Handouts As Public Speaking Tools
Handouts are important tools for effective public speaking. They
serve as guides for your audience. Handouts will allow the
listeners to follow what you are discussing. Handouts are
important and should be well prepared.
When giving out the handouts to your listeners, remember to
choose the right time. It is not recommended to give them out
right away at the beginning of your speech. This will only make
the listeners tend to lose focus. It is important in public
speaking to catch the attention of your audience at the start of
the speech.
Also inform them that you will be giving out handouts so that
the listeners will need not to take down notes while you are
talking. Making handouts available will make your audience focus
and absorb everything that you say. That is because writing
while listening to your speech will only divide their attention.
You may want to use colorful papers if your audience is also
kids. Adding drawings can also make it interesting but do not
use too much or else they will only concentrate on the drawings
that they see.
On the handouts, you can include the objectives of your speech
and the things that you expect from your listeners. Do not put
the entire speech on the handout. If you put everything that you
have to say on the handouts, the listeners will no longer listen
to you.
You may also place in it the outline of your speech, a brief
introduction and the things that you will discuss. You may also
want to include the start time and the end time of your speech
and allocate the time when they would like to ask questions.
This will allow you to follow your outline and they may reserve
their questions for the time you listed on the handouts.
You can also incorporate some activities at the end of the
handout. Put a space where they can write and jot down the
answers on the activity that you will put at the end of the
handout. Adding a space where they can write is also effective
so that they may be able to jot down some important points that
you have mentioned and are not listed on the handouts.
At the end of the handout, you may also include some information
about yourself. You may put your name, nickname or even hobbies
to add some spice. This is one way that your listeners will be
able remember you by.
Handouts are very beneficial to making you an effective public
speaker. Make them ready all the time and make sure that they
will last. Handouts are ways that your listeners can remember
you; that is why it is important that you make them unique and
valuable.