Speaking Well in Public Is by NO MEANS ACCIDENTAL

Command attention and get your point across with these tips.

By Sara Jensen

You might possibly know how jokes can complement your speech. But jokes can also cause your speech to be disastrous. Jokes are both a boon and bane to a speech.

If you are very comfortable with it, use humor. Just check it first to see if it fits, serving as a breaker between sections or emphasizing a certain point. A funny and great line, or a comment that is irreverent can help liven up your presentation and will help people to remember what you have said. Of course, any joke must be related to the topic in some way. If you are not sure about something, you could also use a humorous photo or cartoon (with the permission of the photographer or illustrator, of course) in your slides.

Aside from using jokes or humor in your speech, you could improve your public speaking with these other tips.

■ You should be able to grab your listeners’ attention right at the start. Start correctly— confident posture, eloquent speaking style, controlled voice tonality and impact, and a nice, well-thought-out speech.

■ Your message should be organized clearly and logically, making it easy for your listeners to follow what you are trying to say. Keep things easy and simple. Divide the information into smaller blocks and work from there. Highlight the points that you want your audience to remember.

■ Your most crucial point should be the conclusion, bringing the speech to a close. The conclusion sets the tone of the speech, and lets the listeners think about the things you have just said. Literary devices, such as quotes, stories, rhetorical questions, or surprising facts, can be used for concluding a speech, although of course, these devices should relate well to the topic.

■ Deliver your conclusion clearly and slowly. Keep eye contact with your listeners as you speak. Smile at them, thanking them for the time that they have given you.

■ Remember all these tips, and in due time, you will be surprised to see how these techniques have helped in your future speaking presentations. Your listeners will eventually understand the information you have given them and respect you for your ability to deliver that information.