DO’S AND DON’TS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

DO’S AND DON’TS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

(TALK SHOW)

Do’s:

·         Do decide for the purpose of your talk really. What is the "take-home" message you want to give your audience? It should be organize accordingly.

·         Do prepare for your talk that will fit within the time limit you're given. That includes allowing the audience to ask you questions.

·         Do show some energy. If you're not excited about your topic, so why should the audience be?

·         Do stand properly and always face your audience. If you turn back, your audience may lose their focus. If you have your slides, then stand beside it to avoid blockings.

·         Do speak loudly enough to be heard by the entire audience, even those in the back row.

·         Do answer their questions as briefly as possible. Remember, that there may be only one person in the audience interested in a specific answer.

·         Do remember that "I don't know" is a perfectly good answer. You don’t need to go into a five-minute explanation of why you don't know. If you're working on answering the question, just say that.

Don’ts

Planning Your Talk

·         Don't forget that studies show an audience can remember only three or four things you present in a talk.

·         Don't distract from your message by including peripheral topics or excessive arcane detail.

·         Don't forget that any lecture is a performance: you must work to get your message across.

Some Basics

·         Don't keep jumping back and forth through your slides. Either reorganize your talk to avoid this or duplicate the needed slide in the second place where it fits.

·         Don't start to change a slide, then stop halfway. Either change it or leave it.

·         Don't fidget nervously in front of your audience. Make your movements and gestures purposeful.

·         Don't stick your hands in your pockets, hook your thumbs under your belt, or engage in other creative diversions.

Words, Phrases, etc.

·         Don't start sentences with "So."

·         Don't end sentences with "right?" or "OK?"

·         Don't apologetically introduce a topic with "Just real quick," "Briefly," or similar words. What that tells your audience is that "this isn't really important or relevant, but I'm going to inflict it on you anyway."

Laser Pointers

·         Don't wave the laserpointer all over the screen as you talk. You're going to give your audience a headache as their eyes jerk all around their heads trying to keep up.

·         Don't use a laser pointer to point to text. Your audience is as capable of reading as you are. Do you still run your finger under the words as you read? Neither do they.

Questions

·         Don't use a question as an excuse to bring up the dozen slides you cut out of your talk in order to meet the time limit you were given.

·         Don't go rummaging through your slides to answer a question unless it is absolutely necessary (and it usually isn't).

·         Don't hold "private conversations" with questioners in the front rows. Make sure everyone in the audience knows what the question is (repeat it if necessary) and can hear and understand the answer.

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR THE DO'S AND DON'TS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING:

·         Posture

Don't Don't slump over.

Do Straighten up your body and maintain your posture while speaking.

·         Gestures

Don't Don't make too many gestures and irrelevant gestures from what you are saying.

Do Minimize your gestures and do the appropriate gestures based on what you are saying.

·         Fidgeting

Don't Don't fidget in front of your audience.

Do Stand still and relax your body.

·         Speaking

Don't Don't eat your words while speaking.

Do Speak your words clearly and loudly enough for your audience to hear.

Use of "ahm" and "so"

Don't Don't use "ahm" and "so" too frequently in your speech.

Do Minimize their use and use "so" only for giving a conclusion statement.

·         Pause

Don't Don't make a very long pause between your speech.

Do Use pause to control your breathing and a long enough pause to give anticipation to your audience on hearing what you have to say next.

·         Nervousness

Don't Do not be overtaken by your nervousness.

Do It is most wise to prepare yourself adequately before your public speaking in able to gain confidence and assurance that you'll make it successful.

Baguiwan, Hazel

Briggs, Daryl                                

Buac, Marvy Lyn

Colegio, Michelle Anne

Ellan Mae Bayno