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Want to deliver a speech with impact? Follow these public speaking tips

On this page are some public speaking tips to help you make a great presentation speech.

Planning, preparation and practice are key to success. In order to help you speak with confidence and make your presentation memorable, consider the following tips as well:

Watch your Body Language

Research shows that when communication is not straightforward, body language accounts for 55% of how we communicate. So what is good body language for a presenter?

√ Smile! and keep good eye contact with people around the room

√ Keep an open, upright posture. Avoid crossing your arms or legs as that can be perceived as being defensive or aggressive

√ Avoid fidgeting or pacing across the stage

Listen to your Tone of Voice

Accounting for 38% of how we communicate in situations which can be misread, these factors about your tone of voice are important:

Volume

Ensure you are loud enough to be heard at the back of the room, without having to shout.

Pace

Do not be afraid of silences. Allow your audience to think about what you just said.

Pitch

Speaking in lower tones often sounds more authoritative. Vary your pitch to keep listeners interested.

Inflection

Emphasise different words to add enthusiasm and avoid your voice sounding monotonous.

Review the Words you Use

Although only making up 8% of how we communicate (when what you say is open to interpretation), you can still make your words work better for you.

√ work in metaphors to help your audience visualise what you are saying. For example: "you have to plant the seed of change in order for it to take root and grow."

√ Tell personal stories from your own experience to illustrate key points.

√ remember your brain is like a google search engine. The better the question you ask, the better the result. So instead of "How can we improve our customer service?" give it a specific and positive spin, such as "How can we make our customer service even better?"

Get Your Audience Involved

A great public speaking tip is to interact with your audience. The more they are involved, the more likely they are to sit up and listen to what you are saying.

If time allows, ask probing, insightful questions to get them to participate.

You have less control when you involve your audience, and it takes more courage than when you are doing all the talking. Yet it is worth the risk in most cases.

For example, it allows you to check that the audience have understood your message. And it is vital if your objective is to change attitudes or get their commitment.

Download our How to Present in Public Workbook to discover the 5 Questions to answer and 5 Tools to use to present in public with confidence and success.

It comes with a free Presentation Planner and a one hour webinar recording on the topic. You can also avail of personal coaching on your specific presentation event.

To hear answers to the key questions managers have about how to make effective business presentations, download the How to Make a Presentation Audio Guide .

To find more presentation techniques and designs, click on Presentation Ideas.

And finally, to minimise your performance anxiety and find strategies for overcoming stage fright, click on How to Handle Fear of Public Speaking.

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