Tips for effective speaking

Some stage fright is normal for any speaker. Don't be concerned about some nervousness before you start speaking. We at Vision Quest Toastmasters will help you overcome your nervousness.

Organize your speech

Every speech should have an opening, body and conclusion. Be natural, but forceful with your speech.

As a speaker, your business is persuading your audience to accept your ideas and success comes only when you carefully organize your approach. As a persuader you must always speak from your audience's point of view. They will be motivated only by what they want, not by what you want.

Speak with sincerity

Choose a subject of interest about which you have definite convictions. The world is full of controversial subjects and you certainly have strong feelings about some of them. Your subject could be anything from taxes to subway trains, investment to barking dogs. Make sure you have a definite point of view and then prepare a protest, appeal or call for action that promotes your viewpoint.

Show what you mean

The audience usually believes most what they see. So body language is very important in public speaking. Step toward the audience to emphasize a point. Step back to show that you have finished a point. When describing physical action such as catching a ball use appropriate body movements so that the audience can visualize your speech.

Vocal Variety

The primary link between you and your audience is YOUR VOICE. What kind of a voice do you have? Is it resonant, musical easy to listen to? Or is it harsh, monotonous or tiresome? You can make it just about what you want if you are willing to work at it.

A good speaking voice should have the following characteristics:

— The tone should be pleasant conveying a sense of friendliness

— It is natural, reflecting the true personality and sincerity of the speaker

— It has vitality, giving the impression of force and strength, even when it is not especially loud

— It portrays various shades of meaning, never sounding monotonous and emotionless

— It is easily heard thanks to proper volume and articulation

Work with words

When you don't understand a section of a book or magazine article you are reading, you can read it again until the meaning is clear to you. When you are speaking your audience does not have this luxury. They hear your words only once.

If you want your audience to understand and accept you, you must speak informally, the same way they speak. A good speaker uses short, vivid words economically and avoids technical jargon.

Apply your skills

A step by step approach is a must for any effective speech. One of the variations of this approach is the AIDA outline. This approach is taught to many salespeople and it can be applied to anything you are selling - ideas, objects or action. The outline is:

A - Win their attention

I - Arouse their interest

D - Create a desire

A - Stimulate action or agreement

Persuade with power

The ability to persuade-to get other people to understand, accept and act upon your ideas is vital when you communicate with and lead others at home and at work.

To be a good persuader, you should have a mastery of the subject you choose and be rational in your approach. Don't forget the emotional component-few people are persuaded by logic alone. Throughout your speech, work to build a strong audience feeling toward your cause.

Inspire your audience

The United States Constitutional Convention took place in 1789. The delegates were attempting to create a constitution for the new country, but they were divided into angry factions. They became so disheartened that many delegates wanted to patch together an easy compromise and go home.

Then their chairman, George Washington, rose and delivered one of the briefest speeches in the history of statesmanship. " If we offer to the people something of which we ourselves do not approve, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest may gladly repair. The event is in the hands of God."

There was complete silence when he finished. The members looked at one another, first in shame, then with determination. They resumed their work and produced the United States Constitution, one of the greatest documents in history.

George Washington's short speech illustrates the two foundations of an inspirational speech-who you are and what you say. They grew out of his character, out of what his work meant to him.

Similarly you must search yourself to find the material for an inspirational speech.