Make your Speech a Success
Once a young priest asked his honest grandmother how she found
his first sermon. She answered:" I noticed only three flaws in
it. First, you were reading. Second, you were not reading very
well. And third, that sermon was not worth reading at all!" We
can only imagine how the priest reacted to such words. But I
don't think he was pleased. In some colleges and universities
after submitting your term papers you have to
present them orally. You are expected to make public speeches
and to capture the attention of your exacting professors. How to
avoid such comment from their side? And instead impress them
with your speaking and be proud of yourself? They say, that if
you steal one idea it is plagiarism and if a lot of then it is
education. Why can't we learn from the most prominent orators
and their secrets of success? Let's do it right now. No long
speeches!!! You can make a speech longer than 20 minutes, but
remember you are not paid for it. Never say "In conclusion",
"And the last thing I would like to tell you" if you have more
than a minute before the actual end. Your listeners will be
bored to death, when after these words you continue speaking for
another 15 minutes. Maneuvering! Without some maneuvers your
speech will be insipid like meat without salt. Expression Your
speech is your way of giving a part of you to people. Expression
may be considered as inner speech. Be emotional and people will
listen to you with interest. Humor (not at colleges/
universities) If you are not making your speech on your colle
ge term paper, say something funny and something humorous at
the beginning of the speech. If people smile at you, they are
yours. Humor is some kind of emotional argument, which people
accept with pleasure. Practice makes perfect. If you are at the
football ground for the first time, you are hardly to become a
leading player. Don't miss a single opportunity to make speeches
in public.Pausing.Maugham said, that if you took a pause, make
it a long one. Scientists determined that being silent (not
shouting) serves as an attention grabber. Your pauses will give
a listener ability to think about your words. Don't panic. You
must not make excuses like: * You had too little time for
preparation * See the microphone for the first time * You are
worried and so on. It has a negative effect on the emotional
atmosphere among the audience. And then it will be more
difficult and confusing for you to go on speaking. It is better
to joke and if you stumbled, that is all right. Make a pause and
then go ahead. Let your silence be thoughtful: You will impress
everyone, if after a reflecting pause; you will continue your
speech with more energy. Contrasts always capture attention.