Public Speaking Tips: Effective Before and After Strategies

Use the following public speaking tips to feel confident with every presentation you make and snatch the attention of your listeners with a great introduction.

The Minute Before You Start Speaking

Take three deep breaths the minute before you get up to speak. Breathe deeply by inhaling through your nose, then hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds, and then let go slowly through the mouth.

The easy breathing exercise can have a dramatic effect on you as a speaker. You will feel more relaxed and your opening words will hit the audience with maximum impact.

Patiently Wait For Everyone's Attention

If the audience is still stirring when you get up to speak, DON'T START! Wait until the noise has subsided and the audience is giving you undistracted attention.

Keep controlled with a relaxed expression on your face without a hint of impatience or irritation. Look around the room with a smile until everyone gets the message that you are ready to start. If the noise continues, you may want to speak with increased volume to tell everyone you are happy to see them and encourage everyone to find their seats.

You might want to use a simple expression like: "Just as soon as everyone is happy and settled, we'll begin the presentation."

Your First Words

Employ this public speaking tip and you will see a huge improvement in the attention the audience gives you when you are ready to start speaking.

As the first words you speak act like a funnel to channel the attention of your listeners into the subject you are presenting, make sure you give them a lot of thought.

The first few sentences can actually be written out in full and learned by heart. This ensures your launch is sure, confident, and unfaltering, boosting your own confidence as well.

Multiple Openers

Get skilled at using multiple kinds of opening sentences to snatch your audience's attention. As your first few words can set the tone of your whole speech, it pays to give them very careful thought.

You could use:

A series of questions, perhaps on angles of the subject your audience may not have considered before

A direct quote from a leading authority or statistics from a recent news report

A true life story that ties in well with the main theme your are developing in your speech

The Introduction - How Long?

It is important that the length of the introduction is in proportion to the whole time allotted for your speech.

An introduction lasting three or four minutes is probably a reasonable length if you are allotted half an hour for the whole presentation. However, if you are only speaking for ten minutes then your introduction will need to consist of a few simple sentences lasting 30 to 60 seconds, just enough to capture the attention of your audience.

You don't want the scenario where the tail wags the dog! Be sure your introduction is in proper relation to the body of your speech.

New, inexperienced speakers often start a presentation in a faltering way which advertises the fact they are lacking in confidence and increases their own feelings of nervousness. Use the public speaking tips above and launch into your presentation confidently every time taking the audience right along with you.

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