attended a city council meeting followed by public commentary. It was horrible. Speakers rambling on, indulging personal pet peeves, talking too fast or insulting the council as if it would make a difference.

            Few have experience or skill at public speaking. The fear is right up there with death and taxes. As an actor I know public speaking can be nerve wreaking. It's normal to be nervous, your going to have physical reactions, don't let that overwhelm you. The best way to prepare for any nervousness is practice, practice, practice.

            I'll wager that most people who spoke at that City Council meeting came with little or no preparation. Generally people make some basic mistakes in content, delivery and attitude.

Content:

             Write a script, keep it relevant. Know your subject and do research. The speech is about them, not you. Practice it out loud in front of someone you trust who can give you constructive feed back. This will help you get comfortable with your material and how to present it. Avoid the impulse to cram in as much information as possible into your speech, you have limited time so state the most important facts. Keep it under the time limit, know the guidelines and subjects you wish to address. Have several alternate points ready should someone else touch on your issue. Reference their point before adding your point of view.

Delivery:

            It's important to develop good body language. Stand up straight, speak clearly, slowly and with confidence. Avoid a lot of gesturing, it's distracting and a sign of nervousness. In theater we are taught to project our voice so the person in the last row can hear. Even with a microphone be concise with you words. Make eye contact with your audience so you aren't looking down at the script the whole time, have the text handy for prompting but have it memorized.

            Attitude:

            Know your audience. Avoid personal attacks, snide opinions or be disrespectful. Oddly enough, people don't like to be lectured, scolded or told they are stupid (even if they are-resist the temptation). You want people to be on your side, thank them for their time, find a common connection to engage their attention. You are not a trained performer so mistakes and goofs are natural, don't dwell on them or offer lengthy apologies.            

             Public speaking is a performance skill that will help you no matter what situation you face. Whether teaching a class, giving instructions to employees, handling a crisis or simply lecturing your kids, knowing how to be clear and confident will serve you well.