To ensure triumphant communication within a group, it is essential to enhance your communication skills. Speaking in front of an audience can be fun only if you are well prepared. Here are some techniques that can help you improve your public speaking skills.
• Make eye contact. It signifies your interest and desire to be honest and credible.
• Posture and gesture are also effective ways to communicate your message.
• Dress Appropriately. How you look is also important. Your appearance should convey a message for dignity and respect.
• Be conscious of other people's space.
• Keep your message understandable and straightforward. Remember, “Less is more." Clarity is important because it affects all areas of your message. Avoid using jargons. Use words that your audience can understand.
Why "Less is more"? First and obvious, is to avoid information overload. Speaking involves great concentration. If you provide too much information, chances are your audience will not listen to you anymore.
Second, clarity and pausing allows your audience to understand and acknowledge what you are saying.
• Be prepared. Remember the 6 W's:
Who? - Determining your audience's age, gender and interest are among the ways you can classify them.
What? - What topic would you like to discuss? Usually, when you get an invitation to speak in public, follow their theme and purpose.
How? - How can you communicate your message? Language and non-verbal cues are important. Proper choice of words helps your audiences understand you better.
When? - Obtain a logical timing of your discussion. Learn how to pause when necessary.
Where? - If you have time, visit the area where you will conduct your speech. Determine the best seating arrangement according to the type of your audience. You also need to consider the temperature, space and lighting conditions of the area. Visiting the area also helps you determine where to place your visual aid.
Why? - Convey the advantage and purpose the will gain if they will listen to you. Preparing a list objectives can help you narrow down the key points you need to emphasize.
• Do not overwhelm your audience with numbers and statistics. You can put this information in handouts for easy reference in the future.
• Use visual aids to support your message.
• Establish dialogue and rapport. Allow your audience to participate in the discussion. You can also create rapport by call your audience by their names.
