Embark on a course of constant improvement by getting the help of a partner or doing a self-analysis on a video playback of your speech. This kind of coaching can be invaluable in speeding up your progress.

Here are some key public speaking tips to enhance your next presentation:

Introduction

Take a moment to stand before the audience, take a deep breath, and look around you. Don't start speaking the second you arrive at the speaker's stand. This pause can give you poise and confidence and show the audience you are in control. It can also help suppress initial nervousness.

Increase your volume for the first one or two sentences. You want to snatch the attention of the audience immediately. A commanding voice is needed to do that, not a soft, apologetic tone.

Avoid an introduction that goes on and on. You don't want to go on and on so the audience wonders when you are going to really get to the meat of the presentation. The introduction is the funnel which directs attention to the body of the talk.

Body

The body of your presentation contains your main points, why you are taking time to speak in the first place, and why people have turned up to hear you. So make sure you have something worthwhile to say. This can only be done through thorough research and good preparation.

Even when speaking on a subject familiar to your audience, in the preparation stage always be on the lookout for an unusual angle, extraordinary facts, or a story or anecdote that gets the audience to view a familiar subject in a different way.

Make sure the main points of your presentation stand out by discreet repetition. You don't want to sound like a creeking door, but carefully planned reviews can really sink the main thoughts into the mind of the audience.

A progressive summary is an excellent tool to that end. At the outset mention your main points, perhaps 1, 2 and 3. After point 1 repeat it and then say, now for point 2. After point 2 you recap points 1 and 2 and introduce point 3. After point number 3 you can again review points 1, 2, and now 3. This simple exercise is a great memory aid and will help ensure your audience walks away with the main points of your presentation in their head.

Conclusion

Don't leave this part of your presentation as an afterthought. Prepare the wording carefully, especially the last sentence, as it will be the part the audience hear last and are likely to remember.

Also think about what you want to accomplish in your conclusion. Do you want your audience to take action? Then spell out clearly what needs to be done. Do you want to touch the hearts of your audience? Then weave some emotion into your last few sentences. Once you have identified your goal, you can create a motivating conclusion that will leave your audience very responsive.

These are just a handful of public speaking tips that can greatly enhance your presentations. Make sure you clearly understand the three component parts of any speech, and then work to accomplish a specific goal with each one. Pay attention to good thought content, and also your manner of presentation.

It takes hard work to be an accomplished speaker, but by constantly searching out public speaking tips and suggestions, and taking on board the ones that particularly apply to you, you can have the great satisfaction that comes from making a meaningful presentation the audience will appreciate and remember.

Copyright (c) 2009 Michael A Jones