By: Larry Baltz
All eyes are focused on the front of the room. The leader of the meeting stands at the podium introducing the keynote speaker…and then you walk out from behind the curtain.
Is this a realistic situation? Would you even want to be that speaker?
Of course you would! Not only is it a wonderful way to grow your confidence and self-esteem, public speaking can also be a valuable way to get prospects. When you speak in front of an audience, here’s how that happens:
• You establish yourself as an authority
• You showcase your expertise
• You build your credibility and name-recognition
• You generate legitimate sales opportunities
Now you need to prepare and deliver a great presentation. So how do you do that? Follow these guidelines and the task will be much less daunting.
1. Craft a Great Speech
Don’t worry, even if you’re a beginner, it’s not an impossible challenge. First, focus on one Big Idea. You can support it with 3 or 4 key points, but don’t leave your audience wandering and wondering. What is the singular message you want to convey? Build all your thoughts and comments around that one idea.
Second, use memorable personal stories. They don’t have to produce deep-belly laughter or giant tears, although either is a wonderful addition. Talk about people and situations that made an impact on you and relate that to your Big Idea. No one will forget your message when you use your individual stories.
Third, be yourself. Even if you have other deficiencies in your presentation, audiences will embrace you and your message when they sense you are genuine. That will never happen if they think you’re a fake.
And last, be passionate about your subject and have fun. Audiences sense that too. You are excited about your topic, aren’t you?
2. Practice Your Delivery
Rehearse, but don’t memorize. With memorization, the least little distraction can cause you to “go blank” and forget everything. This happens even to the most experienced speakers. Use notes with bullet points or highlights that you can refer to in order to get you back on track if needed. And the more you practice, the less likely it is this will happen.
3. Know Your Audience
Take the time to learn a little bit about them. While you probably won’t change your core message for every audience, it is a good idea to slant your information to the particular needs of an individual audience. The more you know about them the easier this is to do. And they will be much more receptive when they think you’ve created a program just for them.
4. Breathe and Stretch
Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but your brain is stimulated by breathing and blood flow. Also, anxiety heightens the pace of your breathing. Long, deep breaths and intense stretching right before you go on stage will help you relax and regain your composure.
5. Use all your Tools
You have much more at your disposal than just your “speech”. Hand gestures, voice inflections, long pauses and appropriate props (anything that relates to your stories or topic is fair game) all add value by reinforcing your key points and providing an acoustical or visual aid to your spoken words. PowerPoint is acceptable too but use it with caution. Too many speakers use it as a crutch and their presentations are dull and boring.
Speaking in front of an audience is not an easy task, especially for someone who has never done it before. But it is a skill that can be learned and is an extremely valuable marketing tool if used properly. Take the time to master the process and public speaking will generate prospects for you too.
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