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BECOME
AN ELECTRIFYING SPEAKER...
and Up Your Leadership Quotient
You
know it! I know it! The #1 fear North Americans have, according
to The People's Almanac, is speaking in front of a group. That's
before our fear of heights, bugs and death itself! But sooner
or later, most of us have to do it. How can you use this as an
opportunity to up your leadership quotient?
Leaders
seem to have charisma, and it's often portrayed by the way the
leader captivates his or her audience during a presentation. Whether
one-on-one or to a group of a few to a hundred, you want to make
your presentation memorable and captivating. One of the more important
aspects of this is how you feel yourself. If you are confident
and relaxed, your presentation will have that much more impact.
The
best method ever discovered to be relaxed in front of an audience
is to picture the audience members naked...no, wait, that doesn’t
work. (You could scare yourself even more doing that!) Perhaps
these next six points, proven to work by many excellent speakers,
will help you to be an electrifying speaker.
BE
WELL PREPARED – have clearly in mind the main points
you want to make. You will be more confident and able to relax
a bit (hopefully).
SPEAK
NATURALLY – have an outline of the presentation rather
than a script to read word-for-word. You will look and sound more
natural.
FOCUS
ON PEOPLE – choose two or three people in various parts
of the room and look at them periodically throughout your presentation.
SMILE
– you'll seem more friendly and confident.
MODIFY
THE VOICE – vary the pitch, speed and power of your voice
throughout your presentation. This adds liveliness and naturalness.
DIRECT
THE VOICE – projection is what carries your voice. Speak
so the back of the room can hear you.
USE
YOUR HANDS – gestures help to emphasize and illustrate
what you are saying. Remember, it's not only what you say, it's
how you say it, and gestures help you say it more effectively.
By
applying some, or all, of these suggestions the next time you
must speak in front of a group, you just may give your most captivating
presentation ever. Try them. Your audience will thank you!
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