Last semester at Nichols College, I took an effective speaking class. Everybody is always nervous to make a speech, but this class really helped me to not be as nervous when giving a speech. One of the most important things I can tell you about giving a speech is to be prepared. Being prepared for a speech would include having a speech written, having a visual aid to help you out, and most importantly to practice.
When writing a speech, you shouldn’t just write out what you are going to say. The best way to be effective is to write an outline so that you know your main points, but you are not just looking down the entire time you are talking. It is a proven fact that the human brain remembers three main points best. So if you keep your speech to three main points it will make it easier for your audience to follow along. Like Jan Fletcher says in their first tip of giving an acceptance speech, keep it brief.Having a visual aid will enhance your speech by helping you remember better, and by engaging your audience more. A visual aid could be a prop, like if you are selling a product; it would be beneficial to have to product with you, or a PowerPoint. A PowerPoint will help you remember what you are talking about, and it will keep your mind off of having an audience. That way you can focus on the PowerPoint and not just the audience, although you still need to participate with your audience.
As they say, practice makes perfect. Another common phrase is timing is everything. With a speech, timing isn’t really everything, but it is important. If you go to an event and there is a speaker, you usually have an estimate in your mind of how long the speaker will talk for. If the speaker goes overtime, it inconveniences the audience and they start to loose focus. Practice for timing, and for presenting in a calm fashion.The effective speaking class really helped me when it comes to giving presentations, and the tips I have for you, I think can help you as well. So remember, be prepared with a speech written, a visual aid, and some practice!
Mandy, I am currently taking Effective Speaking this spring semester and I surprisingly enjoy it. My biggest fear is speaking in front of a group of people but I am use to my classmates and feel confident when I am giving my speech. We do a speech a week and the time gets longer but at least we are allowed to use an outline, or note cards and prepare ourselves. I agree with you that it is tougher to give a speech when you write the whole thing out but when you put down your main points it is much easier. My speech for this week is a sales speech and we have to have a prop. We haven’t given the speech yet but I am confident that it will come out great! The more I practice my speech the better is comes out when I perform. When I get nervous, I just think that it is only for my class, and that it is very useful for the future!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to take an effective speaking class here at Nichols but speaking in public has always been something i never looked forward to doing. I do not like standing in front of groups of people with all eyes on me i always mess up that way. I do agree with the point that giving a speech is easier when you just have a few main points written down because you just go with it and arent thinking too much. But when you have a full speech on a piece of paper you began to read it out loud and in your head and you start thinking how some things dont make sense and eventually you start trying to change it up. The tips that are in your blog are all pretty helpful, i always think that these speeches i have to give in my classes are all preparing me for the working world because since i am getting all the nerves out and learning proper technique for when i have to give a speech that counts i will be well prepared and ready.
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ReplyDeleteMandy, I currently am taking an effective speaking class and don't really mind it. I don't mind giving speeches; I just hate how they give us a time limit. If we finish too early it's not good enough, but if we hit the limit they cut us off. I guess I should start timing my speeches if they’re going to make such a big deal out of it. But you are absolutely right, I find my speeches to be really easy when I practice them a couple of times. I didn’t have time to practice for my second speech in the class, which made it extremely difficult. I was worried that I would forget what I wanted to say because I barely looked at it. I also like using visual aids because I don't have to worry about remembering what I wanted to say. I find that writing an outline is extremely useful, because it helps to organize all of my ideas.