Tips For Successful Public Speaking

Some Opening Techniques

• State importance of topic.
• Startle the audience.
• Arouse suspense/curiosity.
• Tell a story.
• Ask a rhetorical question.
• Begin with a quotation.
• Reference the occasion.

Attention Getting Openings

• Ask a provocative question, "How many of you own a foreign car, camera or watch?"
• Use a quote that relates to your subject, "The best way to help the poor is not to be one of them.""The duration of marriage is inversely proportional to the cost of the wedding."
• State a startling fact or statistic.
• Appeal to human interest.
• Tell a story or personal experience that relates to your subject. A side benefit of telling a story is overcoming nervousness in the first two minutes.
• Refer to a recent well known event or local newsworthy story - and bring your local paper with you.
• Pay a sincere compliment to the audience's organisation, their profession, etc.

Steps for preparing a speech

• Select or tailor a topic based on your purpose, your audience, and the details of your speaking situation.
• Limit the topic to one central theme.
• Collect data about the subject.
• Select a method of organisation.
• Outline the main points; use three main points to support your central theme.
• Gather supporting information, such as stories to support your main theme.
• Check for accuracy.
• Design a catchy, energetic introduction.
• Write a strong conclusion.
• Put together your final draft.
• Practice.
• Practice.
• Practice.
• Practice.
• Practice.
  

DO'S and DON'TS For Conclusion

• Don'ts
  1. Don't apologise.
  2. Don't stretch it out.
  3. Don't merely stop.
  4. Don't introduce new points.
  5. Don't pack up early.
  6. Don't continue to speak as you leave the lectern.
  
• Do's
  1. Do work on your conclusion carefully.
  2. Do end with strength.
  3. Do get to the point and summarise.
  4. Do bring your speech to a smooth ending.
  5. Do signal your audience that you are concluding.