Tips for Public Speaking

PUBLIC SPEAKING

HELPFUL HINTS

¨ avoid reading straight off a sheet

¨ good posture (shoulders back, head up, neck straight, hands out of pockets, weight on both legs)

¨ eye contact – pan around room slowly and frequently…don’t focus solely on one person!

¨ emphasize key words

¨ add tone/inflection to voice – avoid monotone drone

¨ have introduction and close with thank you

¨ no gum

¨ slow down – be deliberate in speech

¨ take a deep breath

¨ mean what you say – the words and subject should mean something to you so use emotion if warranted

¨ do not shift weight from foot to foot

¨ do not fidget

¨ avoid the dreaded “um” “uh” and “like”

¨ relax…you can smile up there

¨ add humor, ask a rhetorical question