Thursday, September 01, 2011

Delivering an Effective Speech: How effective is EFFECTIVE

A bend in the road is not the end of the road ...  unless you fail to make the turn. Before reaching at the end (that we presume as end) of the road, we normally stop and that’s the end. Rare are those who still go further till end and find that it was not end, but a turn. And thus the journey continues for them. 


This happens many a times in life, especially whenever we are facing a challenge, and to be precise when we are given a new task. A game is as simple or tough as its opponent. And in this case (when you have to deliver a speech) you are your own opponent. 


Once you win over yourself that you are the best (and which you are), the game is won before it starts. For any speech, I feel if following tips are followed, one can make the speech effec.tive Game starts NOW


Stand tall: You know you are there to deliver, and it is only you to deliver at the time of speech when other are at the receiving end. So stand tall, I mean this is a special time so make yourself feel that you are something special today as you are going to cater to a special group. Start your day well, dress well and wish yourself a good luck for the day.


Know your Audience: if you are going to speak in front of junior managers of a company and you prepare your speech relevant to the directors of the company, it is going to be a big boo boo! So understanding the lot – who and what is very important.


Understand the subject: You may be master of this field but all actors do not perform well in all type of roles. Overconfidence sometimes may mar the show! What is it on which you have to deliver the speech, make it very clear to yourself.


Choose the contents of delivery: Now you are the scriptwriter of the show, so based on the Audience and Subject choose your contents very clearly. It should be Neither too short nor too long. Choose the contents appropriately.


Frame them rightly: The success of a good script has to do a lot with the sequence setting and the flow of contents. Don’t spend too much time on a point.


Welcome QA at the end: Right at the beginning announce that you are going to entertain any queries at the end of the speech or presentation. If you don’t do this, you will keep on getting queries/questions in between and you will not be able to justify your timings allocated for your speech.


Manage your timings well: All things may not go as per plan, so be prepared to be flexible in between to adjust your timings. But be careful, speech that ends slightly before the time is better than taking time more than allocated.


Practice Practice Practice: Before the delivery of speech live, do rehearse well at least 10 times. Remember Amitabh Bachchan in Amar Akbar Anthony, drunk and standing in front of a mirror talking to himself. Do the same way if you are not able to gather some people during the rehearsal. Stand in front of a mirror (preferably a full size one) and note the way you are delivering – your style, body language, movements, voice tone etc. The more you practice, the more confidence will it build in you.


Don’t get bogged down: Now during the live show, you may find at times one or two persons who intend to spoil the show by raising irrelevant questions. Either avoid those queries, or tell them very politely that these questions are out of scope of this speech and have no relevance with the subject. Still if hw persists, tell him to meet you after the speech since it seems that it is related to that particular person and you don’t want to waste the time of whole group.


Try to recollect: During your preparations try to recollect / observe the movies, speeches, news deliveries, anchors of shows, to learn how to deliver the best.


Start with first gear:Take some time initially (and correspondingly give some time) to settle down, find out your space, get a little informal with your audience to form a relationship. Remember your audience is as excited and anxious as you are. So crack a relevant joke, start with a happy note etc.


Basics: Keep basic things intact throughout your speech – tone, body language, hands movement, your walking in between. Don’t be over-conscious, neither be too relaxed so that neither you appear frightened nor you throw an impression that you are least interested in the people there. Keep eye to eye contact with your audience. Never look in void, blank or wildly. Don’t stare or get stuck at one person or place, keep your eyes moving but in such a manner that it appears as you are paying attention to everyone evenly and regularly.

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