Engage.. Ignite.. Empower..©

Developed by:

Fabio Comana, MA., MS.

NASM CPT, CES, PES & CNC; ACE CPT & HC; ACSM EP-C; CSCS; CISSN

Keys to Better Public Speaking

​

Introduction

​

One of the most critical skills employers desire within their employees is oral communication skills.

• Considered more important than writing and math skills.

​

​

Introduction …

Seven C’s to Effective Communication:

• Clear and Concise
• Correct and Coherent
• Complete and Concrete
• Courteous

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5WT2vweFRY

​

Seven Principles of Effective Public Speaking

​

1. Perception: Stop trying to be a great ‘public’ speaker.
• We focus too much on the ‘public’ at the expense of the ‘speaking – be interesting, relaxed, and comfortable.
2. Perfection: When you make a mistake, no one really cares, but you.
• Correct and keep going – to err is human, make light of it (inject humor).
3. Visualization: If you can see it, you can speak it.
• Mentally rehearse, close your eyes and visualize success.
4. Discipline: Practice makes perfectly good – video tape yourself.
5. Description: Make it personal.
• Add a personal experience – narrative that connects emotionally.
• Speak from the heart.
6. Inspiration: Speak to serve.
• Shift focus off yourself to the audience – how are you helping them?
7. Anticipation: Always leave them wanting more.
• Be clear, concise and rather be short than too long.

Introduction …

Delivering your Speech or Presentation – The Power of the Body and Voice

​

1. Dress for success – aligned with avenue, audience and the topic.
• Over-dress, but never under-dress.
2. Eye contact – maintain with smaller groups or float with large audiences.
3. Use your body and hand gestures – emphasize points.
• Hands are trust indicators (visible) and retention improves when message conveyed using words and hands.
• Don’t overuse body language (distracting), don’t use direct pointing.
• Steeple occasionally – helps convey wisdom, confidence and credibility.
4. Facial Expressiveness – calls attention to the speaker.
• Smile and be expressive – build trust, connections and helps convey message
• Demonstrates genuineness behind the message
5. Move Purposefully – not aimlessly (i.e., pacing)
• Share the space with your audience and utilize strategic pauses.
• With your movement, their eyes follow and maintains focus upon speaker.

Guidelines …

Delivering your Speech or Presentation – The Power of the Body and Voice

​

6. Assume a power pose to boost confidence:
• In private – superman / wonder woman pose.
• Hands behind head with lean back
• Both positions elevate testosterone – power and dominance
7. Look like you’re listening:
• Face your audience and use subtle lean-ins when possible (i.e., with dialogue).
8. Remove barriers:
• Avoid lecterns or podiums, get to the same level as your audience (if possible)
9. Use your voice
• Tone, pitch, and dramatic pause can deliver impactful points and increase the emotional context of your message

Guidelines …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avMAbJS4hc&feature=emb_logo

​

Guidelines …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AykYRO5d_lI

​

Exercise: One added twist…. 2-minutes to prep an ice-breaker on any topic within your wheelhouse.

• Deliver opening 30-to-45-sec that grabs attention …

General Types of Speeches or Presentations

​

1. Impromptu:
• Little-to-no preparation
• Focus on covering 3-to-4 main points and think of examples to illustrate each point.
• To prevent forgetting something important, think of the question pieces – ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘why’, and ‘how’.
2. Extemporaneous:
• Pre-prepared, but without aid of written-text.
• Don’t’ memorize – will never sound authentic, fresh and from the heart
• Trying to memorize every sentence prevents the speaker from interacting with the audience.
• Memorized words and sentences become so important that forgetting often throws speakers off track which can interrupt the speech flow.
3. Manuscript:
• Speaking from written text
• Large spacing to keep track of position
• Test on one side of page only.

​

​

​

​

​

Guidelines …

General Guidelines for Speaking or Speech Preparation

​

1. Consider Your Audience and Location Where you Will Speak:
• Goal is to engage the audience in a dialogue where they interact mentally with your ideas and connect emotionally with your message (if applicable) and use the space.
2. Choosing a Topic (if applicable):
• Search trends, current events or topics of interest (focus groups)
• Process evaluation – which lies within your wheelhouse, aligns with your passions and may be of greatest interest to your audience?

​

• Determine your Purpose then Research for Supporting Material or Data:
• Topic: Video Editing on Home Computers
• General Purpose: To inform
• Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the processes involved in editing videos on one’s home computer and to introduce commonly used software
• Central Idea: Video editing skills are easy to acquire.

​

** Speechmaking becomes more complex as cultural diversity increases.

​

​

Guidelines …

Master your Topic, then Master your Speaking

General Guidelines for Organizing your Speech or Presentation

​

1. Introduction:
• Gain attention ASAP – use humor, question, statistic or even a touching (personal) story to provide that shock-and-awe and grab attention.

​

• Body:
• Motivate the audience to listen by connecting the topic and purpose to their interests (i.e., why should they listen?).
• Establish credibility – explain why you are knowledgeable on this topic.
• Preview your main points – ‘tell them what you are going to say; say it; then tell them what you said.”

​

• Conclusion
• Signal the end with a pause and terms (e.g., to conclude, in closing)
• Review the main points
• Connect back to your introduction to create closure
• End with an impact (e.g., humor, thought-provoking statement, quotation, call for action).

​

​

​

​

Guidelines …