Public Speaking

COURSE CONTENT:

INTRODUCTION

• When do you use your skills?
• Why are they important?

THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION

• Isolating the message
• Who is the audience
• Expectations of the audience

STRUCTURING THE STORY

• Developing a theme
• Logical format: a beginning, a middle, an end

THE CONTENT

• Making it relevant to the audience
• Collating information
• Using everyday language
• Written versus spoken word
• Writing it down; how to make notes
• Brevity is the soul of wit

TECHNOLOGICAL

• The options
• Deciding on and using visual aids
• Computer generated graphics
• 35mm slides
• Films
• Overhead and back projection
• Television monitors
• Sound aids fixed and radio microphones

THE THREE P’S

• Prepare practise perform.

VOCAL SKILLS

• Breathing and relaxation
• Pitch, tone, pace and rhythm
• Emphasising key words
• Clear articulation
• Being expressive
• Avoiding ‘difficult’ words

THE DELIVERY

• A good and high impact opening line
• Overcoming nerves and anxiety
• Building confidence
• Projecting confidence and enthusiasm
• Being motivational
• Repetition for impact
• Talking to the audience on an individual basis
• The importance of the ‘pause’
• Use of humour
• Using hands and eyes
• Being assertive and straightforward
• Avoiding aggression and conflict

PERSONALITY PROJECTION

• Using personal strengths
• Making an impression
• Body language
• Avoiding bad habits

HANDLING THE AUDIENCE

• Develop an empathy
• Plan for participation
• Dealing with questions
• Handling objections
• Handling individuals with care
• How and when to close