Did you know most people fear only death above speaking in public?
I spoke to over 100 people at the ASAE Technology Conference in DC last week about association software. Some parts went really well and some very basic things I didn't see coming - and isn't that how it always is? It made me realize that regardless of your experience, you should never take the basics of public speaking for granted.
Whether you speak only at meetings at work or are a teacher or a professional speaker, here are 11 tips to help you avoid a public speaking nightmare.
1. Always arrive at the room you'll be speaking in early. Even if someone is speaking before you, get there early and feel the vibe of the room, imagine yourself at the front of the room presenting. Visualize.
2. Check and double check equipment. If you're not using your own gear, there is always a risk that something is not working right. Test, test, test. "Check 1-2, Check 1-2."
3. Have a copy of your presentation on a jump drive or CD or online somewhere just in case. What if your computer bombs out on you or you drop it on your way through TSA at the airport? You can always find another computer to use, but if you lose that only copy of your PPT, you're sunk.
4. Use a wireless PowerPoint clicker. Needing someone to advance your slides for you or doing it yourself is amateur at best.
5. Confirm what room you will be in and what time you'll be speaking before you get to the venue. Don't take anything for granted.
6. Here's a biggie. If possible, speak to attendees just before you give your speech (or ideally weeks before if the event will allow it) and ask them what they are expecting from your talk. You'll get a wide variety of responses which will give you a flavor for what topics you may need to spend more time on. Also, remember a couple names so that you can mention the people personally during your presentation: "I spoke with Mary from ABC Company earlier and she said..."
7. Do not try to memorize your speech. Understand key points you'd like to discuss and let the flow of the talk, your mood, and the audience dictate how it comes out. If you're concentrating too hard on what to say next you could easily get thrown off track by a question or even a mistimed sneeze by someone in the front row.
8. Nail your segues. Don't just say, "Now on this slide..." Spend time mastering how you will segue from one slide to another. Nothing provides greater dynamic effect than a nice transition. Don't take this too lightly. This small step alone can make you seem more experienced and professional instantly.
9. Don't panic. If something goes wrong, roll with it. Be self-deprecating. If you fall on your face because you tripped over the mic cable, simply say, "I'm fine folks, no need to worry. The floor broke my fall." You get the idea.
10. Don't continue to look back at the PPT slides on the screen as you talk. Know your presentation well enough so that a simple peripheral glance will let you know you're where you are suppose to be. Don't read the bullets right off the screen. The audience can read them without your help, thank you very much.
11. Have fun. Don't lose sleep before a speech. Savor the opportunity to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. Imagine yourself 3 hours after the talk when you're with friends and colleagues at a nice restaurant reminiscing about how awesome you did. Good or bad you will be past it, so don't miss the chance to enjoy a unique life experience.
Do you have any public speaking horror stories? Can you think of a #12 for this list?
Here is a great book on the business of public speaking that anyone serious about learning this craft should read.
Next week I'm going to share the one fatal mistake almost every speaker makes. Stay tuned.