No-Sweat Speaking

Making the Presentation

Calming
Speaking in front of an audience can be a nerve-racking experience. Jordan Friedman explains some quick and easy techniques that can be used to calm yourself before going up to speak or in any situation. He guides you through simple relaxation steps.

Imagine
Borrowing techniques from the world of sports, speakers are encouraged to imagine the setting where they will be speaking, including details of what they will be wearing and even what the audience will look like, in order to better prepare themselves for their speech.

Pre-talk
Talking with audience members in a casual setting before the speech starts is an excellent way to get to know some of your audience members. It gives you valuable information about your audience and lets you personalize aspects of your speech to them.

Intro
Introducing yourself and explaining your topic at the beginning of your speech are vitally important elements in capturing the interest of your audience. It's the first impression the audience will have of you. Here are some tips to make that first impression a good one.

Stand
Where you stand when speaking depends on many factors, including the layout of the room, the formality of the occasion and how you feel most comfortable when speaking. Standing behind the podium or walking among the audience each has its strengths.

Interview
Engaging your audience by asking them questions that require not only a show of hands but some responses from members is often a good way to begin. You can then use their answers as illustrative examples of points you want to make.

Eye to eye
Making eye contact with an audience can be difficult for someone who is already nervous about speaking in front of a large group. Judith Steinhart gives suggestions on ways to focus your attention on your audience rather than on the paper in front of you.

Storytelling
Everyone loves a good story. But when telling a story as part of your speech it is important to make sure not only that the story is interesting and to the point but also that it relates to the subject of your talk. Humorous stories, especially, can be a great way to loosen up the audience.

Q & A
Question-and-answer sessions after your speech are important because they let the audience feel involved in your presentation. But how do you deal with long-winded questioners or with inquiries for which you don't have answers? Watch this.

Demonstrations
Watch speakers give brief speeches and listen to Jordan Friedman's and Judith Steinhart's comments on what they're doing well and what skills they can strengthen to improve their presentations. See if you can determine how well they followed the nine Presentation Power Points.

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