Public Speaking Course:
Give Me a Break
Sometimes you need to give the audience a mental break during your
presentation.
Simon and Garfunkel sung a song that said, "Slow down you move too
fast..."?
In my public speaking course I apply that same message to your presentations,
most people tend to talk too fast (unless y'all be from Aaalllaaaabbbaaammmaaa).
Here are some tips to help you slow down if your a fast talker.
- Imagine that your audience is filled with young children and you need to
explain some difficult concept to them. You must speak slower than normal so
they can understand what you are trying to say. Don't talk down to your
audience, but slowly and carefully talk with them. Slowly lift and enlighten
their minds with the important message you have for them.
- Try using difficult, but memorable, word combinations which will make you
slow down so you don't mess them up.
- When practicing during your public speaking course, do specific exercises
that concentrate on changing the speed of your delivery so you have better
control over your talks.
- When you vary the speed of your presentation you make it more interesting
automatically.
- You should always practice your sessions out loud. I repeat, you must
practice voice pacing and inflection out loud. You can even use a digital
recorder to play back and be your own "worst critic" or your first
level professional speaking coach.
- To save time, the voice pacing exercises can be done in the car, or while
doing your hair or jogging, etc. Sure, people will see you at times and
wonder who your talking to, but when your audience hears what you sound like
after your public speaking course, they will likely remember
"WOW"!
- Often "less is more", so cut out some of your material so that
you do not feel rushed to get it all in one speech.
- Going faster is usually useless because the retention level drops so low
that you may as well have not even said the material in the first place.
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