PRESENTING YOU TO AN AUDIENCE
The following is from a congressional workshop for House of Representative staffers on how to properly represent your "boss" at District functions. It can be modified for anyone who does public speaking.
You are not there just to inform; your main purpose is to persuade. Never tell them you're nervous or not an expert. You are an expert; you are worth listening to.
Speak to 100 in an auditorium as if they are 5 in your living room. Use contractions; be informal. Formal oration is for funerals, commencements, and Inaugurals.
Concentrate on your purpose, not yourself. Use the energy of "stage fright".
Get immediate attention with a grabber opening that gets to the heart of your talk. Then use examples and stories that relate to the audience. Empathize with them: "As a parent . . ." , "As a fellow member of . . . " , "We here in the --th District know that . . . . "
Tell them what you're going to tell them, then expand, and then summarize.
Don't try to tell them everything you know: 3-4-5 main points and expand these.
Use the names of members of the audience, if you recognize some.
Use gestures for emphasis. Remember though, if you emphasize everything, nothing gets emphasized; you are always at the same level.
Vary your voice in pitch, volume, and pace -- to get and hold attention.
Keep the Q/A period and your answers brief. Individuals concerns aren't always the group's; you can lose the group if the period goes on too long.
Repeat the question for the entire audience ~ and also to make sure you understood it. Gives you a moment to get your answer together - could also give you an opportunity to put it in better form for your purpose.
Cut off audience speechmakers politely but firmly, perhaps suggesting a later conversation.
Anticipate questions and prepare answers in advance. Refer back to points you made in your speech ---briefly, you've already said it once.
If you don't know the answer, say so. "Good question. I don't know the answer offhand but if you'll write it down and see me after, I'll sure try to get an answer to you. I'd like to know, myself."
At the end of the period, re-summarize your main points.
Audio/video tape you if possible. Be honest with yourself. Consciously watch others for things to use and things to avoid.
Performance = Appearance, Voice, Content, Rehearsal, Presentation
On the telephone you have only Voice, Words, Intonations, to create yourself in the caller's imagination.
Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse! So you'll never be perfect - but you will be excellent. And that isn't bad!
