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Whether our goal is to inform the audience, to tell a
moving story, or to inspire them to action, too often we
fail miserably. We stagger to the front of the room,
heart pounding so loud we could swear it will burst,
forehead sweating, and our stomach churning at the
very thought of giving a speech. We stammer, stutter,
and wonder what in the heck to do with our arms. We
pray to God that this merciless torture will soon end.
Cheer Up! You may not know this, but Fear of Public Speaking is right up there on the list of our biggest fears. It's in second place, just below the Fear of Death. And some would prefer death! Some of our most famous orators --- Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, were initially terrified of speaking in front of a group. Robert Frost, the famous American author, had this to say on the subject: "The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and doesn't stop until you get asked to make a speech." One of the biggest reasons people experience lack of confidence or anxiety while delivering a speech is due to lack of preparation. Whether you are a panic- stricken speaker, or a more experienced presenter, you can all benefit from taking simple steps to properly prepare for that all-important presentation. Of course, the primary goal of any speech is to Connect with The Audience. However, before you can connect with the audience, you must first understand WHO will be sitting in the audience. To do this, you will need to to plan and prepare |
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PLANNING
Long before you stand in front of an audience and open your mouth to speak, you need to plan and prepare for that important moment. The first step is to understand, in depth, your target audience. Your best ideas, eloquently expressed, will fail miserably if you don't understand who you are speaking to. Here are the most important elements to consider when evaluating your audience:
The next step in the planning process concerns the
room and logistics of where you will be speaking.
This includes not only the venue, but the entire facility.
Speakers need to consider and plan for the following:
Now that you know your audience and the venue, it's time to consider your speech. Of primary importance is having a clear and definite objective. What exactly do you wish to accomplish with this talk? Will you be speaking primarily to inform the audience, to persuade them, to demonstrate something, to tell a story, or to issue a "call to action" Your objective, once stated, will tell you the most appropriate type of speech. When your objective is nailed down, you will need to write out the 3 to 5 most important messages you wish to convey in your speech. What exactly do you want the audience to remember after they have left? When they're talking to their associates about the speech, what do you want them to originate? Studies have shown that the average audience will remember 3-4 key messages immediately following a speech. Within 24 hours, they will only remember 1-2 elements of your speech. You want to be compelling and memorable, so be certain that they will remember what you want them to remember! Each of the messages will support the main objective of the speech. In other words, they will be consistent and integrated. After you've listed the main objectives, you will be ready to prepare the content and the verbiage around each of the key messages. You'll also be able to weave into the speech the supporting materials (facts, statistics, stories, images, props etc.) that will complete the package. Finally, you will need to write an attention-getting opener and your closing comments. Using these simple guidelines, you should be able to take the first steps towards delivering an effective presentation. In a future issue, we will discuss how to overcome the other major barriers to speaking: nervousness, anxiety, and lack of confidence. If your speech is important enough to deliver, then it is important enough to plan and prepare. Your audience will appreciate your efforts, and you'll be rewarded with applause and acclaim. To your success! |
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To find out how to improve the performance of your sales organization, to book a speaker, or to schedule presentation skills training, contact the PTM Sales Group (see below). We'll be happy to arrange for an assessment and make recommendations for improvements.
Sincerely,
Patrick McClure
Connexia Group
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