Successfully Speaking: Delivery skills as important as speech's content

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Located in Springfield, Jane Sanders has expertise in gender communication, presentation skills, meeting facilitation and small business success.|ret||ret||tab|

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My last two columns discussed how to analyze requirements and improve preparation of the introduction, body and conclusion of a presentation for better results. |ret||ret||tab|

Of equal importance (and some would argue of greater importance) are delivery skills, or how to actually present a speech, pitch, report or update.|ret||ret||tab|

Following are some meaningful tips to help reduce anxiety and deliver a succinct, powerful, effective presentation.|ret||ret||tab|

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Control anxiety|ret||ret||tab|

Organize the material and prepare the entire presentation, especially the opening. If you can get through the first minute successfully, you will have a better chance of continuing with that success for the remainder of your time on stage. |ret||ret||tab|

Practice, and practice out loud. The difference in improving accuracy and reducing anxiety is night and day when you practice out loud instead of silently in your mind. Rehearsing out loud also gives you a much more accurate reading of the time involved for each section or module of the presentation. |ret||ret||tab|

Visualize being on stage or in front of the audience, delivering a dynamite program to a very attentive audience. |ret||ret||tab|

A few minutes before starting, use deep breathing exercises to help calm the butterflies in your stomach and slow your heart rate. Don't underestimate how powerful this technique can be. Breathe slowly in through your nose, hold your breath with your diaphragm expanded for about three seconds, then release the breath out slowly and quietly through the mouth. Do this three times in a row, then repeat a couple minutes later. |ret||ret||tab|

You can do this incognito sitting at a table with other people, and they'll never know what you're up to.|ret||ret||tab|

Release tension in your tight muscles by shaking your arms and legs vigorously. This exercise, however, is best done in private to avoid frightened stares. Interact with the audience before the presentation so you have established a rapport and have familiar faces to look at.|ret||ret||tab|

Arrive early, check that the room set-up meets your expectations, and stand in the place where you will be presenting so it's familiar. |ret||ret||tab|

Move naturally; just talk to them like you would at dinner. Maintain eye contact and focus on your message. Forget advice you may have heard to stare at a spot on the wall just above and behind the audience. They will sense your disconnection and you will not feel grounded and steady.|ret||ret||tab|

Master verbal elements|ret||ret||tab|

Vary your rate, pitch and volume to maintain interest and variety. At the same time, use a conversational style and tone, and be animated and enthusiastic. If you are not excited about your presentation, why should they be? Pause every once in a while after a profound statement, or repeat a comment, to hook attention and communicate the importance of what you just said. |ret||ret||tab|

Be sure to use correct grammar and be clear with your choice of words and your enunciation. |ret||ret||tab|

Perhaps you've heard the story of the little girl saying her goodnight prayers, "Our Father, who parks in Heaven, how did you know my name?" She obviously misunderstood someone not speaking very clearly.|ret||ret||tab|

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Use nonverbals well|ret||ret||tab|

Dress appropriately for your audience and the organization you are representing. Stand straight but comfortably and avoid the five "wooden" positions:|ret||ret||tab|

lectern leech gripping the lectern with white knuckles; |ret||ret||tab|

gorilla arms constantly dangling down by your sides; |ret||ret||tab|

too casual leaning on lectern, hands in pockets;|ret||ret||tab|

fig leaf hands folded in front; and |ret||ret||tab|

reverse fig leaf hands folded behind back. |ret||ret||tab|

Also watch out for the fig leaf flasher hands folded in front but opening and closing while talking (stand up and try this to get the full meaning of the name).|ret||ret||tab|

Use natural gestures with big movements the bigger the audience, the bigger the gesture. Smile and communicate with facial expressions. Don't be afraid to be dramatic.|ret||ret||tab|

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Interact with the audience|ret||ret||tab|

Face people directly and maintain eye contact for two or three seconds, any longer will make them uncomfortable. Be sure to look at all sections of the audience, as people subconsciously feel ignored and subsequently have trouble paying attention. |ret||ret||tab|

During question and answer, watch and listen to the person asking each question, repeat it to clarify and to give yourself a moment to think (yes, we can talk and think at the same time), then give about 25 percent of your attention to the questioner and 75 percent to the rest of the audience as you answer. |ret||ret||tab|

And, think before responding! A moment or two of silence while you think is perfectly acceptable. If you don't know the answer, ask who in the audience might have some input. Your audience knows more than they realize.|ret||ret||tab|

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Practice|ret||ret||tab|

I cannot stress this enough. Rehearsing will uncover holes and mistakes, check your timing and structure, increase your confidence, reduce anxiety, and help prevent embarrassment.|ret||ret||tab|

Using the tips here and in my previous columns will make a significant positive difference in your comfort with and the results of your presentations. Good luck.|ret||ret||tab|

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