Rules for public speaking. How not to worry before a performance? Helpful Hints

Usually, the fear of speaking in front of a large audience is due to the fact that a person is afraid not to live up to the expectations of the listeners, to forget the words and receive condemnation. To overcome this fear, you need to work on it.

  1. First you need to determine what was the source of fear. Some know the text perfectly and are ready to speak, but still there is fear. This is the fear of seeming ridiculous, stuttering, making a slip of the tongue, making a mistake, getting ridiculed, etc. The main thing here is to understand that the viewer is just watching and listening, he is not preparing to condemn or attack. One has only to realize this, and some of the problems will be solved.
  2. You should prepare for your speech in advance. It is better to make a detailed plan, including the main points of the speech, diagrams or even sketches. You also need to rehearse your speech several times. Modern technology allows you to make a recording to view the trial performance and work on the mistakes.
  3. Being on stage, you do not need to think about the possible reaction of the audience. The audience does not even guess about the internal state of the speaker, about his fears. If you do not show your excitement in any way, no one will notice it.
  4. No need to think about what the minds of the audience are doing. They will certainly look at the person who is giving the speech. You should not pay attention to their views, gestures and facial expressions and try to analyze what they mean.

Speaking is also an art: how to learn to speak in front of an audience in any situation?

The reaction of the public depends on how you present yourself.

How to learn not to worry in front of the public?

Most importantly, you need to try to relax. You should not shrink into a ball and strain all your muscles. This will only add to the excitement and aggravate the situation.

  • Before going on stage, you need to do a little breathing exercises: take a deep breath, count to four and exhale. It is advisable to repeat the exercise ten times.
  • Standing on stage, you need to take an open pose, without crossing your arms or legs. This will create a visual illusion of openness and self-confidence.
  • It is better to have a plan of your speech before your eyes, so that in case of a hitch you can peep and continue the speech further.

The ability to speak in public plays a big role in different life situations.

How to learn to speak in front of an audience and how to quickly calm yourself down?

It happens that it turns out that a person who speaks to an audience suddenly makes a reservation or stammers. As a result, an internal panic begins and all words are forgotten. How to proceed?

May help some breathing exercises: you need to sharply hold your breath - for a second, and then slowly exhale. Repeat better 2-3 times. It will take a couple of minutes, and the result will be noticeable. You can just apologize to the audience and drink a sip of water, as a pause is still needed. Finally, you can simply break the protracted silence with a good joke. The audience will appreciate the speaker's sense of humor, because laughter helps people relax and become a little closer.

Sooner or later, everyone has to perform in front of an audience. And since the latter is very selfish, this activity can cause a lot of trouble. But as Mark Twain said: “The public initially expects nothing from you,” so do not be nervous, but it would be nice to use a few useful tips and review examples public speaking.

Where to begin?

Any example of public speaking begins with the correct preparation of the speech. No matter how wonderful the speaker's text may seem, you need to understand that behind it is remarkable work and long hours of practice.

Each successful example public speaking begins with the preparation of a speech. Mark Twain at one time knowingly said that it takes about three weeks to prepare an impromptu. Any performance, regardless of its type and the goal pursued, must be prepared in advance. First you need to make the so-called "skeleton" of the performance. To do this, you need to decide on the following positions:

  • Understand the motivation of people who came to listen to the speech.
  • Determine the main idea of ​​the speech.
  • Divide this idea into several component parts (subheadings).
  • Designate keywords. They will need to be repeated several times in the speech so that the listeners better remember what, in fact, it is about.
  • Each speech should have a clear plan and structure. The speech should consist of an introduction, main body and conclusions.

muscles

When the speaker has decided on the basic structure of his speech, it is necessary to build up “muscles” on this “skeleton”. What can they be made of?

  • You can use vivid examples from life or literature, the main thing is that they correspond to the main topic.
  • To help the listener visually consolidate the information received, it is worth preparing graphs, slides, pictures, videos, etc.
  • The audience can be approached with a question during the speech, this will help keep the audience's attention on the main topic.

Introductory part

Particular attention should be paid to the beginning and end of the speech. It is they who play the main role in the communication between the speaker and the listener. The introduction helps to form a first impression of the speaker, and the debriefing allows the audience to consolidate the information received.

During the preparation of the presentation, many questions may arise. For example, how to start a public speaking? The main thing here is to interest the audience from the very beginning. The first impression of the speaker will accompany him throughout the speech, and if you make a mistake, it will be difficult to correct it later.

For example, the introduction to a public speech might be a witty joke or some kind of interesting fact. You can puzzle the audience with a question or intrigue with a pause. The main thing is to draw attention to yourself. Just do not start apologizing for the fact that the voice is hoarse, this is the first speech, etc. The speaker should always be self-confident, and turn every trouble to his aid. For example, if the speaker is really ill, you should not apologize, but say that due to such and such circumstances I ask everyone to sit closer so that I can be heard.

End of speech

As for the end, it is important to summarize the entire speech, highlight the main thoughts and recall the issues raised. The last phrases should have a certain emotional message and be expressive, only in this way the listener can not only reward the speaker with applause, but also become an adherent of his ideas. Although, no matter how much you talk about the correct construction of a speech, it will be easier to consider examples of public speaking.

Types of public speaking

Examples of public speaking are divided into several types:

  • Informational. For the most part, these are reports, lectures, oral answers.
  • Protocol and etiquette. Such speeches are used when meeting important guests, making toasts, mourning speeches, or opening a new institution.
  • Entertaining. Usually they are used for a pleasant pastime, they have an entertaining context, but at the same time convey information. As an example, we can cite the performances of Russian pop comedians E. Petrosyan, E. Stepanenko, M. Zadornov and others.
  • Persuasive speech. Such a report should have indisputable facts and evidence that will incline the audience to your side. Examples include speeches by well-known politicians. For example, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address in 1863, where he assured citizens that not a single soldier died in vain, and this is a necessary sacrifice on the path to freedom.

Get it done in three minutes

In general, the attention of the audience lasts only 15-20 minutes, this is due to psycho-physiological reasons. Depending on the variety, oral presentations can last from a few minutes to 1-2 hours. However, there are some speeches that need to be delivered in 3 minutes. In most cases, these performances are wedding toasts or press conferences. In total, the length of the speech should be between 200 and 405 words. Here is an example of a public speaking for 3 minutes:

“Today, for the first time, the Dalai Lama gave a unique interview to a Russian blogger. For his YouTube channel, business blogger Dmitry Portnyagin was the first in the CIS to interview the Dalai Lama. Communication with a famous Buddhist took place in a Delhi hotel, where the monk often stays with his followers. The premises were double-checked before the conversation began, first by Indian guards led by a Sikh, and then by His Holiness's personal guards.

The interview only lasted an hour. During this time, the participants of the conversation managed to discuss political problems, including questions of competence of Gorbachev, Yeltsin and Putin. Predict the future of Russia, talk about material and spiritual values, mutual understanding between people and the secrets of success. Each question received a detailed answer. The Dalai Lama spoke openly and with humor. At the end, he gave some tips for entrepreneurs and talked about personal safety.

Dmitry Portnyagin did not remain indifferent during the conversation. He showed the Dalai Lama a photograph of his grandfather, said that in his office there was always a photograph of the supreme head of Tibet, so he also became interested in this topic. Saying goodbye to His Holiness, Dmitry presented the Dalai Lama with a hat with earflaps as a keepsake. The monk immediately put on a new thing and appeared in this form in front of the camera lenses. The full version of the interview can be viewed on the Transformer channel.

Suitable or not?

This example of public speaking text complies with all the rules. Such a short speech fully reveals the theme of the presentation of the video on the YouTube channel. It tells about the participants, the location of the interview, the questions that were raised and the general mood that was present during the conversation.

At the end of the press release, the speaker invites listeners to watch full version video. Although the ending can be supplemented with one more two sentences, saying that the interview turned out to be successful and informative for everyone.

Alexander I

To be effective, speech must be precise and expressive. And it may not always be large volumes of text. You can convey your idea with a few strong sentences and vivid comparisons. For example, the public speech of Alexander I to the French ambassadors even before the start of the war was as follows:

“This is small Europe, and this is big Russia (he shows all this on the map). In case of failure, you can only retreat as far as Paris, and I can run to the edge of Kamchatka! But at the same time, every meter of this land will be hostile to you, even the women will not stop fighting. Russia may lose some battles, but she will never be defeated.”

To say that the ambassadors left impressed would be an understatement. An example of the text of the public speech of Tsar Alexander I amazes readers today. There is not a drop of arrogance here, solid facts, filed under the right "sauce".

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs' speeches can serve as a striking example of modern oratory. Oratory was definitely not his forte - it's just a hobby, but he began every presentation of a new product with his own speech. Examples in its execution are as follows:

These are just small fragments of one of his speeches. But how a person motivates!

The right decision

You can speak on any topic. Examples of public speaking are easy to find in print and other media. mass media. Speakers usually touch on important social, political and economic problems. Recently, it has become fashionable to give trainings on how to make money on the Web, present a variety of training programs or draw attention to promotions. Sometimes speakers conduct psychological trainings, discuss religion or philosophy. But whatever the speaker is talking about, his main goal is to captivate the audience.

The speaker is not the person who professionally manipulates pathos speeches, but the one who is able to conduct a simultaneous dialogue with thousands of listeners. He must speak the language of the people who listen to him, understand their problems, find common ground and skillfully lead them to make the right decision.

business communication

It may seem that it is diverse and has no clear boundaries, this public speech. The examples of speeches presented above give a false impression that the texts of the speakers have nothing in common. In fact, they all have the same goal: the listener must agree with the speaker's point of view. And you can do it completely. different methods up to and including provocation. Although this method is used mainly in litigation.

The founder of the Russian advocacy, A.F. Koni, once defended a disabled hunchback. For many years a neighbor mocked him, and then one day, unable to stand it, the hunchback grabbed a stone and threw it at him, thereby causing serious bodily injury. In his public speech, A. F. Koni was original like no other. He, as expected, turned to the jury: "Gentlemen of the jury!" Then he paused and repeated this phrase four more times, making minute stops after each appeal. After the fourth appeal, one of the jurors could not stand it and furiously blurted out: “Are you kidding me?!” A.F. Koni did not lose his head, he expected such a reaction: “I addressed you politely and only 4 times, and you have already begun to get nervous. My client has listened to insults in his direction for many years. What must he have felt?

This performance achieved its goal - the defendant was acquitted.

Who feeds you, comrade judges?

History knows many cases with such original performances. Even in the literature one can find good examples oratorical speeches, according to which this art can be taught. So, in the novel by A. M. Gorky “Mother”, the convict Pavel Vlasov spoke at the court session. He was convicted under a political article and refused to carry out the escape, prepared by his comrades only in order to make a speech before the large people who had gathered at the trial.

His speech was full of refrains, where he spoke on behalf of the people, but the main "highlight" of the speech was the climax: "How can you destroy the workers, those who feed you, comrade judges?" It costs a lot to create such a speech.

Prosperity of the country

Finishing the article, I would like to give one more version of a public speech. An example of a text on the topic "Theft in Japan."

“Many human and economic factors influence the prosperity of a country. Among them there is one, almost insignificant fact, which will seem to us a fantastic absurdity.

In Japan, they don't steal. They don't steal at all. They don't steal at all. Never steal. People do not lock apartments and cars. Shops safely put trays of goods on the streets and safely forget about them. They know: no one will take someone else's.

In this country, you can forget anything, anywhere, and then come back for the loss a few days later. She will remain untouched. Every Japanese knows: if something is lost, it probably lies where it was lost, which means it will be found. Whether it's a mobile phone or a wallet, anyway, there is any thing.

Tips are not accepted in Japan. The seller or waiter will run after you for several blocks to give you change. Most residents of the capital move around on bicycles, and no one ties them up. Steal a bike?! It's funny!

Here they know: to take someone else's is a shame. After him, a person will no longer be trusted, he will never wash himself off from him.

And by the way, about the economy. Officials sacredly follow this rule: taking someone else's is taboo. Not so long ago, the Japanese minister hanged himself, who was suspected of free handling of finances. Not even stealing. Because of this story, the previous prime minister also resigned.

So, on what does the prosperity of the country depend? That's right, from theft, or, more precisely, from its absence.

The speaker is a kind of shooter. He either hits the target and makes everyone bow their heads before him, or misses, and then the discouraged crowd goes about their business, ignoring the words of the speaker. Therefore, before speaking to the public, you need to aim at a specific target. Examples of public speaking leaders will help.

How often does it happen to you that before you go out in front of an audience, everything gets cold inside, your palms instantly become sweaty, and when you go out in front of everyone, you cannot squeeze out a single word from yourself? You stand there and think, "say something, anything," but you can't make a sound, no matter how hard you try. The legs become "wadded" and the face begins to "burn" as if the air temperature rises sharply to exorbitant levels. As a result, you safely blush and, having uttered something indistinct, return to your place, giving yourself a vow never to speak to the public again.

If the above happens to you at least sometimes, then this article is for you. After reading it, you will learn how to improve your public speaking skills, how to learn how to coherently express your thoughts, how to control the audience.

First, let's understand the concepts. What is public speaking? It would be logical to say that this is a performance in front of the public. An audience or an audience is a group of people from 4 people or more. Conventionally, I divide audiences into several categories:

  • small - up to 10 people;
  • small - from 10 to 30 people;
  • medium - from 30 to 60-70 people;
  • large - from 70 to 150 people;
  • very large - from 150 people or more.

We will not consider performance at large venues and stadiums.

So how do you improve your public speaking skill?

Let's start with a little theory. Public speaking is 90% eye contact and only 10% auditory. In fact, this means the following: "it is not so important WHAT you say, it is important HOW you say it." The main thing in public speaking is presentation, energy, expression and contact with the audience.

Without spreading my thoughts along the tree, I will give simple specific recommendations.

First- make a presentation plan. Believe me, any experienced speaker always has a speech plan. No experienced speaker will start a speech if he does not know the topic of the speech and what he will talk about (at least approximately). What is a plan? You should not prepare drafts with the full and detailed content of your speech, and even more so, you should not use such notes when speaking. This will only distract you from the speech and take time to sort out your notes. In addition, if you lose the thread of the story, you will have to fumble in the notes, and this causes only negative emotions among listeners. Instead of notes, use only the outline of the speech. At home, in a calm and quiet environment, think over the structure of your speech, roughly imagine what you will talk about and write down the points of your speech. For example, if you are preparing a report on the achievements of the company for the year, then it might look like this.

The worst thing is to start a presentation in front of a large number of people. There are several tricks for an intriguing start.

Tell an interesting, exciting story. As a general rule, if the presentation begins with such a narrative and the audience is interested in the first 60 seconds, attention will be easier to maintain. Perhaps you need to talk about some interesting historical event or recall the old wisdom regarding the topic of your report. A short introduction in the form of a story should last no more than 90 seconds.

Ask a rhetorical question. It helps to convince the bulk of the public. For example, “To be or not to be, that is the question”, “Rus, where are you rushing to?” etc. However, the questions need to be thought through and submitted in a form in which they will reflect the essence of the report.

Start your report with statistics. As a rule, statistical data dispose listeners.

Come up with a catchy headline, thanks to which the audience will be interested in the topic from the first seconds.

Start your report with wise quotes or statements famous person to add appeal and style to the presentation. However, all words of wisdom should relate exclusively to the topic of the report.

Show an illustration or a short presentation. This approach will add understanding, and listeners will surely remember the report only from the positive side. When showing slides, you need to remember that for one illustration there should be one thought, packed into two, maximum three sentences. On slides, a large font looks better, and animation effects should be in moderation.

Add a short video to the report that elicits an emotional response. Plus, this way the essence of the topic is conveyed faster.

Don't spend too much time speaking. It is best to try to keep within 20 minutes. During this time, the audience will not get tired and will actively discuss this report.

Don't drawl and don't speak too fast. Imagine that you are telling your audience an interesting story.

Answer questions quickly. Thus, you will emphasize your professionalism in this topic.

Do you want to be listened to and heard? Then you need to constantly be in sight, maintain eye contact with the audience and speak clearly, legibly. Also watch your gestures, that is, do not wave your arms much, but do not hide them in your pockets either.

Answer yourself the questions: “why am I speaking?”, “Which target audience is listening to me?”. After the answers, make a plan for yourself clearly and you will understand which style of presentation is more acceptable.

Don't know how to give a good presentation? This is easy to do, the main thing is not to be afraid to speak in front of an audience. Therefore, you must first overcome fear, and then speak. Minimize your fear first:

Be the first to speak to the audience. As a rule, the longer you wait in line, the worse it gets. Perhaps it is worth speaking in the forefront in order to breathe freely after 20 minutes.

Imagine that you are reading a report to your friends and family. Then it will be easier for you to focus on your topic.

Before the performance, tune in only to the positive. Enter the hall with a smile and start with an interesting phrase that will hook the audience. You will see that the audience is not terrible, but benevolent, and as soon as you say a few words (sentences), the fear will go away on its own.

Before the presentation, read the report to colleagues or classmates. So quickly overcome your fear and it will be easier to speak in front of an audience.

Be confident. Confidence is the key to success. If you know the topic well, understand it, then you should not be afraid. You can prepare yourself a cheat sheet, where you will spy on what you have next according to the plan.

Think about the consequences before speaking. After all, you need to earn high marks.

Important! Listeners ordinary people who understand your fear, and they, for their part, try to cheer you up. Think about it and everything will be fine.

What are the most common mistakes made while speaking?

Now you know how to make a presentation correctly. However, it is worth thinking about the fact that errors may occur during the performance. To prevent this from happening, read how not to do it.

Mistake 1. Make a presentation without preparation. Many sociable students find that they can present a topic well without having to read a paper first. And this is one of the biggest mistakes. After all, a person who speaks without preparation will begin to stutter, say a lot of empty and ornate phrases.

Mistake 3. Answer questions during the presentation. Of course, it is good when listeners are interested in the topic, but it is better to warn the audience in advance that questions should be asked after the report. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting confused, confused, which may affect the time and quality of the performance.

Mistake 4. Read fast or slow. Speed ​​is not always good, and even more so at the moment of performance. If the audience does not understand the topic, then it is difficult for them to understand the speaker's train of thought. Too slow pace leads to monotony, which makes the report boring and uninteresting.

Mistake 5. Use too long sentences (more than 13 words). This kind of presentation is hard to understand.

In this article, we figured out how to make a presentation in order to interest listeners, what techniques to use and what mistakes should not be made. These tips will help you perform well, overcome fear and become more confident.

How to present a report correctly - 10 tips for success updated: February 15, 2019 by: Scientific Articles.Ru