Public Speaking – Top 5 Questions Answered
There are a number of questions consistently asked in relation to public speaking and presentations.
Here are a few of the most common questions, along with the answers.
This is What you Need to Know – Public Speaking Top Five Questions
There are a number of questions consistently asked in relation to public speaking and business presentations.
Here are a few of the most common questions, along with the answers.
1. Wrong People Attending
What if the main decision-maker is suddenly called away or taken ill and can’t attend the meeting where I am due to present?
What at first, may seem like a major disaster is actually nothing of the sort.
By being adaptable, you can tailor your presentation to the rest of the audience, and ask them to convey one or two key points to the decision-maker later.
Emphasise those key points to ensure that they thoroughly understand them.
2. Technical Failure
What if my projector and presentation end up in Houston when they should have been on the same flight as me to Orlando?
Rent a projector locally, either from the hotel or from an audio-visual company listed in Yellow Pages.
As for the presentation, foresight and preparation would mean that you carried a backup with you in your hand luggage.
3. How many times should I read through my speech before presenting it?
This is one of those how long is a piece of string type questions.
The answer is, as long as it takes for you to feel comfortable at presenting it.
For some people it will be one or two times, others may need five or six readings, or even more.
There is no substitute for preparation and practice. However, learning that mistakes are only mistakes if people notice them is one of the seven laws of presentation success.
4. To Walk About or Not
I have seen some speakers and presenters who like to walk about in the audience, what is your view of this?
Everyone has a different professional speaking style, and there is no right or wrong with this technique.
It really comes down to what works for you, and what is most effective for the audience.
If you gauge that an audience is uncomfortable with it then it’s best to stop, but some audiences seem to enjoy it, especially if it sets the speaker apart from others in a long seminar.
5. Nerves
My mouth dries up very easily and I find that within five or ten minutes of presenting a long talk, my mouth is very dry. Is there anything I can do?
Some people do suffer from this condition through no fault of their own, even some experienced speakers.
The answer probably sounds obvious, but you need a drink!
When you arrive in the room, place a glass of water on the podium so that you can take a few sips when you need to during your talk.
Just the reassurance that the drink is there can help calm your nerves. Don’t worry about how the audience might view you, it is perfectly acceptable to do this.
This article was contributed by Paul Daniels.
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Public Speaking Top Five Questions
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