The nervousness right before a public appearance is very common. Unfortunately, as the number of the audience is bigger, the nervousness multiplies. Knowing how to stay calm during the appearance can make a huge difference in your speech and presentation. Here are some tips from Si Communication and how to prepare for these occasions:
1. Outfit
When you are presenting in front of an audience, you are performing as an actor on scene. It is very important how you will be perceived. Be solemn if the topic is serious. Present the wanted image in front of the audience. Look pleasantly, enthusiastic, self-confident, proud but not arrogant. Stay cal. Talk slowly, pronounce clearly and show emotions and feelings related to the topic. Make a connection with your audience. Talk to the most distant person to be sure that your speech is loud enough to be imitated to the other end of the room. Variate the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary. If a microphone is available adjust it and adapt your voice accordingly.
2. Body language
The body language is very important. The walking and standing with appropriate hands movings and facial gestures is more preffered way of public speaking than the sitting or standing still while reading from a printed presentation.
3. Audio-visual aids
The use of presentation software like Power Point will improve your presentation and reliability. Do not torture your audience with many animations, sound clipsor colours not appropriate for the topic. Do not torture your audience with long documents or small font. Make sure that the whole necessary equipment is ready and synchronized with the presentation. If possible have an additional system in case the first ones goes wrong.
4. Speak with conviction
Convince your audience effectively. The material you are presenting must have logical progress from introduction(statement about the theme), to main part (arguments) and conclusion (re-confirm the thesis, summarize and bring logical conclusion.)
5. Reminder notes
Remind yourself from the notes from time to time. Speak clearly and loudly. It sounds confident. If you make a mistake, correct yourself and move on, it is unnecessary to apologize constantly.
6. Eye contact
Keep genuine eye contact with your audience. Use the "3 seconds" method, or look directly into the eyes of a person, keep your eyes on for 3 seconds and transfer it to another person, and sometimes straighten your eyes and look at the whole audience at once while you speak. Use eye contact for everyone from the audience to feel involved.
7. Talk to the audience, listen to their questions, answer to their reactions, adjust
If what you have prepared obviously is not acceptable for the audience, change the course of the strategy if you are well prepared for it. Remember, the communication is the key to a successful presentation. If you do not have time, you need to know what it is that you can omit without disturbing the meaning of the speech, and if you have more time, what can be added and effectively fit into the presentation. Always be prepared for the unexpected.
8. Pause
Give yourself and the audience some time to reflect the said and to think. Don’t run through your presentation and don’t leave your audience or yourself without a breath.
9. Humor
Add some humor whenever is appropriate and possible. Keep the audience interested during the whole presentation. Remember that the interesting presentation makes the time fly and the boring one is very long even though the presentation time is the same.
10. Leaflets
Have leaflets ready and give them at the appropriate time. Tell the audience ahead that they will get an overview of your presentation so that they do not waste time for taking notes during your presentation.Имајте подготвено летоци и дајте им ги во соодветно време.
11. Summarize the main points
Use a timer while you are practicing your speech at home. Do not bother the audience with unnecessary words during the presentation. Finally, summarize the main points just as you would normally do when writing a conclusion about a paper. Remember, there is a difference between speech and written words. Finish your speech with an interesting remark or an appropriate bumper line.
In the end, always SAY THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC!