When communication is the key to success
By UMESH PANDEY
Ever thought that you were self confident but still did not muster enough courage to be able to speak in front of a group of people?
Well, you are not alone in this field. But being such a person is one key factor to success in this ever changing world.
A lot of us have to admit that it is not as easy as it sounds and to be able to go on-stage and speak in front of a group of people is often difficult.
When in college I was told that anxiety about speaking in public is one of the most common fears. The professors used to say that while some degree of anxiety is normal and expected, presenting or otherwise performing in public is so intense that it interferes with the ability to function.
These social or performance anxieties can limit a person's ability to perform and may affect their work performance.
Symptoms of performance anxiety vary from individual to individual. Almost everyone worries about potential embarrassment and appearing foolish to others. When confronting any situation, whether it's a party or a class discussion, most people also experience some of the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.
Our workplace in Thailand is no exception, as apart from the more timid character of Thai people, a lot of the good talent does not come through as most of us are unable to speak up to the bosses, despite having ideas that could possibly turnaround the company's fortunes.
And when one musters up enough courage to speak up they fumble and are unable to speak clearly.
Symptoms of these anxieties includes trembling, sweating, clammy hands, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, muscle tension, blushing, confusion or losing one's train of thought, gastrointestinal discomfort, shaky voice, and/or dizziness.
But to avoid such situation experts recommend various tactics and there are even schools that offer public speaking classes, including some clubs such as Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/) where they offer tips on ways to make a good public speech. The international organisation has a branch in Thailand where both young adults and their older counterparts participate to learn the art of speech making.
One of the most common issues taught is body language, which is considered to be very important.
Standing, walking or moving about with appropriate hand gestures or facial expressions is preferred to sitting down or standing still.
The use of audio-visual aids or props for enhancement is necessary. Mastering the use of presentation software such as PowerPoint is an advantage. Also remember not over-dazzle your audience with excessive use of animation, sound clips, or colour.
Depending upon the age group you are targeting it is necessary to remember not to torture your audience by putting a lengthy document in tiny print on an overhead and reading it out to them.
Speak with conviction as if you really believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively. The material you present orally should have the same ingredients as that which are required for a written research paper. This material should have the introduction, body which supports the argument, and then the conclusion.
One of the other key aspects of presentation is not to read from notes for any extended length of time, although it is quite acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently.
The way a person speaks is also important as speaking loudly and clearly is as important to keeping the attention as that of the presentation itself.
Sound confident. Do not mumble. If you make an error, correct it and move on. Do not make excuses or apologise profusely.
Maintain eye contact with your audience. Use the three-second method, e.g. look straight into the eyes of any person in the audience for three seconds at a time. Have direct eye contact with a number of people in the audience, and every now and then glance at the whole audience while speaking. Use your eye contact to make everyone in your audience feel involved.
Speak to your audience, listen to theirquestions, respond to their reactions, adjust and adapt. If what you have prepared is obviously not getting across to your audience, change your strategy mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so. Remember that communication is the key to a successful presentation. If you are short of time, know what can be safely left out. If you have extra time, know what could be effectively added. Always be prepared for the unexpected.
Pause. Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think. Don't race through your presentation and leave your audience, as well as yourself, feeling out of breath.
Add humour whenever appropriate and possible. Keep audience interested throughout your entire presentation. Remember that an interesting speech makes time fly, but a boring speech is always too long to endure even if the presentation time is the same.
When using audio-visual aids to enhance your presentation, be sure all necessary equipment is set up and in good working order prior to the presentation. If possible, have an emergency backup system readily available. Check out the location ahead of time to ensure seating arrangements for audience, whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen, sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.
Have handouts ready and give them out at the appropriate time. Tell audience ahead of time that you will be giving out an outline of your presentation so that they will not waste time taking unnecessary notes during your presentation.
Know when to stop talking. Use a timer to time your presentation when preparing it at home.
Also remember to end your presentation with an interesting remark or an appropriate punch line. Leave your listeners with a positive impression and a sense of completion. Do not belabour your closing remarks. Thank your audience and sit down.
Also when working on the presentation it is good to know the needs of your audience and matching the content that we are going to present is necessary to keep the attention of the audience. Knowing the material to be presented thoroughly is necessary. Put what you have to say in a logical sequence and ensure that your speech will be captivating to your audience as well as worth their time and attention.
It is necessary to practice and rehearse the speech at home or where you can be at ease and comfortable, in front of a mirror, your family, friends or colleagues. Use a tape-recorder and listen to yourself. Videotape your presentation and analyse it. Know what your strong and weak points are. Emphasize your strong points during your presentation._ Toastmasters International
Key tips of public speaking
-Know your material
Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humour, personal stories and conversational language _ that way you won't easily forget what to say.
-Practice, practice, practice!
Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
-Know the audience
Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
-Relax
Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand." Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
-Visualise
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualise the audience clapping _ it will boost your confidence.
-Realise
That people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They're rooting for you.
-Don't apologise
For any nervousness or problem _ the audience probably never noticed it.
-Concentrate
On the message _ not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
-Gain experience
Mainly, your speech should represent you _ as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.
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