Public Speaking 101 Notes
1 Prepare to succeed The single most important thing you can do to make your next presentation successful is to be prepared. That means make time for some serious practice. Experts suggest you spend 60% of your time to prepare your content and slides and 40% of your time to practice.
2 Say it correctly Part of good preparation is double-checking the pronunciation of any tricky words—especially jargon. Your correct pronunciation and knowledge of industry terms lends credibility to your presentation.
3 Overcome your anxiety Almost every single presenter experiences some anxiety before speaking. Know that audiences seldom detect it. Audiences want speakers to succeed. They want to be enlightened on your subject of expertise and want you to lead them through the material. Use breathing and relaxation techniques before you present to calm your nerves. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on your audience. Believe it or not the audience didn’t come to see you. They came to see what you can do for them. Put your energy into giving them the best presentation you can. Begin slowly and use short sentences. As you acclimate to the situation you’ll begin to feel more confident.
4 Make first impressions count Before you even begin to present, your audience will base their first impressions on your appearance. Make it count. Dress appropriate to the event. Be neat, clean, professional, and comfortable enough to act naturally.
5 Stand for attention Stand up straight, with your legs shoulder width apart and your weight evenly distributed. Good posture reflects confidence and engagement with your presentation and your audience.
6 Act naturally Gestures add interest and emphasis to your presentation. If you’re nervous, f...
