I have debated this question with colleagues and friends who are interested in public speaking. For me, the answer comes down to two things: type of presentation and personal preference. Let’s first look at some of the pros and cons of each option. Writing a speech word for word Pros You have ready everything in …
Q&A: abbreviation for question and answer A Q&A session is a common element of certain types of presentations – panel discussions, technical presentations and workshops. Members of the audience will ask you questions. Sometimes, in the case of large audiences, questions and participants will be chosen in advance. For smaller groups, you as the presenter …
A conclusion may seem like the easiest part of a presentation to prepare. Maybe so easy that you don’t put much thought into it at all. This would be a mistake. I fact I would suggest that the conclusion is the most important part of your presentation. The conclusion is the last thing that the …
TOASTMASTERS: where leaders are made Many years ago, I used to feel uncomfortable when I was asked to speak in situations where I hadn’t prepared. When I was at university someone suggested I join Toastmasters to help improve my impromptu speaking. Since then I have never looked back. Toastmasters gets its name from a toast …
In order to truly connect with your audience, you need to empathise with your audience. You need to understand how the audience feels. Your key message needs to convey the idea that “I’ve been there, I understand how you feel, I can relate to your experience.” In order to build this empathy with your audience …
One of the best types of supporting material you can put in a speech are stories. Storytelling is deeply rooted in human nature. The tradition of oral storytelling began long before human knew how to write. It was a way of passing on history and teaching a new generation. Anthropologists have found folk tales and …
MANNERISM: a person’s particular way of talking or moving. -Merriam Webster Learner’s Dictionary When we talk about mannerisms in public speaking we generally mean any kind of body language or movement that distracts from the speaker’s message. Most people have one or more mannerisms when they speak. These often become more noticeable when you are …
I first starting giving presentations when I was in school and the standard method that was taught was to use cue cards to remember your main points. Then when I joined Toastmasters as a university student, I shocked and impressed to see how powerful presentations could be when the speaker didn’t use notes. From then …
It is important, no matter how many points you have in your presentation, that you transition between each of those points clearly and smoothly. You need to let your audience know that you are moving on and changing the subject. This is why we use a transition device. Here are four ways to make it …
Most people are familiar with the basic interview preparation advice: arrive early, dress to impress, have a firm handshake and be prepared. However, not all job interviews are equal. Preparing for an interview in your second language can be more difficult and needs a lot more preparation. Here is a list of some ways to …