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Our public speaking training classes (presentation training) will eliminate your fear or inexperience in public speaking and dramatically improve your speaking skills whether you are persuading, educating, or informing. Our highly interactive workshops focus on professional business communication including preparation, structure, delivery, and strategy, use of visual aids, and handling questions & answers. Contact us today by phone at 713-627-7700 or via email: service@publicspeakingtraining.net
Public Speaking Skills Training: Myths & Facts About Public Speaking Classes
There are so many myths and facts about public speaking. This time you will get a chance to read the ten most common facts and myths about making a speech. This list will help you in your next presentation. If you are scheduled to make a speech for your company or nonprofit organization, read this list first.
MYTHS
Public Speaking is a form of Art
Public Speaking has been embedded into the corporate world for so many years now that it has stopped being a form of Art. The problem is that many speakers treat public speaking as a form of art and focus more on making their speech "look great," and forget to be effective speakers.
It Comes with a "Magic pill"
The "Magic Pill" may not come in the form of an actual pill, but it certainly comes in the form of a book, a training cd or an expensive seminar. Many trained speakers take advantage of those who are just getting started in public speaking by selling them products that promise to reveal "the secret of public speaking." There is no such thing as SECRETS of public speaking. Everything is pretty much out there already.
Comes with a standing ovation/ applause
Some speakers feel that a speech will always be followed by a long applause and a standing ovation. Especially if this speech includes an exciting topic that promises to get others just as excited. Reality teaches us that most speeches are conducted in the work place or are work-related. And these speeches are mostly informative speeches. Some of the topics can be so boring that it should be the speaker who claps every now and then just to keep the audience awake!
Requires visual aides
Many speakers depend too much on their visual aids the same way we depend on our smart phones today. Visual aides are not required during a speech. A speech is designed to inform an audience. The only time visual aides should be considered is when a special topic during the speech requires a visual demonstration. At this point a flash card or a power point slide may help. The problem with many speakers is that they become dependent of visual aides to convey their message.
It is easy or difficult
This is a common myth about public speaking. The truth is that public speaking is a simple form of communication. It only requires a person to verbally inform others about a specific topic. Those who consider it "easy" may have a lot of experience speaking in public, but still some topics of discussion may be challenging for them. Those who may consider it difficult may not have enough experience and may not know how to be well prepared when it is time to make their speech. It is the topic of discussion and how well informed we are about this specific topic that may make a speech difficult or easy.
It requires a large audience
Many speakers get well-prepared and are ready to make a speech but are affected by the size of the audience. Just as some people are afraid of speaking before a large audience, there are others that do not perform well with small audiences. It may have something to do with their own expectations or ego. The truth is that a speech does not require a large audience. Even one person in the audience is enough to deliver a great speech.
No questions are allowed during the presentation
I have been to so many speeches where the speaker "sets the rules" at the beginning of the presentation. "Please hold your questions until the end of the presentation." Good luck with that. The purpose of a speech is simply to inform. When an audience member has a question, I usually consider that as great news! This means that he/she is interested but stuck on a question. What many don't realize is that questions during a speech are very important. It let's that audience member (and any other member who may have the same question, but is too embarrassed to ask in front of an audience) register this information, clear any doubts and prepare for the rest of the speaker's information. Not letting some questions asked during a speech is a BIG MISTAKE!
Should start with a joke
If you are funny, go for it! If not, careful. Comedy is more than just telling a joke. Speakers attempt this in an effort to break the ice. The most important part of a joke, besides the set up, is the PUNCH LINE and if the speaker fails to deliver a good punch line, tragedy and silence will follow. Not a great way to start a presentation.
Must be short and to the point
K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple. A common acronym used to help move things forward. Not in this case. A speech should be as long as it takes, but not as long as you want to. The time frame for a good speech is based on the topic being discussed.
Requires a podium and a microphone
I have seen speakers remain in one area whenever there is no podium around. And when it comes to a microphone...forget it! They are horrible. For some reason some speakers believe that a speech should always be delivered from a podium and with the help of a microphone. A speech is a simple form of communication that requires at least one audience member present to deliver the information. Anything else is extra not the norm.
Bonus: Public Speaking pays well
I have seen many sites that make promises of great careers as professional speakers...the truth is that people don't care about the speaker as much as they care about the information. People don't get paid for a speech simply because they are professional speakers. They get paid because they have important information to deliver. Some information is more important that other and this is what determines the pay rate.
FACTS
It requires a listener or listeners
A speech needs no more than one audience member to makes its delivery.
Requires a topic
Sometimes speakers focus too much on their own delivery, voice projection and anything else that involves them as a speaker and forget to focus on the details of their topic. A speech requires a topic that it is clear and specific.
Must include a goal
Every speech must include a goal so that the audience may understand the purpose of the presentation. The speaker should also have a personal goal before, during, and after each speech.
Must allow feedback
Many speakers make the mistake of delivering speeches without the support of their audience. An audience may help you make your next speech better if you only let them tell you what they liked or disliked about your speech and/or topics.
Requires preparation/natural practice
It is obvious that a well prepared speaker will deliver a great speech. Taking every opportunity to speak in public helps as well.
Must answer questions during speech
Don't be the speaker who declares "please hold your questions until the end of the presentation" at the beginning of your speech. Answering questions during a presentation can help move things forward.
Must offer an avenue to follow up
A great speaker accepts the fact that there may still be some questions to be answered. A speaker should lead the audience to a location where these and other questions may be answered. Today, you may use a specific webpage from your website to make this happen. At the end of each presentation, the speaker should take the time to provide this information to the audience, along with contact information (email, phone number, etc).
Must be as long as it takes but not as long as you want to
A speech addresses a topic or a set of important topics. This is why each one should have its own time frame. An effective speech may not necessarily need a short or limited time frame. There are two types of speakers that tend to prolong a speech: Emotional Speaker and the Expert Speaker. The Emotional Speaker will take long pauses to try to hold the tears back and will extend the conversation by addressing personal comments. The Expert Speaker has a lot of information and he/she tends to provide too many details on any given topic, extending the presentation unnecessarily.
Must offer a break or a breather
Allowing a short break during your presentation lets the audience register your information. Then, you may continue with the rest of the presentation. Sometimes, pausing and asking the audience for any questions that they may have, helps quite a bit. Asking non relevant questions to the audience tends to help as well.
Must communicate a message (inform/Motivate/Stimulate)
A speech should motivate the audience to take action. And it needs to deliver an important message all the time. Every speech, even if it's categorized as informative, should be proactive.
Bonus: With time, may turn speaker into a great speaker or worse speaker
Public Speaking can turn a speaker into a GREAT Speaker or a HORRIBLE Speaker. It all depends if the speaker continues to practice and doesn't forget about the basics of public speaking. Some speakers will become egotistical, thinking that they've got the whole industry figured out (i.e.: Experts and Speech Coaches). These types of speakers don't even bother to let the audience participate by asking questions during a speech.
Public Speaking is an important part of our everyday lives. We must practice it each day and use it in every opportunity possible.
Alex Vidal: link
Subject: Public Speaking Skills Training