Timing
When your speech has been written, and you feel reasonably comfortable with the content, time yourself saying it, allowing for pauses, spaces between paragraphs/concepts etc. (Most cell-phones have an inbuilt stopwatch/timing app.) If you find yourself running way over your allocated time, some merciless editing is required. You might be tempted to remedy this by rushing your delivery, but this makes for a disastrous delivery and defeats the entire purpose of the exercise! Rather trim your content by checking for redundancy, repetition, long-windedness, irrelevancy etc. One of the commonest mistakes I’ve heard people make on the day is whooshing through the speech like a bullet train hurtling downhill, or trudging along in a mind-numbing, monotonous voice. Bear in mind that your audience is hearing your words for the first time, so take your time to share it as if you’re explaining something very special to a good friend. The audience is simply ‘that good friend’ x 150 or so.
Make use of cue cards
When you’re happy with your speech, and you’re sure that it’s deliverable within the given time frame, your next step is to work out how to deliver it in such a way that you’re able to make good eye contact with your audience. The best way to do this is to identify and highlight all your keywords and phrases. Further to this, please read my October blog “HOW TO USE CUE CARDS FOR YOUR NEXT IMPORTANT SPEECH.” While some people feel safer having the entire speech accessible at the podium, speaking off cue cards will free you up to make ongoing eye contact while coming across as speaking from the heart in a relaxed and confident manner.
Record yourself
Practice speaking in front of a mirror and/or record yourself speaking on your cellphone. Upon review, you will see what you look like, and hear the way you’re coming across. Ask yourself: “Am I speaking loudly enough, clearly, doing anything distracting, looking down too often, talking too quickly or too slowly, talking in a monotone? Am I using “erm, I’m like, you know, anyway or whatever too often?”
Body posture
Avoid fidgeting with your hair or clothes, walking from side to side non-stop, swaying, foot tapping, slouching, folding your arms, a rigid body posture, and excessive hand movements – all of these are obviously distracting to your audience. Be sure to keep your shoulders back, head up, and back upright and shift position if you need to. You can draw your audience in by stepping forward or leaning forward, but don’t overdo it.
Overcoming stage fright
While it’s often been said that picturing your audience naked will help to boost your confidence, and it’s a fun idea, true confidence comes not from how you picture them, but how YOU picture YOURSELF, what YOU have to say, and how well YOU present it. Tell yourself that you don’t have to be perfect. Make your nervousness work for you – in fact, being nervous puts you on your toes. If necessary, to ease the tension, make a joke about being nervous. E.g. I thought that writing my final exams was nerve-wracking, but this moment makes that all seem like a doddle! You may want to take a sip of water before you start. If necessary, suck a throat lozenge or sucking sweet, swivel your jaw around to loosen it, and relax your neck and body posture without slumping. I strongly recommend taking several deep breaths before you start speaking, as this helps to relax your mind and normalise your breathing.
Microphone management
Choose whether to keep the microphone on a stand, clipped to you or in your hand. Try and do a sound check before deciding which will work best for you. Adjust the height of the stand accordingly, or move the stand to one side if you’re holding the mike – in which case, the challenge is to keep it a steady distance from your mouth. If in doubt, check with the audience whether you’re coming across as too loud or soft. Alternatively, listen to yourself over the sound system and adjust your distance accordingly. Be careful what you say when the mike is on!
Power of the pause on applause
Don’t be afraid of silence. Famous orators like Barack Obama use pauses to great dramatic effect, usually to emphasise a point while allowing the point to be digested. It’s important to remember that while you may be familiar with the content of your speech, your audience is hearing your thoughts and ideas for the first time. Pausing also allows you to catch your breath and gather your thoughts while giving your words the space to land….. The bottom line: Allow time for the pause if you enjoy applause!
Eye contact
This basic communication skill is critical to establishing a good rapport with your audience. It involves them and connects with them while projecting your warmth and confidence. It also conveys authority and sincerity. You can look for the person you’re speaking about and ask them a rhetorical question, smile and make their response a part of your speech. Eg “Dad, did you ever imagine that I’d end up with a guy like John, the dream son-in-law you always wanted, but never thought I’d be smart enough to choose?”
Speak with passion
If you’re emotionally invested in what you’re about to say, you’ll be well poised to grab your audience’s attention. A good way of speaking with passion is to feel pumped as you step up to the podium, fully immersed ‘in the zone’. This comes through in the way you vary your pitch, volume and tone. Remember that if your energy is contagious, your speech will pack a powerful punch, and the audience will hang onto your every word. Conversely, if your content is banal and your delivery is boring, your speech will land like a cascade of cold water on their heads. So don’t waste this phenomenal opportunity to impress all the most important people in your life!
Always remember:
You don’t appear as nervous as you think you are – in fact, most people can’t tell. Don’t hesitate to call on me if you’re unsure about your content and feel it needs some professional input, or if you lack the necessary confidence to ensure a stellar delivery.
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Enjoy the experience! You’ve waited a long time for this, and your words are precious, not only to the person you’re addressing but to all the guests as well – so you might as well relish each and every moment that you’re in the limelight!