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TITLE: Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
CONTACT: sandra@schrift.com
COPYRIGHT: ©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved
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Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking
Whether you want to be a part time, full time or BIG time
speaker you must speak, speak, speak. At first, deliver
25-30 minute free talks to service clubs and community
organizations. Consider it to be your off-Broadway tryout. A
great opportunity to fine-tune your program…and maybe get
some future paid business!
Do the following to put at ease when delivering a speech:
1. Your speech needs a beginning, middle, and end. You must
grab your audience’s attention in the first minute…so begin
with a starting comment, question, story, or humor. End your
speech on a strong note by asking a question, providing a
quote, tell a story or leave them laughing.
2. Every 5-7 minutes, back up your facts with signature
(about you or others) stories. Stories are out there –
everywhere. Find them in the stores, at restaurants, on the
airplane, at home. People retain information better when
hearing a story.
3. Practice your speech out load. Record it on to a tape
recorder and/or video camera. Also do this when giving a
program to a live audience. Do it every time!
4. Practice pausing before and after important points. Don’t
be afraid to leave open space. The use of silence is a key
requirement to becoming an effective speaker.
5. Use direct eye contact. You can focus on one person when
making a point…and everyone else in the audience will think
you are speaking to them also.
6. Don’t just stand behind the lectern: move around,
gesture. Be animated. (Fifty-five percent of how people
perceive you is by body language; 38 percent by your voice;
7 percent by your words)
7. Smile a lot. Be enthusiastic about what you are saying.
And have fun.
About the Author
Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career
coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to
"grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with
business professionals and organizations who want to
master their presentations.
To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional
Speaker, go to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/
Join my free bi-weekly Monday Morning Mindfulness ezine
http://www.schrift.com/monday.htm
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