They say first impressions are solidified within 5 seconds of interacting with someone. In the same way, the audience's first impression of what you are as a speaker is solidified after a few seconds of your speech. That's why your introduction is one of the most important parts of your speech.Because introductions to speeches are so important, I am always shocked at how … [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...]
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...]