Twelve Golden Rules for Public Speaking
5 November 2013
Read by 2414 persons
Being at ease when speaking is rarely innate. It is the result of rigorous preparation, a lot of training and a real commitment of oneself... Not to mention that some basic rules must be observed to hold the attention of your audience. Here they are.
Françoise Berthon is an accountant, director of the Berthon firm. Endowed with good relations with her clients, able to capture their attention, to argue and negotiate, she is nevertheless less comfortable when, in 2004, she became president for the Ile de France of her professional union, Experts-comptables de France. "My position led me to regularly speak in front of several hundred colleagues. At first, I couldn't utter two sentences without stammering. I almost apologized for speaking in public! One day, I'd had enough and I decided to learn," says the one who, after several sessions with a coach, now takes pleasure in convincing her audience and getting her messages across. "I learned to get to the point, to breathe, not to remain static. Training with a professional gave me confidence, even if the apprehension is still there," she admits. "It would be irresponsible not to be nervous! But public speaking is also an act of will. I tell myself: 'Françoise, you have to do it,' and that gives me the strength to get started."
Françoise Berthon understood this well: public speaking requires a physical and psychological commitment. "It is this commitment that allows you to capture the attention, to convince... and it provides real pleasure," assures Jean-Jacques Lapierre, coach, director of the company A portée de voix. Even if commitment is not enough: being at ease in public is just as much the fruit of work, learning and a lot of training! "Those who seem the most natural are those who have worked the hardest," assures Jean-Louis Chenin, specialist in oral communication and director of Medialectic. How to do it? Here are some tips to help you train.
1. Give as much importance to form as to content
"Many still consider that the content is important and the form, accessory," remarks Jean-Louis Chenin. "Not at all! It is the harmonious alliance of both that will determine the success of an intervention." A brilliant speech on paper can go very badly orally. "Facts don't speak for themselves orally!" insists the coach. "It is essential to stage your ideas so that they have the maximum impact on the audience." All this, of course, requires a lot of work beforehand. Work on the content of the speech, then repetition of the speech to master the form and locking down the material environment: these are the three keys to a successful intervention.
2. Ask yourself the right questions
Whether you are speaking in front of a congress of 400 people or the jury of a call for tenders, start by asking yourself the right questions. First: "Who am I addressing?" What is the state of mind of the audience, what are their expectations, their motivations, their fears, their level of information? Secondly: "What is the objective of my intervention?" (e.g.: motivate salespeople; sell my project to the management...). It is important that this is clear to you. Thirdly: "What is my strategy to achieve my objective?" What levers will I use? (e.g.: the sales team's taste for challenge, the management's desire for internal growth...). This is essential to find the arguments that will have an impact. The answers to these questions will allow you to construct your speech. Which must respect two imperatives: conciseness and pedagogy.
3. Be concise...
"To speak for three-quarters of an hour, you need a great talent and fascinating content! A 20-minute speech that is impactful and structured is already a great piece of work," says Thierry Destrez, oral communication coach and director of the company Avant-Scène. Conciseness is the assurance of not boring your audience. Especially since all communication specialists affirm it: the audience never retains more than two or three messages in a presentation. Be very clear about your main ideas and concentrate on them. "Before, I built my speeches like a school essay, presenting my subject at length," recalls Françoise Berthon. "Now, I go straight to the point to capture the audience's attention." Conciseness also applies to your visuals. "Divide the number of your slides by five," dares Jean-Louis Chenin. "The slides should serve as support for a demonstration, not the other way around."
4. ...And pedagogical
Another condition for success: make yourself accessible to your audience. This means, first of all, illustrating your ideas. "No idea without an example and no example without an idea," reminds Jean-Louis Chenin. "Because it is from the image that we access the concept." "Too many speakers remain centered on themselves," deplores Thierry Destrez. "On the contrary, you must make yourself accessible to the public with adapted vocabulary (no jargon if the public does not know the subject) and examples that "speak" to them." Socrates already said: "When I speak to a blacksmith, I tell him stories about blacksmiths."
5. Don't write out your speech
"You come across badly when you read a text, your face buried in your papers without looking at the audience," warns Thierry Destrez. "Prefer a small synthetic sheet, a guiding thread for the presentation, which will serve as a safety net in case of a blank."
6. Look at your audience
You master the content? Now it's a matter of getting it across to your audience. To do this, keep in mind that an audience is by nature passive. It is up to you to create the relationship with it, "to switch it on," as consultant and speaker Francis Kaufmann summarizes. And that largely depends on your physical commitment. "To involve your audience, you must create in them the feeling that you are really addressing them. The body is the tool that conveys this energy," analyzes Jean-Jacques Lapierre. Body position and in space, facial expression: everything counts. But what is essential is the gaze. "You hold a room with your eyes!" estimates Francis Kaufmann. "I constantly think about giving a circular gaze to the whole audience. I try not to forget to look well at the people on the far left, a part where the gaze does not go naturally." Eye contact with the audience also allows you to correct your course if necessary. "When I see that it's not working, I change my way of doing things," continues the speaker: shorter sentences, more silences. And I don't hesitate to go off script to involve the participants and regain their attention."
7. Modulate your voice
Essential for winning over the audience: the voice. "People never speak loud enough!" remarks Jean-Jacques Lapierre. "Because your perception of the volume of your voice is always exaggerated compared to what the audience receives." (In short, you have the impression of shouting while you are just being heard well.) "Speaking louder also forces you to put more expressiveness - a vector of conviction - in your voice!" continues the coach. "It's impossible to give a monotonous speech when you speak loudly." Especially since it is not necessary to shout to be heard. "It is enough to position yourself well - relaxed shoulders, straight back, open rib cage - and to breathe by inflating your belly," describes Ms. Brouillard de Vreese, lawyer. "The voice then carries without physical effort, you feel more at ease and you capture the attention of your interlocutor better!" Volume is not everything in the voice. "Articulation (to be taken care of), speed (we always speak too fast), modulation (which words will I emphasize and where will I create silences?): all this contributes to keeping the public's attention," lists Jean-Jacques Lapierre.
8. Dare to use silences
"A silence attracts the attention of the audience," explains Francis Kaufmann. "It allows them to integrate what has just been said and gives relief to the words that will follow." "Imposing silences is an excellent way to get rid of our verbal tics (uh... that is... so...), designed precisely to fill silences synonymous with failure in our past as schoolchildren," points out Thierry Destrez.
9. Put yourself forward
Your position in space also counts. Don't hide near a pillar or behind the projector. Put yourself in the center of the stage, because you are the star! Is this what scares you? On the contrary: the more you put yourself forward, the more you will capture the attention of the audience... and the more you will feel at ease. "I like to speak standing up and move towards the audience," testifies Françoise Berthon. "I feel closer to people. The audience appreciates it when you go to meet them." Investing in your speech is the sine qua non condition for success. Philippe Jullien experienced this. Used to public speaking, this purchasing manager felt that he was not capturing the attention of his interlocutors well, without understanding why. Working with a coach allowed him to realize that he had to commit more during his interventions. "Through the gaze, through the strength of the voice... It's a matter of being present with the audience if you want to be listened to. From now on, I try to give the best of myself. You can't go halfway. You give energy... But I find that it is by giving yourself that you gain self-confidence." And that you find pleasure in the exercise.
10. Hide your slides
To remain the center of attention, remember to hide your slides when you speak. A reflex adopted by Francis Kaufmann: "You can't compete with the image," he admits.
11. Smile
Last element: smile! "Smiling helps me," continues Françoise Berthon. "It's a way for me to show that I'm happy to be here and to express myself in front of the audience. It puts me in a positive state of mind that helps me to take on my role as a speaker."
12. Check your equipment one last time
It seems obvious, but it's better to mention it anyway: lock down the smallest details before your presentation! Make sure everything works (PC, microphone, video projector, overhead projector), that the whiteboard is blank and that the markers are not dry, that there are enough chairs, that it is neither too hot nor too cold... If possible, rehearse your speech in the room. Spotting the location and imagining yourself speaking in this environment is also a way to mentally prepare yourself for what awaits you. You have everything to gain.
Marie-Pierre Noguès-Ledru
Pourseformer.fr
Posted online on November 5, 2013.
Françoise Berthon is an accountant, director of the Berthon firm. Endowed with good relations with her clients, able to capture their attention, to argue and negotiate, she is nevertheless less comfortable when, in 2004, she became president for the Ile de France of her professional union, Experts-comptables de France. "My position led me to regularly speak in front of several hundred colleagues. At first, I couldn't utter two sentences without stammering. I almost apologized for speaking in public! One day, I'd had enough and I decided to learn," says the one who, after several sessions with a coach, now takes pleasure in convincing her audience and getting her messages across. "I learned to get to the point, to breathe, not to remain static. Training with a professional gave me confidence, even if the apprehension is still there," she admits. "It would be irresponsible not to be nervous! But public speaking is also an act of will. I tell myself: 'Françoise, you have to do it,' and that gives me the strength to get started."
Françoise Berthon understood this well: public speaking requires a physical and psychological commitment. "It is this commitment that allows you to capture the attention, to convince... and it provides real pleasure," assures Jean-Jacques Lapierre, coach, director of the company A portée de voix. Even if commitment is not enough: being at ease in public is just as much the fruit of work, learning and a lot of training! "Those who seem the most natural are those who have worked the hardest," assures Jean-Louis Chenin, specialist in oral communication and director of Medialectic. How to do it? Here are some tips to help you train.
1. Give as much importance to form as to content
"Many still consider that the content is important and the form, accessory," remarks Jean-Louis Chenin. "Not at all! It is the harmonious alliance of both that will determine the success of an intervention." A brilliant speech on paper can go very badly orally. "Facts don't speak for themselves orally!" insists the coach. "It is essential to stage your ideas so that they have the maximum impact on the audience." All this, of course, requires a lot of work beforehand. Work on the content of the speech, then repetition of the speech to master the form and locking down the material environment: these are the three keys to a successful intervention.
2. Ask yourself the right questions
Whether you are speaking in front of a congress of 400 people or the jury of a call for tenders, start by asking yourself the right questions. First: "Who am I addressing?" What is the state of mind of the audience, what are their expectations, their motivations, their fears, their level of information? Secondly: "What is the objective of my intervention?" (e.g.: motivate salespeople; sell my project to the management...). It is important that this is clear to you. Thirdly: "What is my strategy to achieve my objective?" What levers will I use? (e.g.: the sales team's taste for challenge, the management's desire for internal growth...). This is essential to find the arguments that will have an impact. The answers to these questions will allow you to construct your speech. Which must respect two imperatives: conciseness and pedagogy.
3. Be concise...
"To speak for three-quarters of an hour, you need a great talent and fascinating content! A 20-minute speech that is impactful and structured is already a great piece of work," says Thierry Destrez, oral communication coach and director of the company Avant-Scène. Conciseness is the assurance of not boring your audience. Especially since all communication specialists affirm it: the audience never retains more than two or three messages in a presentation. Be very clear about your main ideas and concentrate on them. "Before, I built my speeches like a school essay, presenting my subject at length," recalls Françoise Berthon. "Now, I go straight to the point to capture the audience's attention." Conciseness also applies to your visuals. "Divide the number of your slides by five," dares Jean-Louis Chenin. "The slides should serve as support for a demonstration, not the other way around."
4. ...And pedagogical
Another condition for success: make yourself accessible to your audience. This means, first of all, illustrating your ideas. "No idea without an example and no example without an idea," reminds Jean-Louis Chenin. "Because it is from the image that we access the concept." "Too many speakers remain centered on themselves," deplores Thierry Destrez. "On the contrary, you must make yourself accessible to the public with adapted vocabulary (no jargon if the public does not know the subject) and examples that "speak" to them." Socrates already said: "When I speak to a blacksmith, I tell him stories about blacksmiths."
5. Don't write out your speech
"You come across badly when you read a text, your face buried in your papers without looking at the audience," warns Thierry Destrez. "Prefer a small synthetic sheet, a guiding thread for the presentation, which will serve as a safety net in case of a blank."
6. Look at your audience
You master the content? Now it's a matter of getting it across to your audience. To do this, keep in mind that an audience is by nature passive. It is up to you to create the relationship with it, "to switch it on," as consultant and speaker Francis Kaufmann summarizes. And that largely depends on your physical commitment. "To involve your audience, you must create in them the feeling that you are really addressing them. The body is the tool that conveys this energy," analyzes Jean-Jacques Lapierre. Body position and in space, facial expression: everything counts. But what is essential is the gaze. "You hold a room with your eyes!" estimates Francis Kaufmann. "I constantly think about giving a circular gaze to the whole audience. I try not to forget to look well at the people on the far left, a part where the gaze does not go naturally." Eye contact with the audience also allows you to correct your course if necessary. "When I see that it's not working, I change my way of doing things," continues the speaker: shorter sentences, more silences. And I don't hesitate to go off script to involve the participants and regain their attention."
7. Modulate your voice
Essential for winning over the audience: the voice. "People never speak loud enough!" remarks Jean-Jacques Lapierre. "Because your perception of the volume of your voice is always exaggerated compared to what the audience receives." (In short, you have the impression of shouting while you are just being heard well.) "Speaking louder also forces you to put more expressiveness - a vector of conviction - in your voice!" continues the coach. "It's impossible to give a monotonous speech when you speak loudly." Especially since it is not necessary to shout to be heard. "It is enough to position yourself well - relaxed shoulders, straight back, open rib cage - and to breathe by inflating your belly," describes Ms. Brouillard de Vreese, lawyer. "The voice then carries without physical effort, you feel more at ease and you capture the attention of your interlocutor better!" Volume is not everything in the voice. "Articulation (to be taken care of), speed (we always speak too fast), modulation (which words will I emphasize and where will I create silences?): all this contributes to keeping the public's attention," lists Jean-Jacques Lapierre.
8. Dare to use silences
"A silence attracts the attention of the audience," explains Francis Kaufmann. "It allows them to integrate what has just been said and gives relief to the words that will follow." "Imposing silences is an excellent way to get rid of our verbal tics (uh... that is... so...), designed precisely to fill silences synonymous with failure in our past as schoolchildren," points out Thierry Destrez.
9. Put yourself forward
Your position in space also counts. Don't hide near a pillar or behind the projector. Put yourself in the center of the stage, because you are the star! Is this what scares you? On the contrary: the more you put yourself forward, the more you will capture the attention of the audience... and the more you will feel at ease. "I like to speak standing up and move towards the audience," testifies Françoise Berthon. "I feel closer to people. The audience appreciates it when you go to meet them." Investing in your speech is the sine qua non condition for success. Philippe Jullien experienced this. Used to public speaking, this purchasing manager felt that he was not capturing the attention of his interlocutors well, without understanding why. Working with a coach allowed him to realize that he had to commit more during his interventions. "Through the gaze, through the strength of the voice... It's a matter of being present with the audience if you want to be listened to. From now on, I try to give the best of myself. You can't go halfway. You give energy... But I find that it is by giving yourself that you gain self-confidence." And that you find pleasure in the exercise.
10. Hide your slides
To remain the center of attention, remember to hide your slides when you speak. A reflex adopted by Francis Kaufmann: "You can't compete with the image," he admits.
11. Smile
Last element: smile! "Smiling helps me," continues Françoise Berthon. "It's a way for me to show that I'm happy to be here and to express myself in front of the audience. It puts me in a positive state of mind that helps me to take on my role as a speaker."
12. Check your equipment one last time
It seems obvious, but it's better to mention it anyway: lock down the smallest details before your presentation! Make sure everything works (PC, microphone, video projector, overhead projector), that the whiteboard is blank and that the markers are not dry, that there are enough chairs, that it is neither too hot nor too cold... If possible, rehearse your speech in the room. Spotting the location and imagining yourself speaking in this environment is also a way to mentally prepare yourself for what awaits you. You have everything to gain.
Marie-Pierre Noguès-Ledru
Pourseformer.fr
Posted online on November 5, 2013.
