 |
| Steven Thorn |
Preparation is a key
factor in becoming a good public speaker. Preparation leads to confidence.
In 2009, I competed in
the International Speech Competition, winning the Club, Area, and Division
rounds before finishing Second at the District level.
To prepare for the
International Speech Competition, I wrote out my speech on the computer and continually
revised it.
I chose every single
word in my speech to make the sentences smooth, understandable, and pleasing to
the ear.
Listening to good
speakers and observing how they organize their thoughts can help you organize
your own thoughts.
Reading quality books, magazines, and newspapers can also give you a model for writing your speeches.
Reading quality books, magazines, and newspapers can also give you a model for writing your speeches.
For those of you who
hated English class AND hate public speaking, don't give up. All of you who
enjoy math, take heart. We're not going to do math right now, but I am going to
provide you with a formula:
1) Introduction: Tell the audience what you're going to tell them.
2) Body: Tell them.
3) Conclusion: Tell them what you told them.
This is a classic organizational strategy, like the traditional five paragraph essay from English class.
Typically, your speech (or essay) has a theme, and you support or explain the theme in three main points.
Talk about the theme and the three points in the introduction, flesh out the three points in the body, and recap the three points and how they support the theme in the conclusion.
After you write your speech, you need to practice it. While preparing for the International Speech Competition, I practiced my speech every day in front of the mirror until I was sick of it.
When I didn’t want to practice it anymore, I practiced it one more time.
Give your speech to yourself in front of a mirror to watch your eye contact and gestures. Being in front of a mirror should help you to act naturally. It may reveal distracting habits that you have, like jangling loose change in your pockets or wringing your hands.
1) Introduction: Tell the audience what you're going to tell them.
2) Body: Tell them.
3) Conclusion: Tell them what you told them.
This is a classic organizational strategy, like the traditional five paragraph essay from English class.
Typically, your speech (or essay) has a theme, and you support or explain the theme in three main points.
Talk about the theme and the three points in the introduction, flesh out the three points in the body, and recap the three points and how they support the theme in the conclusion.
After you write your speech, you need to practice it. While preparing for the International Speech Competition, I practiced my speech every day in front of the mirror until I was sick of it.
When I didn’t want to practice it anymore, I practiced it one more time.
Give your speech to yourself in front of a mirror to watch your eye contact and gestures. Being in front of a mirror should help you to act naturally. It may reveal distracting habits that you have, like jangling loose change in your pockets or wringing your hands.
If you can, record your
speech and listen to (or watch) the recording. This will help you to enunciate
correctly and talk at a natural pace.
You must practice your speech out loud before you give it, because the spoken word sounds different than the written word. Some things just don't make sense when you say them out loud. You want to identify the rough spots in your speech before you give it.
I prepared for my speech: wrote, revised, practiced, recorded and listened, watched myself in the mirror — and then I finally gave the speech in the competition.
Did all of that preparation give me confidence when I stepped onto that stage, in front of all those people, to deliver my speech?
You must practice your speech out loud before you give it, because the spoken word sounds different than the written word. Some things just don't make sense when you say them out loud. You want to identify the rough spots in your speech before you give it.
I prepared for my speech: wrote, revised, practiced, recorded and listened, watched myself in the mirror — and then I finally gave the speech in the competition.
Did all of that preparation give me confidence when I stepped onto that stage, in front of all those people, to deliver my speech?
Yes, it was SHOW TIME
for Steven Thorn!
I wasn't worried about the competition or the judges. Win or lose, I was going to do my best.
I was ready.
While you may never feel the same excitement about "show time," preparation will give you confidence.
Don't focus on your nerves or the urge to throw up. Focus on the fact that you have a message to deliver and you're ready to do it. Let that preparation give you the strength and confidence to do whatever public speaking you have to do.
Preparation leads to confidence.
Plan your speech.
Practice your speech.
Become a confident
speaker.
Steven Thorn
