by Mansi Sodha, Peer Guide
Public speaking is an imperative skill in any industry. Having the ability to effectively communicate with your audience can prove to be instrumental for individuals throughout their careers. Keep reading for our top 5 tips on how to improve your public speaking skills!
- Know your audience
Tailor your speech to the needs of your audience. For instance, if you have reason to believe that your audience does not have knowledge about your topic, spend the introduction giving them a brief overview of your topic. Knowing this will also help you make a general outline of your speech, making it easier to then build the rest of your presentation.
- Develop a relationship with your audience
Your message will be all the more effective if your audience understands the purpose behind your presentation. Make a captivating introduction, use humor and hand gestures - this will keep the audience engaged throughout!
- Make eye contact/maintain good posture
Making direct eye contact with your audience will help you build a connection with them. Try not to look over the heads of your audience. Furthermore, maintaining good posture throughout the duration of your speech will signal to the audience that you care and are genuinely passionate about the subject of your presentation.
- Go off script
It’s acceptable to have an outline for your speech- but try to be authentic when you’re speaking. Speak directly to specific audience members if you notice commonalities and if you have a visual to provide, try to make it as less wordy as possible so that the audience does not get overwhelmed with information.
- Practice makes perfect
The best way to master public speaking is to do it over and over. Practice with friends, family members, co-workers, anyone who is willing to listen! The University Career Center and the Niblock Student Center also have excellent ongoing resources to help you prepare for your next public speaking experience! Check out their calendars at these links below:
No comments:
Post a Comment