How to present yourself well during a public speech?

Among various opinions, it has been assumed that the ability to speak in public is an innate quality. Certainly charismatic people, open to interpersonal contacts, find it easier. However, any skill can be worked on and the results can be amazing. It cannot be denied that the presentation of the company's services or products is a kind of investment, and the substantive knowledge alone does not determine the end result that the presenters want to achieve. It is worth knowing a few rules to know how to present yourself well during a public speech.

Public speeches are an integral part of work in managerial positions, where there is a need not only for communication between the supervisor and employees, but also for presentations for clients and contractors. The most important, but not the only, factor for the success of the speeches is preparation in terms of content, because nothing convinces the audience more than the certainty of theses and own solutions.

Identifying the group of listeners

When preparing for a speech, it is worth analyzing who will actually be the listener. Thanks to this, the presenter can adapt the language of the presentation, examples and the way in which he will convey information to the audience.

Attention! among the audience there will be about 20-30% of audiences, 30-40% of visual learners, as well as kinesthetics - people who remember better when they experience or imagine something.

That is why it is so important to skillfully adjust the modulation and volume of the voice, as well as to choose the appropriate method of presentation (images, charts, statements, animations, puzzles and imagining a situation).

It is also worth getting to know the needs and motivations of the audience and what they care about while participating in the presentation. If their presence is driven by learning (e.g., employees), it is useful to provide content related to the topic for them to use later. On the other hand, the presentation for clients should be a kind of communication with the recipients. It is a good idea to schedule time for the audience to ask questions, and when finished, they should notice the benefits of attending the presentation.

Defining the objectives of the presentation

Once you know who the audience is and what they expect from the presentation, it is possible to define the goals the speaker wants to achieve. They should combine the requirements of the audience and the goals of the enterprise. It is also worth checking after the presentation whether and to what extent these goals have been achieved.

The structure of the presentation

After going through all the steps mentioned earlier, start planning your presentation structure. The rule is, first of all, order - that is, determining what should be said first, which issues should only be mentioned and how to properly end the speech. You can adopt a method of moving from easier things to gradually entering more difficult topics, as well as discussing issues starting with general and ending with details. Nothing adds so much value to a presentation as the conclusions drawn at the end. Clearly specified and resulting from the speech, they will surely be a satisfying ending for the audience.

Body language first and foremost

Preparing for the presentation and practicing it should take the longest time. Getting to know the subject by repeating a speech will result in familiarity with the subject and gaining confidence in what the representative wants to convey. That's why body language is so important. The attitude and voice should form a coherent whole with the speech. The quality of the presentation may be adversely affected by trembling hands, too fast speech and breathing. In this case, you can use a pen or notebook, which, when held in your hands during speech, will effectively distract from the trembling of the hands. A common mistake is that the speaker concentrates too much on himself, i.e. on what he or she says and how to control stress. This may have negative effects, manifested by the audience's lack of interest in the subject of the presentation. Thus, it is important that the presenter is in constant control of what is happening in the audience, what is the mood among them and how they perceive the information being communicated.