How to Do a Good Speech Pt.2

Welcome to part 2 out of 2 of How to do a good speech. In this blog, we are going to show you the last 5 tips to speak in public and connect with your audience. 

First of all, we want to make clear that there are three “V’s” that will matter to you while preparing a speech, these are:

• Visual: How do we look? For example, Our facial expressions, or how we dress. This accounts for approx 50% of all the information that our audience will receive when we engage with them.
• Vocal:  How do we sound? E.g. Our voice tone or how loud we speak. This aspect accounts for 40% of what our audience will perceive from us.
• Verbal: What do we say? Our choice of words. This accounts only for 10% of what our audience receives.

In order to transmit your message to your audience in an effective way, take into account the 3Vs rule besides the other 5 tips from this guide:

6. Know your topic

You do not need to be an expert in everything, but when you make a speech or gather colleagues in a meeting, people will expect you to know what you are speaking about – and rightly so -. Our advice is to focus on what you know better and what you have a natural appetite for. Try to avoid making public talking about topics that are largely unknown to you, and when this happens, take your time to learn more in the first place.

7. Do not disconnect from your speech

Avoid any external factors to ruin the conversation. Whether those come from others, like interruptions, or from your own intrusive thoughts, those will cause you to change the way you look, and sound.

The visuals and vocals are combined, the 90% of what your audience will perceive, will notice it, and also will be disconnected from the topic. So getting their attention back on the topic again will be more difficult. When a disconnection is inevitable, get back on track as soon as possible. The longer the distraction lasts, the more your audience will have forgotten about the point you were trying to make, and while repeating what you just said may be the only option left, every time you repeat something it is perceived as less engaging, more boring.

8. Breath naturally

When we are anxious we tend to hold our breath. This is an automatic response from our nervous system that is difficult to control. Worse, this makes it more difficult for you to sound convincing as your body is lacking oxygen and causes the impression that you are not convinced of what you say.

When this happens, remember that you have time to say your speech, and allow yourself to take small pauses. When possible, create brief silence moments to serve a double purpose:  Breathing and hearing what your counterpart has to say, or to build momentum in your speech.

9. Portray a strong image of yourself

When you feel signs announcing that you are starting to get nervous, rather than panicking and starting a cycle of negativity, remind yourself of the image of how you want to look and sound. Let this image be your lighthouse and guide you back to your best version of yourself, confident-sounding and convincing.

10. Improve your visuals.

Use your eyes – look at the audience when you are delivering an important part of your message, make occasional eye contact when you want to say something with sincerity -,  and your hands – away from your body, waving them according to your message in a firm and strong manner, making you look like a leader – to give the right visual messages to your audience and looking like someone who knows what he says. 

Keep the right facial expression, mirroring the voice tone you choose to deliver your message.

Consider who is your audience and choose the right dress code for each event, try not to be under or over-dressed for each occasion, and when you have the chance, make your clothes to help deliver the message.

Last, try to keep one face at a time. Avoid exaggerated facial expressions, blinking too much, or changing faces too often without connection to your message, you will only distract your audience from your message.

With these 10 tips, you will nail your next public speaking situation. And remember to keep in mind that a speech should not be perfect, just deliver a good message. 

If these blogs were helpful to you, check out more related blogs such as: 

8 Tips to Succeed at Your Second Interview

5 Ways to Show You Are Truly Passionate in a Job Interview

10 Recommendations to Successfully Manage Your Employees Remotely