That Dr. PaulFor every favourite on this toot I'll give you a public speaking tip.
Until I get tired of it.
Look up. Look at your audience's faces, or where you imagine their faces are if they lighting or setting means you can't actually see them.
Do not read. Look at your notes or script if you have to, then look up and speak the words as if you believe them.
Stress the verbs. Almost always.
Know your last line. You don't need a scripted first line or middle but it needs to be obvious when you're done, so finish strong, know what your last words will be and spend the whole time moving towards them.
Simon and/or Garfunkel@thatpaul I’ve never heard this tip before and I like it!
Talk with your hands at least a little. Most people do most of the time, so it won't look weird, I promise.
Slow down and speak clearly.
Speyquine (Lucy)@thatpaul speaking slowly is the most important point imo ime.
@speyquine It's very important! But, of course, you can overdo it.
I said slow down and I meant it, but also: vary your speed, tone, and volume. It's boring to listen to someone speak at the same speed for more than half a minute or so. Speed up as you are gathering momentum in a point or argument or illustration for example.
Speaking of varying speed and pitch and volume: you often command more attention by going quiet than you do by going loud. For emphasis, drop your volume a little, and drop your speed at the same time. People will lean in.
Don't be afraid of silence. Even more: don't be afraid to let an important point sit for a moment in silence while your audience absorbs it.
Speak from your core, with lots of breath support. Your inward breaths should fill your abdomen, not your chest.
Use the geography of the space, whether that means walking around a stage or standing at a podium or whatever. Return to specific places in the room or postures to make related points. Lean or step forward to create intimacy. Lean or step backward to create formal distance.
Be emotionally honest. If you're saying something you don't have any feelings about why are you even saying it? And if you do have feelings then let them show. That goes for an academic talk as much as a dramatic monologue.
Repeat yourself. Rephrase your previous points; say them again in different words.
You don't have to be funny. You DO have to be genuine.
@thatpaul I would be terrified to speak publicly, so I’m here for a tip, please.
Mark Pritchard@thatpaul I hesitated to boost this earlier as I liked that the Favourites were coming organically, but I also want to share this thread because there are some really good #PublicSpeaking tips in there