Public speaking tips

Writing For Speaking

1. You Will Probably Read Your Speech (or Glance At Notes):

Having notes with you is the safest way to give a speech, especially a long speech or one filled with important points. Those notes should be as helpful as possible. They should serve as a script.

Don't read everything! Never read: "Hello. I'm happy to be here." (There goes any illusion of spontaneity!)

Adjust your notes to the actual situation: "In Figure Two we can see..." (Can we?).

Write how you talk. We don't talk the way we write. Written work can sound stuffy and pompous when being read. Sentences with numerous sub-clauses may look great in an essay, but aren't easily followed in a speech. Besides, why should people sit and hear what they could more easily read? What do you add to prose by speaking it aloud?

Avoid clichés (they make your speech sound "canned"), and cumbersome words (What did he say?). Say it simply, straightforwardly, in your very own words.

Give yourself written aural hints. It's a script, after all. Give yourself stage directions. Write down hints like "pause" and underline words you want to emphasize. Number the pages. Don't write on the back of pages when you have written on the front.

Write or type with VERY LARGE fonts and lots of spacing. It is a script. You will be acting it out. You will not be able to peer at it closely.

Speed kills, especially when a talk is loaded with statistics, technical phrases and complex ideas. Reading statistics is safer than saying them from memory. You will sound more trustworthy.

2. If You Insist On Speaking From Memory...

This is actually an excellent way to speak if:

• (A) you have a real talent for it,
• (B) other people agree you have a talent for it,
• (C) you relate well to live audiences and like to think on your feet,
• (D) you have given the same speech many times before, or
• (E) the occasion is so informal that you know lapses will be forgiven.

Don't do a brain dump. Think about what you're saying; don't go into automatic gear so that you become unstoppable. Be flexible.

Don't ramble. When your audience is aware you have no notes, they may worry where you're going with the subject matter and how long it will take you to get there. Also be on the lookout for vagueness and inaccuracy or the appearance thereof.

Have notes available, just in case. It never hurts to have notes on hand that you don't need to use.

3. Do What Works Best For You.

Remember:

• Memorizing has potentially dangerous shortcomings (like going blank).
• Speaking impromptu , off the cuff is risky, though spontaneous. Talent and experience help tremendously. Best done at informal occasions.
• Reading a speech can be dull but, with practice, shouldn't be. This is clearly the safest method.
• Small note cards printed with abbreviated notes, lead-in phrases, important words or statistics and other cues make one of the best all-around choices--if you practice.