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Author:
Sintilia Miecevole

Public speaking ranks right up there in terms of the things we are afraid to do. Whether it's the fear of being watched closely by others, or the insecurity and self-conscious feeling of slipping up during the presentation, these six tips will help you give a polished, professional speech that you (and your audience) can be proud of!

1. Know your audience. This is the single best piece of advice for delivering a presentation. What are there interests? Their backgrounds? Why are they coming to hear you speak? What ideas do you have to share with them? Approaching your speech as more of a "me-to-you" discussion rather than a full-blown broadcast makes it less stressful.

2. What do you want your audience to do as a result of your speech? What's really at the heart of your presentation? By concentrating on the "end result" rather than slogging through the beginning, you create a powerful punch that drives home your message instead of rambling on.

3. Share a story. In public speaking circles, this is called a "hook" - something that gets your audience's attention and makes them sit up and listen. Start off by asking questions or sharing an experience you had. People like to be active, rather than passive listeners. By giving them something that they can identify with, you'll find that these people are just like you; that makes giving a presentation a whole lot easier. Be sure your story has a beginning, a point, and an ending. There's nothing quite as bad as telling a story to an engaged audience and then forgetting why you told it!

4. If you're selling a product, focus on the benefits instead of the features. People would much rather hear WHAT a product can do for them than HOW it does it. Narrow down your product's features until you get to the core of how it solves a problem. If you need help with figuring out the difference between a feature and a benefit, ask yourself "So What?" For example, if you're selling a vacuum cleaner that has a hypoallergenic filter, put yourself in the customer's shoes and ask yourself "so what?" The answer would be something like, "It picks up dust, mold and pet dander". Again, "so what?" Answer, "You'll feel relief from runny nose and sneezing plus itchy, water eyes." Now THAT's a benefit!

5 Powerpoint presentations are great but they can be overwhelming - or downright boring. Instead, give your audience something to DO by providing them with fill-in-the-blank flip charts or "team activities". These help reinforce and emphasize your message in ways that a computer presentation simply cannot.

6. Make sure your speech ends in a way that reiterates the beginning. Speakers can get carried away with the details and leave their audiences asking, "What was the point of all that?" People naturally digest information in "chunks", so focus on the big picture rather than all the pieces. If the details are just as important, save it for an after-speech handout that the audience can take with them and read over at their leisure.

If you keep these six tips in mind, you'll not only have an easier time overcoming your fear of public speaking, but you'll have a very appreciative audience who will in turn be more receptive and eager to try your product or service. Go get 'em!

About the author:

http://www.bornspeaker.com is Sintilia Miecevole's site with all kinds of speaker information from keynote, motivational, professional and dynamic speakers to car, stereo, motorcycle, outdoor speakers and much more. Be sure to visit http://www.bornspeaker.com for all of your speaker information.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Professional Speaker... Public Speaking: Anachronisms A person, place, or event that is placed in a time period in which it does not belong is called an anachronism. For instance, Paul Revere riding a motorcycle or George Washington sitting in front of a computer would be anachronisms. You see advertising strategies using anachronisms all the time, especially around Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays and Columbus Day. I saw an ad for fluorescent light bulbs that had Thomas Edison working on a phonograph. The caption read: 'If Thomas Edison wouldn't have wasted his time on this (incandescent bulb), his phonograph might have been a CD player.' The relationship between new and old is always interesting. Anytime you can highlight that relationship in your public speaking engagements you will evoke mild humor and create more attention on your product, service, or point. Here is a good fill-in-the-blank format. Would (big name from the past) have________________ if he had ________________? All you have to do is make a simple relationship and your message will be funny and memorable. "Would George Washington have thrown his money away in the Potomac if he had ABC investment company on his side?" Once you get the relationship down, you can adjust the form to suit your speaking engagement. The George Washington/ABC investment anachronism could turn into a good, usable one-liner. "George Washington wouldn't have thrown his money in the Potomac if he had come to us for advice." Copyright © 1998 - 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book "Wake 'em Up Business Presentations" and "Click: The Ultimate Guide...