Don't Quake, Avoid These Public Speaking Mistakes!

This is part 1 of 2 for Public Speaking Mastery.

Your Audience Will Sense Your Fear

Public speaking can be completely terrifying, especially when you are new or are yet unpracticed. For both beginners and stage veterans there are a few things that you can do to really improve your ability to speak, and present, in front of others. Once you get familiar with these tricks you'll be surprised at just how fast your stage confidence will soar. Below is a list of the most common mistakes public speakers make, and what you can do to ensure that your presentations don't follow in their footsteps.

1. They Don't Memorize- Don't use flash cards and other materials in place of memorizing your material. They are useful supplements for keeping up with yourself, but you need to know what you are presenting strongly from memory.
2. They Don't Have a Clear Purpose– Don't fall into the trap of starting to plan from the conclusion. Make sure that your presentation has a point from the beginning to end, which you'll build through the course of your speech or presentation.
3. They Are Unorganized- Whether they didn't organize their material or themselves before they hit the stage, there is nothing like being unorganized to start a public speaking engagement off with a big shot of the nerves. Make sure that your material follows an organized order where points build upon one another. Then, make sure you have everything you need in place, in hand, and ready before the show starts.
4. They Are Illogical- When presenters prepare their material sometimes they don't realize how illogical they end up making their points. They choose information, stories, or other material that is not most efficiently driving home their point or purpose. Really consider your material and make sure that it follows a logical sequence as well as only includes points that support the purpose as a whole.
5. They Leave Facts Unsupported- In today's day of faster than light info-sharing, it is as important as ever to backup your claims with evidence, whether it is through the use of reports demonstrating results, statistics, or even surveys. Making the mistake of not supporting your claims with hard data could cost you dearly, whether it hits your credibility or undermines your purpose.
6. They Are Unprepared– One way to avoid being afraid or nervous on stage is to simply be prepared. This means making sure that both you and any supplemental materials are ready to go, but also well rehearsed. 'Practice makes perfect' applies just as readily to public speaking as it would playing an instrument.
7. They Are Just Boring- When you are on stage, you are there for a reason, you are there for your purpose. Everything you do and say is intended to engage your audience in one way or another, but you won't succeed at doing that if you're boring. Speak up, speak boldly, and move around a little. Take ownership of the stage you have available, look out into all of the audience instead of focusing on one focal point, and above all, keep a smile both on your face and in your voice.

Be the energy that you want to inspire in your audience. Move them with your passion. Own the stage.

How Encore Could Be Your Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Public speaking can really be a very energizing, and successful, experience if you apply yourself in powerful ways. Try these techniques out for yourself and if you feel that you could use a little more help in the right direction Encore Consulting Group has a number of training workshops, including Public Speaking, that could help build your confidence for the stage. Sometimes support can really make the difference in going from good to great, so contact us today to see if our courses could be just what you need for your own measurable improvement.