It's difficult for the audience to remember everything you have to say. For that reason, as discussed before, you should pick 3 main points to emphasize and stick with them. But how do you help people to remember these three points? And how do you get people to pay attention once they've started to get complacent? Emphasize your points with positioning In general, you're … [Read more...]
Don’t annoy your audience by saying the obvious
Have you ever been in a conversation where you're nodding quickly because the person is saying something obvious, but they just keep on talking? This is what it feels like for people to listen to a speaker talk about stuff they already know. It makes the speech boring and even infuriating to listen to. So whenever you're speaking, remember to follow these two principles … [Read more...]
Boost your confidence by setting aside the lectern
Imagine if someone would refuse to talk to you unless they had notes and something to put in between you during the conversation. That would probably make you feel uncomfortable. Yet, so many speakers do the exact same thing: hide behind their notes and a lectern. Let's talk about why you should move aside from the lectern in the majority of your speeches, starting with … [Read more...]
How to improve your hand motions for public speaking
There was a group of people in the late 1800s who believed that crowds could be manipulated by a very specific set of hand motions. The "elocutionists", as they were called, had books that they would study carefully, full of specific formulas for various speeches. If they wanted to convey certain concepts or emotions, they had specific gestures already planned. Now we know … [Read more...]
How visualization can improve your public speaking
Golfer Jack Nicklaus said that he never hit a shot, even during practice, without visualizing it first. He won 18 major championships. For decades, professional athletes have considered visualization an essential tool, often spending hours visualizing their victory. Public speakers can use this same technique to improve their speaking. "So you're saying that by daydreaming … [Read more...]