Public Speaking 4 – Conducting the Self

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. - Mark Twain

The ten points to ponder

Decorum

From the time you get the invitation to make a speech to the time your car departs, people watch you and judge you. A good speaker should always remember to conduct himself well in the eyes of the public to create the proper opinion that is needed for his job. You might have recently heard about the resignation of a mayor from his post for not keeping up the decorum needed for the post. People who voted for him should have felt ashamed of themselves.

Dress

Your dress that suits the occasion should bring in half of the success. A running for a cause may require you go in race track suit, to address the runners and then participate in their activity; make necessary changes to unobtrusively distinguish yourself from the crowd. If you are going to address a group of youngsters select a dress suitable for the occasion and environment. If you go there in full paraphernalia, as if to a company board meeting, even as a speaker, you may be out of place.

Punctuality

Never be late reaching the spot. A few minutes of interaction with the people who invited you and casual talk with the audience, if you can mingle with them before your talk, will certainly give you an idea of the audience and their expectations and boost your confidence. This will initiate the personal touch even if it is a whole new place.

Low voice

Never be garrulous, be always a listener until you go on stage. Don’t speak louder than necessary. In these days of high technology managed halls you speak only in a normal and low voice. Get your voice recorded or video taped to know how you sound or are seen and remedy yourself. Don’t use words like, ‘you see’ or ‘look’ often in a habitual manner.

Language skills

Take care of your intonation and stress and if your pronunciation too is not up to the mark, get proper training, if you want to stay with public speaking. People never support one who can not speak clearly. Have a happy and contended look and don’t laugh or even smile unnecessarily. Don’t ever get into a verbal combat with anyone before, during or after the show.

Preparation

One should remember that good preparation will stand in good stead. But just reading out of a paper may make people think that you have done lot of homework like a school boy. You should make your speech look like an impromptu one and use the minimum of external help like video clippings, presentations, maps or charts. Avoid using an audio recording. Many may get frustrated with that.

Contingency

Remember to check the facilities you get at the venue. Don’t utter uncouth words when they fail. Take it as casual and continue.

Time

Be sure to manage your time. Try to take much less time than expected of you, but make that time interesting and useful to the audience.

Introspection

One last thing to note; you prepare a speech and deliver one. They both won’t be the same unless you read out your speech. At the end you would be wondering about your lapses and left out points and wished you could have done better. This is nothing new and every good speaker feels that way. Inner scrutiny is necessary to stay alive. You should check back every now and then to make sure that you are wanted.

Falsehood

Mark Twain’s words are worth everything a speaker possesses. It is true that you should say the truth; otherwise you will be all alone soon.

"Any man may be in good spirits and good temper when he's well dressed. - Charles Dickens.

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