|
It
is said that public speaking is the thing people fear the
most, yet sooner or later most people will have to speak in
front of a group at work. Whether training new employees,
giving a presentation to management or even conducting an
interview, being an effective speaker can help you get ahead
at work.
Consider this: At the
end of a particular course on public speaking, each trainee
gives a speech and is evaluated by colleges. Some Trainees
do a lot of research for their speeches, while others focus
less on the research and more on their delivery. Over the
years the audiences have been consistent in their
evaluations.
So, who do you think rates higher?
A.
A speaker with
fabulous information and so-so delivery
B.
A speaker with fabulous delivery and so-so information
The answer is "B." Of
course, the ideal situation is to have both fabulous
information and fabulous delivery but, for many audiences,
delivery is the most critical factor. Poor delivery can make
the most interesting topic sound boring, while excellent
delivery can make even a dull topic come alive.
Here are four traits of
successful speakers, followed by a number of ways you can
develop these traits
Confidence:
Good speakers may sometimes feel nervous, but they try not
to let it show. Speakers look and sound more confident when
they make eye contact with the audience, move naturally, use
audiovisual equipment effectively and speak fluidly
(avoiding too many "uhs" and "ums").
Credibility:
This is an audience's
perception of how believable a speaker is. To be credible, a
speaker must be seen as someone who is knowledgeable about
the topic. However, this does not mean someone who is a
"know-it-all."
Enthusiasm:
Magnetic speakers are
enthusiastic about their topic, and they share that fervor
with their audience through variety and energy in their
voice, gestures, and body movements. Other terms that can be
applied to these speakers are "high energy" and
"passionate."
Ease:
Natural speakers don't
lecture, they are at ease. Even when speaking in front of an
audience of hundreds, they speak as if they were having a
conversation with a group of friends. Other terms that may
be applied to these speakers are "real" or "down-to-earth.
Ways to Improve Your Skills
- As with any skill,
one of the best ways to improve is by just doing it.
With speaking, this means getting yourself in
front of
as many audiences as possible.
-
When there are opportunities
for informal speaking at work -- such as introducing a new
employee, volunteer for the
job.
-
If you are presenting a
training program at work, make sure you ask audience
members to give you feedback by
filling out an
evaluation form.
-
When possible, consider taping
yourself practicing or giving presentations.
-
You can then see or hear for
yourself the areas where you may need to improve.
Edited by:
Mona Gawiche
Source:
Tag and
Catherine Goulet
Co-CEOs of FabJob.com
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=709&SiteId=cbmsn4709&sc
extcmp=JS_709_advice
|
