Always be energetic when you are delivering a speech to an audience. Vary in your voice in pitch and in the speed at which you speak. Slow down for a dramatic point and speed up to show excitement. Pause from time to time for effect. Don’t just stand behind the podium, but move a step away to make a point. When you want to encourage your audience, take a step toward them. Gesture to show how big or wide or tall or small an object is that you are talking about. Demonstrate how something works or looks or moves as you tell about it. Show facial expression as you speak.
Motivational Speakers's blog
Projecting your voice
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:19.
Voice projection is the strength of speaking or singing whereby the voice is used loudly and clearly without shouting. It is a technique that can be used to demand respect and attention, such as when a teacher is talking to the class, or simply to be heard clearly, as with an actor in a theatre. Breath technique is essential for proper voice projection. Whereas in normal talking one may use air from the top of the lungs, a properly projected voice uses air properly flowing from the expansion of the diaphragm.
Grab attention
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:16.
Begin with something to grab the attention of the audience. This might be a startling statement, a statistic, or even your own story. Listeners pay close attention when a person begins with something like, “Many years ago I was in the headlines of a national newspaper….” You could begin with a current event: “You probably read in today’s paper about the plane crash in….” A question is another way to make people listen. “How many of you feel our society spends too little on crime prevention?” might be a way to begin a presentation about security.
Becoming a professional speaker
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:14.
You don’t have to have any formal training or certification to become a professional motivational speaker, however you do have to be a skilled speaker who can speak to large audiences with no fear. You have to be dedicated to the job and prepared to practice and work at your speeches continually. Professional speakers who do not keep up to what is expected of them and do not meet assessment criteria are very quickly dropped from the roster and don’t get any work.
Express and vary enthusiasm
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:10.
Expressing enthusiasm by giving an energetic delivery with an assortment of facial expressions, gestures, and the pitch of your voice contributes a great deal to effective public speaking. Enthusiasm does not mean a speaker has to jump up and down all over the platform. But if you deliver the speech with feeling, intensity, and put plenty of eloquence into your presentation, the audience will walk out of the auditorium feeling conviction and elation they were there. One caution with enthusiasm - don't carry it on a high level all the way through your presentation.
Watch what you eat or drink before your speech
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:07.
Before you speak or present make sure you keep your dairy intake to a minimum. Dairy products have a tendency to produce excess mucus, which can make you snort and constantly feel like you have to clear your throat. Keep yourself lubricated by drinking plenty of water or herbal tea. Too much caffeinated tea can dehydrate you. If you know that you’re going to be making an important after-dinner speech, avoid alcohol during the meal if you possibly can. If you cannot avoid it, keep it to a minimum. If you drink plenty of water before you speak, remember to use the rest room.
Exercise your voice
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:05.
Why is it important to exercise the voice?
Grab your audience’s attention and hang on to it
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Sat, 12/27/2008 - 10:03.
The first thing to remember is that you must grab your audience's attention from the very first sentence. You can do this by starting with a bold statement, a question to get your audience thinking or by telling an interesting personal story. Grab them from the beginning and it will be easier to keep their attention throughout your speech. Know your material inside-out and be fervent about it. When you are fervent about a subject it becomes infectious. You cannot expect someone else to be excited about what you are saying if you aren't excited about it yourself.
Presentation Skills and Boring Meetings
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 12:48.
Guest Speakers Can be Instrumental in Feedback
Submitted by Meerkat Motivational Speaker on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 12:46.
