How to Speak in Public

On Tuesday I have to give an important talk.  Instead of preparing for it, I thought I would write a blog instead.   Procrastination is one of my more accomplished skills, anyway, so why not indulge myself.

Public speaking is supposed to one of peoples' biggest fears.  I have never, thankfully, been put off by it.  I have always given talks. When I lived in the UK I gave one for the Young Farmers, the Womens' Institute and at other venues. Here in Brazil I formed a support group and had to lead those meetings.  And a couple of years ago I gave a talk to Residents at a veterinary hospital on handling injured birds of prey.

Preparation is key. You should go into the room the day before to check that its layout suits your purposes. If not, move the furniture around if you can.

Nowadays most people use PowerPoint.  You need to familiarize yourself with it.  Then compile your slides and know what you are going to say.  You should know your content.  Donn't think you are going to impress anybody by going in and reading from a sheet of paper.   That is a poor performance.  Learn your material. Oherwise you will appear unprofessional.  Rehearse beforehand infront of a mirror and with somebody.  Do a dress rehearsal.

If you follow these steps, then you will feel mentally prepared.  Then go in to the venue telling yourself you know more than anybody else in that room at that time about that subject.  Dress appropriately.

Body language. and voice tonality

Before entering the room, go to a cloakroom or private place and for five minutes do physical exercise that take up space and that maximize your physicality.  This boosts your blood system's testosterone levels and will decrease stress and maximise performance. I have mentioned these activities before on this blog.

At the venue, keep your head up.  Make eye contact with everybody in the room.  But mainly look towards the back wall because this has the default effect of throwing your voice so that everybody can hear you.  As to voice, tell everybody that they can ask questions throughout or only at the end.  You need to tell them this. Or they will not know.  To sound authoritative you should speak from your diaphragm and speak your sentences as you breathe out.

Good luck.