Are You Reluctant to Speak?

by Judith Field

Business owners often find the best ways of marketing themselves, is to talk to groups of people.

You will be less nervous and look and sound more confident if you:

• Firstly, practice the 5ps: Prior practice prevents poor performance.


• Have your points on a small card and only look at it IN SILENCE. Then look up and fire the point at people.


• See yourself up in front of the audience.


• Look at their eyes. It’s not as scary as you may think. And how else are you going to judge if they are listening and looking, unless you look at them.


• Stand tall and put your head up. Leave your hands at your sides and only let them come up to gesture naturally.


• Project your voice form your diaphragm and from the front of your mouth.


• Vary your voice as much as possible.


• Smile, unless the topic is very serious.


• Finish with a strong message.


• Sum up all points briefly at the end (they will have forgotten most of them!)


• Don’t walk off till you have finished.


• LASTLY, LOOK AS IF YOU ARE ENJOYING YOURSELF UP THERE.

Judith Field is the director of Direct Speech and provides advice on Public Speaking.

The Australian Small Business Blog