Paul Katsus is a committed member of Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit that teaches speaking and leadership skills through collaborative events. Since its founding in 1924, the group has organized leaderless weekly meetings where members give speeches and receive thoughtful critiques from their peers. Katsus’ engagement with the group has helped him develop these suggestions for successful public speaking the Toastmasters’ way.
-- Smile before, during, and after your speech. This will project confidence, and your positive energy will be reciprocated by your audience.
-- Practice your speech. Then practice it again. Try to simulate the conditions in which you will give the speech as closely as possible.
-- Introduce yourself to members of the audience before you begin. That way, you will not feel as if you are speaking to complete strangers.
-- Before you start your speech, picture yourself delivering it perfectly and envision the audience’s enthusiastic applause.
-- Maintain eye contact with individual members of the audience as you speak. Focus your attention on each person for a few seconds at a time.
-- Use hand gestures purposefully. When you do gesture, be sure to use your entire arm, not just your hand. That way, your movements will seem confident and intentional.
Nothing improves a public speaker as much as experience. Practice with friends or family, or at your local Toastmasters chapter.
-- Smile before, during, and after your speech. This will project confidence, and your positive energy will be reciprocated by your audience.
-- Practice your speech. Then practice it again. Try to simulate the conditions in which you will give the speech as closely as possible.
-- Introduce yourself to members of the audience before you begin. That way, you will not feel as if you are speaking to complete strangers.
-- Before you start your speech, picture yourself delivering it perfectly and envision the audience’s enthusiastic applause.
-- Maintain eye contact with individual members of the audience as you speak. Focus your attention on each person for a few seconds at a time.
-- Use hand gestures purposefully. When you do gesture, be sure to use your entire arm, not just your hand. That way, your movements will seem confident and intentional.
Nothing improves a public speaker as much as experience. Practice with friends or family, or at your local Toastmasters chapter.