Form a mental picture of success. Assume you have something worth saying, and that you will say it well. Anticipate your audience's unbroken attention, laughter, and applause. Picture your listeners participating actively in discussion, with relevant questions and comments reflecting their rapt attention. Saturate your mind with these affirmative expectations, leaving no room for doubt and fear.
This way, you won't become excessively concerned about yourself--whether you are making a favorable impression and holding the group's attention. Those self-directed thoughts can become obsessive, distracting you from your main purpose: helping your listeners understand and accept your message. And remember, audiences want you to succeed. Successful speakers make meetings and conferences enjoyable and productive. Audience members aren't critics, they are your cheerleaders. Embrace Prom Jurken them emotionally even before you say your first word--then they'll embrace you.
Listeners don't want to wonder if you have a pulse. So don't read or recite your message. . . tell it, as energetically as you would describe a fun weekend. Move away from the podium, gesture freely, vary your voice, just as you do in casual chit chat. Create what actors call "The Illusion of the First Time." If you use Power Point, rely on the slides as prompts, not as your script. Take a minute to jot down the names of three speakers you rate very highly. Note: Every one of them strikes you as energetic, vital, and sometimes dramatic. They ignite you because they sparkle.
Remain on the lookout for audience feedback. When you detect confusion, restate your point. When you see Vloer Lengte Avondjurken listeners nod in agreement, let their support energize you. If participants start checking their watches, change your pace or tell a relevant story to recapture their attention. Better still, direct the group in brief interactive dialogue to elevate interest.
Some of our most cherished childhood memories revolve around bedtime, when parents or others read stories to us, stimulating our imagination and transporting us into majestic eras and scenes. As adults, we continue to love "once upon a time," though speakers use different introductory phrasing. People remember and learn from your stories, not from statistics. Paint word pictures, giving a "you are there" feeling. Use suspense with the skill of a Grote Maten Trouwjurken novelist. Paul Harvey carved a grand speaking career on radio as a master story teller, and Zig Ziglar did the same from the speaker's platform.
Although casual and sometimes sloppy dress have gained some acceptance (which you can verify at any public event, and even in numerous work settings), your audience wants you to dress a notch or two above its norm. Tasteful, professional clothing reflects that you respect them and the occasion. Additionally, your grooming and manners should supplement your professional image. Not surprisingly, you will gain confidence and energy as well when you look your best and present yourself as a polished professional.
Do something different from other speakers. Audiences withdraw from the "some old same old," so they are drawn to creative speakers who go beyond offering a standard three points and a summary. Examples: include unusual props, impersonations, games, regular audience interaction, or magic if that's your talent. Note: Every season, new TV shows succeed because they become distinctive.
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