So You Want to Be a Public Speaker - Page 2

4. Practice often. In the car, in front of the mirror, to your dog, cat, rabbit or plants! Recruit an audience - your family perhaps.

5. Get feedback. When you do any presentation (even if it's a dry run in front of friends or family) ask for constructive feedback. Don't be precious, and consciously work on your weaknesses.

6. Film your presentation. Want some real perspective? Watch yourself on film. The first time I saw myself on video (it was the 80's) I was totally weirded out by all of my little public speaking idiosyncrasies and habits. I repeated myself, I spoke too fast, I spoke with my back to the audience (as I wrote on a board), I kept rolling up my sleeves in this kind of unconscious nervous little ritual thingy (embarrassing), and my finish was about as exciting and empowering as porridge. I hated watching myself.

What it did was let me see what everyone else sees. Not a particularly comfortable process, but a valuable one. I instantly became a better presenter after that. I didn't want to put anyone through that pain again.

7. Do freebies. Every public speaker has done hundreds of freebies along the way. You can only develop a skill by practising that skill. Reading about, talking about, and thinking about public speaking doesn't improve your actual skills. Only public speaking will improve your public speaking skills.

8. Be able to present on different topics or at least variations of the same topic. If you can speak competently on a broad range of subject matter, you are more likely to be in demand.

9. Study other speakers. Next time you watch a quality public speaker, take a look at the process through the eyes of a student public speaker. You will learn a bunch. Watch how they engage their audience. Note their timing, their use of appropriate humour, how they dress, how they incorporate their audio-visual stuff, how they start, and how they conclude.

10. Create opportunities:
"So Sam, tell me a bit about yourself."
"Well I actually do a bit of public speaking in the health and fitness area."
"Hey that's fantastic. How would you like to talk to my team of fat sales execs?"

Article Author: Craig Harper

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is the #1 ranked Motivational Speaker by Google. He is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world.

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