However, you can quickly learn how to speak in front of people by following simple rules.

When speaking in front of an audience, a person usually worries about how he will be perceived, whether he will be able to convey his thoughts to the audience, and what the final result of his communication with the audience will be. All these fears cause severe stress, which in itself negatively affects the performance. In other words, than more people worries about failing the performance, the more likely that outcome becomes.

Ways to relieve stress

Learn to feel comfortable in the presence of large audience Only experience helps. However, there are ways to minimize the impact of stress on your performance.

1. Artificial aggression. It’s easy to say “don’t be afraid of the audience,” but in practice such advice does not achieve anything. A wedge is knocked out with a wedge - before going out to the audience, create a state of readiness for battle, a confident and slightly angry mood. To do this, you can sing one or another mobilizing song to yourself. For example, Vladimir Vysotsky’s song “Wolf Hunt” is perfect. You can choose a suitable repertoire yourself that puts you in a fighting mood. The result is that you will come out to the audience completely mobilized, which will help you perform well.

Self-esteem can be affected by a variety of factors. During such periods, it is difficult to cope with any stress. How to restore peace? Let's watch the video!

2. Throw into the future. Analyze, what are you really afraid of when speaking in front of people? The fact that you look bad, that they will laugh at you? Are you afraid of failure? Identify your fears, and then internally come to terms with the fact that everything terrible you thought about has already happened. You failed your performance - you looked terrible, were tongue-tied, they openly laughed at you, etc. and so on. Everything has already happened, you accepted it, experienced it, so you have absolutely nothing to fear. Accept defeat, don't expect anything good. As a result, you will have a much easier time performing.

3. Rehearsal. Practice speaking alone. You can perform in front of the mirror, assessing yourself from the outside. But if you're not crazy about your reflection, practice somewhere outdoors where no one is around. This will allow you to speak out loud without fearing anyone. Such training gives very good results.

4. Play of imagination. When you go to bed, mentally replay the upcoming performance. Imagine it in every detail, hone in on the important points. In your performances, you should look like a confident person who speaks brilliantly in front of an audience.

Determinants of Success

1. One of the most important moments is the ability to win the sympathy of the audience. Never make excuses for anything. Don't apologize for being your first time performing etc., this will turn the audience against you. Do not start with the words “Let me...”, “Let me...” and the like, this is wrong. Start your speech confidently, with a short greeting and get straight to the point.

2. It is very important to feel like you are in control of the situation, "hold the hall." If during your speech you see that the audience’s interest is disappearing, people are starting to talk, make noise, stop for a minute. Just be silent and look at the audience, this will make it quiet down. After this, continue your presentation. Another option is to start talking about something completely different, preferably interesting. Bringing the audience's attention back, say something like, “So, is everyone back? Thank you, then let’s continue,” then continue your speech again.

Speaking in front of an audience is a real art, it is acquired only with years of practice. But even the debut can be quite successful. You just need to believe in yourself, choose the most suitable options internal mobilization. And most importantly, do not take everything that happens too seriously.

Many people are afraid of speaking in public, whether it's giving a speech, giving a toast at a friend's wedding, or in front of a blackboard in class. Luckily, you can make speaking in public less stressful with some of the tips in this article. This skill may never be your strong point, but you will be less likely to give up on your performance midway through in front of a large crowd.

Steps

Part 1

Preparing for the performance

1. Know the topic of your speech. An integral part becoming a relaxed and dynamic speaker is making sure you know what you're talking about and know it well. A lack of knowledge can make you feel nervous and unsure when speaking, which your audience will quickly pick up on.

   • The key to success is advance preparation. Take the time to plan your speech so that it seems natural and logical. You should also make sure that you know how to stage a speech in such a way as to emphasize your positive qualities as a speaker and muffle existing shortcomings.
   • Even during public speaking, sometimes you have to answer questions like in a lesson, so you definitely need to know the topic of your speech well. This will help you feel more confident, which will also create a good impression on your listeners.

2. Train your body. Although performing in public is not the same as running in a running competition, you need to make sure your body listens to you well. This involves much more than just refraining from stomping from foot to foot while performing (quiet your toes and you'll stop stomping). This also includes proper breathing so you can plan and pronounce your sentences correctly.

   • Speak from the diaphragm. This will help you sound clear and loud so that the audience can hear you without you having to struggle or shout. To practice, stand up straight and place your hand on your stomach. Inhale and exhale. Count to five as you inhale, then count to ten as you exhale. You will feel your stomach begin to relax. You need to learn to breathe and speak in this relaxed state.
   • Modulate your own tone of voice. Determine the pitch of your voice. Is she too tall? Too low? A relaxed state, a comfortable posture (standing) and proper breathing will help you choose a more comfortable and pleasant tone of voice for your speech.
   • Avoid choking and inhaling from the upper chest, as both can make you anxious and strain your throat. As a result, your voice will become more tense and constrained.

3. Know the structure of your own speech. Knowing your own speech is just as important as knowing the topic you will be talking about. There are different methods of delivering a speech, so you need to choose the method that is most comfortable for you.

   • To give a speech, you will need to prepare cards with talking points or a speech plan. Or you can simply memorize theses if you have good memory(don't try to do this from memory unless you are one hundred percent sure you won't forget anything).
   • You don't want to write down every detail on the bulletin cards (leave some room for improvisation), but it can be helpful to write supporting notes on them, such as "pause after this message" or "remember to take a breath" so you don't actually forget about these things.

4. Learn your own speech. You don't necessarily need to memorize your entire speech or its main points, but it can be a huge help in appearing more confident and knowledgeable about your topic. However, make sure you have enough time for this.

   • Rewrite your speech several times. This method helps you remember speech better. The more you write it, the easier it will be for you to remember it. After you have rewritten the speech many times, test yourself to see how well you remember it. If there are parts of your speech that you cannot remember, rewrite them a few more times.
   • Divide the speech into smaller parts and memorize each of them separately. It can be really difficult to remember the entire speech. In this case, to memorize it, it would be better to divide it into small parts (start learning speech by memorizing the most important semantic part, and then move on to memorizing the remaining main parts, and so on).
   • To remember, use the location method. Divide your speech into paragraphs and key points. Visualize a specific picture in your mind for each key moment (this is similar to imagining Harry Potter when saying J.K. Rowling's name and discussing her many contributions to children's literature). Identify a location for each key moment (eg Hogwarts for Rowling, the meadow for Stephenie Meyer, etc.). Now you just need to move between locations (for example, imagine that you are flying on a broom from Hogwarts to the meadow). If you need to talk about a lot of things, place them in special places around the main location (for example, use the main hall of Hogwarts to discuss the popularity of Harry Potter, or the Quidditch pitch to talk about the writer's contribution to redefining the genre).

5. Know your audience. You need to know who you will be speaking to, as certain speaking techniques may suit one type of audience and be downright boring to other audiences, or even anger certain groups of people. For example, you shouldn't be informal during a business presentation, but you can maintain an informal style when communicating with college students.

   • Humor is a great way to relieve stress on yourself and the audience. There are usually certain jokes that are appropriate in most public situations (but not always!). It's a good idea to start your speech with a little joke to lighten the atmosphere and make the audience feel confident. To do this, you can tell some funny (and true) story.
   • Understand what you are trying to convey to the audience. Do you want to tell her new information? Restate old information? Convince people to do something? This will help you focus on what you are trying to achieve.

6. Practice speaking. This is extremely important if you want to perform well in public. It's not enough to just know the material you're trying to convey to people. You need to practice giving a speech several times to begin to feel comfortable giving a speech. This is similar to breaking in shoes. The first few times you try on a new pair of shoes, you may get some blisters, but you soon begin to feel comfortable in well-fitting shoes.

   • Try to visit the place where you will perform and practice there. This will make you significantly more confident as you will be more familiar with the place.
   • Videotape your rehearsal and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the performance. Although watching a video of yourself performing may seem daunting, it is a great way to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You may notice your nervous tics (such as shifting your feet or stroking your hair with your hands) and can work to eliminate or minimize them.

   Part 2

   Elaborating the content of your speech

   1. Choose the right speaking style. There are three styles of speaking: informative, persuasive and entertaining. Even though they may overlap each other, each of them has separate specific functions that it performs.

      • The main purpose of an informative speaking style is to communicate facts, details, and give examples. Even if you are trying to convince your audience of something, it is based on facts and information.
      • A persuasive speaking style is all about convincing the audience of something. In it, you can use facts to help, but you will also use emotions, logic, your own experience, and so on.
      • The entertaining style of speaking aims to meet people's need for social interaction, but it often uses some aspects of informative speech (for example, in a wedding toast or acceptance speech).

   2. Avoid a mushy introduction. You must have heard speeches that begin with the phrase: “When I was asked to give a speech, I didn’t know what to talk about...” Don’t do that. This is one of the most boring ways to start your speech. He beats around the speaker's personal problems and is not at all attractive to listeners, as the speaker believes.

      • Begin your speech by communicating your main and overarching idea, along with three (or so) key facts that support it, so you can talk about them in more detail later. Your listeners will remember the introduction and conclusion of your speech better than you remember any part of it yourself.
      • From the very beginning, open your speech in a way that captures the audience's attention. This implies a message amazing facts or astounding statistics, or by posing a question and then answering it and dispelling any public doubts before they even arise.

   3. Have a clear structure for your speech. To prevent your speech from constantly stumbling over every word, you need to come up with a clear format for it. Remember, you are not trying to overwhelm your audience with facts and ideas.

      • Your speech should have one clear, overarching idea. Ask yourself, what are you trying to convey to the public? What do you want people to take away from your speech? Why should they agree with what you say? For example, if you are preparing a lecture about trends in national literature, think about why your audience should care. You shouldn't just throw out facts.
      • You will need several main arguments that support your main idea or position. It's usually best to have three arguments. For example, if your main idea is that children's literature is becoming more diverse, have one argument that shows new trends, a second argument that shows readers' perceptions of this diversity, and a third argument that talks about why this diversity in children's literature matters .

   4. Use the right language. Language is extremely important in both written and spoken language. You should refrain from using large quantity too bulky and long words, because no matter how smart your audience is, they will quickly lose interest in you if you constantly hit them over the head with a thick dictionary.

      • Use colorful adverbs and adjectives. You need to bring your own speech and your audience to life. For example, instead of saying "children's literature presents a range of different perspectives," say "children's literature presents a new range of exciting and diverse perspectives."
      • Use figurative comparisons to awaken your audience and make them remember your thoughts. Winston Churchill often used the phrase "iron curtain" to describe secrecy Soviet Union. An imaginative juxtaposition tends to linger better in the minds of listeners (as is evident from the fact that “Iron Curtain” has become a catchphrase).
      • Repetitions are also a great way to remind your audience of the importance of your speech (think of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream..." speech). This emphasizes more of the main arguments and helps keep the main idea of ​​the speech in mind.

   5. Keep it simple. You want your audience to easily follow your speech and continue to remember it after your speech is over. Therefore, it should not only contain figurative comparisons and amazing facts, but also be quite simple and close to the essence. If you wander through the swamp of few facts related to your speech, you will lose the interest of the audience.

      • Use short sentences and phrases. This can be done to create a special dramatic effect. For example, the phrase "never again" might be used. It is short, meaningful, and powerful.
      • You can use short and meaningful quotes. Very many famous people said something funny or meaningful in fairly short phrases. You can try to use a prepared statement from one of them. For example, Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “Be sincere and brief, and after speaking, sit down immediately.”

      Part 3

      Speaking in public

      1. Cope with anxiety. Almost everyone gets a little nervous before they have to stand in front of people to give a speech. The main thing is that at this stage your speech is already prepared and you know how to present it. And fortunately, there are some special methods for managing anxiety.

         • Before appearing in public and speaking, clench and unclench your fists several times to cope with the adrenaline rush. Take three deep, slow breaths. This will clear your respiratory system and you will be ready to breathe properly while speaking.
         • Stand tall in a confident but relaxed posture with your feet shoulder-width apart. This will reassure your brain that you are confident and will make your speech easier.
      2. Speak slowly. One of the most common mistakes people make in public is trying to speak too quickly. Your normal speaking speed is significantly faster than what is required for speaking in public. If you feel like you're speaking too slowly, you're probably doing something right.
         • Take a sip of water if you start to choke on your own speech. This will allow the audience to reflect a little on what has already been said, and you will have a chance to slow down.
         • If you have a friend or relative in the audience, arrange for them to signal you if you start speaking too quickly. Check in with the person periodically as you deliver your speech to make sure everything is going according to plan.

      3. Complete your speech correctly. People remember the beginning and end of a speech well; they rarely remember what happened in the middle. Therefore, you need to ensure that the conclusion of your speech is memorable.

         • Make sure the audience understands why your topic is important and why the information is useful to them. If you can, end your speech with a call to action. For example, if you were talking about the importance of art lessons in schools, end with an idea of ​​what people can do in response to the fact that the number of hours of art lessons has been cut.
         • Finish your speech with a story that illustrates main idea your speech. Again, people love stories. Talk about how the information you provided was useful to someone, or the dangers of not having this information, or how it specifically relates to the public (people are more interested in what directly relates to them).
      • Listen and watch great speakers and try to analyze what makes them successful.
      • Don't be ashamed of your shortcomings. Demosthenes was an outstanding orator of ancient Athens, even though he suffered from a speech impediment. A good speaker can overcome these difficulties.
      • Try to make sure the audience includes people you know. It will be even better if these people are the ones with whom you practiced your presentation. This will help you feel more comfortable and familiar.
      • When asking the audience a question to maintain interest, try to ask something that people can easily answer, and then confirm and expand on their answer by clarifying your own opinions and thoughts.
      • Try to practice in front of a mirror!

      Warnings

      • Watch what you eat before performing in public. Dairy products and sugary foods can make it difficult to speak due to the phlegm they cause in the throat. Likewise, highly aromatic foods (such as garlic or fish) should be avoided so that the smell does not bother people.

The spotlights are lit and directed towards the stage. Cameras are on. The microphone has been checked. The audience slowly falls silent and turns their gaze to the podium. The key personality of the event appears - the speaker. He is the reason for and for which those present have gathered, the instigator of all the action. An unbearable situation for someone who is not prepared to be the central figure of such an event. Public speaking comes with a lot of responsibility and pressure. How to prepare for them, what to talk about, what rules to follow?

What is public speaking

Public speaking is a public event in which the speaker informs, motivates, or persuades the audience about something. Characteristics:

• a large number of listeners (at least a group);
• a clear predominance of monologue statements;
• built structure of speech;
• having a specific goal.

Many are convinced: public speeches are carried out only by politicians, cultural or public figures. This opinion is erroneous, as is the idea that such events are necessarily accompanied by video recordings or an invasion of reporters. This category also includes ordinary parent-teacher meetings, defense of scientific dissertations, proclamation of toasts at weddings and similar events.

Communication with the public can be spontaneous, but planned speeches are practiced more often. What are the basic rules for such representations?

Rules for public speaking

Interaction with the audience

Despite the fact that such an event is dominated by monologues, this communication cannot be called one-sided. The whole process is organized for the sake of the audience, because it is the audience that is the instrument for achieving the oratorical goal. Therefore, feedback is no less important.

The speaker’s interaction with the audience begins from the moment he appears on stage. This happens on several levels at once:

• visual— gestures directed towards the hall, making eye contact;
• verbal- rhetorical or direct questions, appeals to the crowd;
• emotional- the rhetorician’s experience of the emotions felt by the audience, their mirror reflection;
• semantic— verbal involvement of the audience in the topic, encouragement to think.

Establishing contact determines the further course of the speech. Therefore, when going on stage, it is better to first greet the audience, look around the audience, and then start speaking. This will make listeners feel important.

Topic disclosure

If the speaker announced the title or even the plan of the upcoming meeting in advance, he fully reveals the topic of the speech. Otherwise, he will face condemnation from society, a damaged reputation, and a ruined prospect. In order for the subject of discussion to be considered comprehensively, and the audience to be satisfied, the following requirements are put forward for the speaker and his speech:

• convincing arguments (ideally not only verbal, but also audio, visual, etc.);
• preservation of style (for example, scientific - to defend a diploma);
• vocabulary accessible to the audience;
• clear diction, correct pronunciation;
• consideration of different points of view, models, situations;
• structure of the text - beginning, main part, climax, denouement (if necessary - retardations, author's digressions, but in limited quantities).

The speaker wants to achieve a specific goal through public speaking. However, the spectators gathered at the event also have expectations. They spend personal time and sometimes money on such meetings. Therefore, delaying speech, speaking in general phrases, and avoiding specifics is considered bad manners.

Dynamics and statics

This rule applies to the speaker’s posture, his intonation, facial expressions, tone, and movements around the stage. If the speaker stands in one place all the time and speaks in a monotonous voice, the audience will fall asleep. But if he starts running around the stage and hall, actively waving his arms, making grimaces, then the listeners will quickly get tired of his movements and lose interest.

To keep the audience's attention, you will have to alternate the position in space and the sound of your voice.

This is done during intriguing moments, semantic transitions, unexpected turns in the narrative. It is advisable to occasionally walk around the stage so that the audience has time to follow all the movements. If the audience continuously follows the “travels” of the rhetorician, it means that she is captivated by him.

Reaction to the unexpected

The speaker is not immune from embarrassment. There are numerous situations when the microphone creaked strongly during a speech or the presentation did not turn on. Speakers dropped sheets of speech text, slipped, and made funny slips of the tongue. Even unexpected applause sometimes really knocked people out of the mood. At the same time, the storytellers began to stammer, smile stupidly, or try to shout above the noise. And it was a failure.

In any situation, it is important to remain calm. Only with him can you quickly figure out how to get out of trouble. If awkwardness does occur, there are several ways to get out of it with dignity:

• joke delicately - only humor, no ridicule or sarcasm;
• apologize for the incident, continue as if nothing had happened (if you don’t focus on the problem, the audience will also forget about it);
• redirect the public's attention to something else;
• ask people from the front row for help;
• present what happened as a planned move (if possible, otherwise everything will look like a pathetic excuse).

Ending a Speech

The speech is over. The audience applauds. Cameras are turned off. What's next? Stand? Go down to the hall? Leave? Run away?

But even after this you should not rush to leave the stage immediately. Meeting participants may still have questions. By answering them, the speaker will establish himself even better.

Only after this will it be possible to leave the stage. When those present are completely distracted by their own affairs, the rhetorician will have the right to leave the room.

How to choose a topic for yourself

A topic can become the basis of a successful speech only if it meets five requirements:

1. relevance. No one is interested in hearing about outdated things that have no impact on the current (or at least future) situation;
2. perspective. If the proposed ideas do not solve problems, they are meaningless;
3. knowledge. Without proper awareness of the topic, it is impossible to make logical judgments, much less explain them to other people;
4. speaker's interest. The passion and inspiration of the narrator is transmitted to the listeners. The more passionate the author is about the topic, the easier it is for the audience to adopt this passion;
5. public interest. It is important to determine the target audience in advance. The report “Features of disassembling and cleaning a machine gun” is unlikely to appeal to humanities scholars.

Fulfilling these conditions will help you choose a good topic and ensure the success of your speech.

The process of preparing for a performance

Rehearsals. They will help you remember the text well, eliminate mistakes, and hone your diction. It’s better to rehearse in front of a mirror or friends.

Plan. Just being in front of a crowd is already stressful. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and write (draw) tips, reminders or a story plan on one sheet of paper. If during a performance it is permissible to use full text(dissertation defense, informal presentation), it is advisable to put it in your bag on the eve of the important day.

Appearance. All details appearance are thought out several days before the event. These include:

• appointment for haircut, styling, manicure;
• selection, purchase of outfit, shoes, accessories;
• testing everything new - hair color, beard shape, clothing style;
• going to the dentist, cosmetologist or dermatologist;
• Trying on the finished image.

If you do all this one day before your debut, you can run into a lot of problems. The hairdresser will go on vacation, the varnish won’t have time to dry, and last year’s suit suddenly won’t fit.

The eve and morning of the X-day. Need I say how important it is to get a good night's sleep? Vigor, a healthy complexion, and confidence will be additional advantages. Another detail is nutrition. It is better not to eat at night, but to have a hearty breakfast. It is also advisable not to overeat an hour before the performance. If you have an appetite, it will be enough to have a snack with a sweet bar with nuts.

Nervousness. Drinking alcohol or sedatives before a performance is taboo. They inhibit thought processes, all reactions, and noticeably impair speech. Instead, just before going on stage, you can do several relaxation exercises:

• breathe deeply and evenly, inhaling air for at least 3 seconds, and exhaling for 5 seconds;
• imagine that everyone present in the hall is old acquaintances;
• do a short, easy warm-up;
• chew gum slowly (the chewing process is associated with a calm environment);
• blow on the pillow thumb(slows the pulse).

Public speaking is not an event that is easy to do without preparation. These are events that require willpower, confidence, and perseverance. Only by following the described rules, wisely selecting topics, and diligently preparing for the presentation can you count on reliable success.

I am many years old, I have a favorite job, the penultimate iPhone and everything that accomplished people in today's society are supposed to have. At the same time, I am not the most confident person, however, if you meet me on the street, you will decide that I am a cynical lucky guy, to whom likes and life itself wink.

- “He certainly has nothing to complain about!”

Don't deny it, too many of us think this way about others.

THIS IS BANAL

Everything is quite banal. In my youth, when choosing future profession I tried to start from my own problems, the solution of which, in my opinion, would be a qualitative way to become, or at least get closer to the image of the person I always wanted to be.

During my second year of medical school, I realized three things:

1. I don't want to be a doctor.
2. It's stupid to try to be something other than who you really are.
3. The first two things are not as banal as they seem at first glance.

TIE

Due to my line of work, I often have to travel on business trips and give reports and presentations to different audiences. Like anyone, every day I run the risk of making a mistake or not being convincing enough, which could ultimately ruin a future deal.

I can't afford to fail or show up to a meeting or conference crumpled. I can’t get sick or be offended by the lady who pushed me into a cafe with a handbag covered in metal spikes. I risk not only myself, but also the people who expect results from me, so I created a philosophy that I adhere to not only on weekdays from 9 to 18, but throughout my life.

1. HUMOR

We all remember that first there was the Word, but contrary to the classical interpretation of the original source, this word – HUMOR. It is only important to remember that each of us has his own, but this does not mean that you should adapt to everyone.

Don't joke about sensitive political topics and it's better not to get personal. The best way to win someone over is to reveal your humanity. Laugh at yourself, people love it.

I always explain complex things using my fingers. I really like the association about the dough, which can be used to make sweet pies, which I really like, or pasties, which give me heartburn.

2. DON'T show off

No, really, it's not worth it. Share your knowledge not in a “Are you an idiot?” way, but as if you were talking to a friend. Believe me, if instead of a dry fact in the “how stupid everyone is” mode, you accept friendly concern and say something like: “I recently found out that...”, then they will want to continue the conversation with you and not only about work. They will want to trust you, and this is the next point.

The image of Steve Jobs was clearly etched in my head. Simplicity, conciseness and properly constructed openness are a potentially successful case.

3. MAKE FRIENDS IN ADVANCE

At some point, a fashion arose in business not to keep promises, to appear better than you are and to lie to everyone in order to earn more than your neighbor. Today it seems like the Stone Age or something out of bro movies.

In business, it is important not so much to be friends in the generally accepted sense of the word, but to be able to trust. When you speak in public, the main task is to prove that you have become a friend to your listeners even before you step on stage.

Greet everyone and add words to your introduction that indicate your closeness to the audience, for example: “We already know some of you, some of you were lucky enough to work with...”. And at the end, be sure to wish Have a good day- banal, but it works like a charm.

4. ACCEPT THE RIGHT TO MISTAKE

I googled (to seem smarter) what the classics said at different times about mistakes, and found a simple and brilliant phrase, in my opinion: “To err is human, to forgive is divine” (Alexander Pope).

If for some reason you were unable to avoid a mistake, then admit it, promise to correct it, correct it immediately and come back saying thank you. It will be a shame, but everyone knows that nothing hardens you from troubles like past mistakes.

This has happened to me. Once I made an inaccuracy in calculating statistics that I was absolutely sure of. One of my opponents immediately pointed this out to me. I asked for forgiveness and took a two-minute timeout after the speech to figure it out. My colleagues received a small scolding, and I admitted the fact that I am not immune from absurd accidents.

5. YOU CAN BE SHY, BUT NOT NERVOUS

Shyness is cute. It can work for you, becoming a feature, but nervousness never does. Take any sedatives before your performance, but don't expect to become a superhero instantly.

Most of us are afraid not of unfamiliar audiences, but of looking like an idiot in our own eyes. Admit to the public that you are shy, and everyone will feel better.

I taught at the institute for several years, then spoke a lot in public, and I can assure you that the embarrassment never goes away. Each time you will understand the topic better and a little better in people, but there is no way to just stop worrying.

6. REFERENCE TO OTHERS' SPEECHES

Public events are very draining for both the audience and the speakers. One and a half to two hours of monotonous speeches by speakers in ties, who, let’s assume: did not get enough sleep, are not speakers, did not prepare, are upset about their daughter’s engagement, and so on. Select one or two interesting talks from previous speakers and find a way to reference them in your message.

“...I liked how Mr. X in his report talked about increasing the productivity of ant farms in the context of the growth of technological import substitution...”.

MESSAGE

Over so many years, I have read 100500 million books, like “How to become charming and attractive if you are over 80, you are a sociopath, and you have dyslexia” and so on in that spirit, but not a single book has become a reference book.

Be yourself and try to look and feel harmonious, this is really important.

How to come up with a powerful, bright beginning for a speech in front of an audience? Here are some ways to give your speech an effective start. If you can figure out how to show your audience how warm and friendly you are while impressing them, within 30 seconds of starting your speech they will be ready to follow you to the ends of the earth.

Mention a current event. Use a recent newspaper editorial as a bridge to get to the topic of your conversation or to prove or illustrate your point. You can bring a copy of the newspaper with you and unfold it in front of everyone when you refer to what is written in it during your opening statements. Such a picture - you standing on stage with a newspaper in your hands and reading or reciting important thoughts by heart - will attract the audience's attention to you and make people lean forward so as not to miss a single word of yours.

Retell a recent conversation. Start by recounting a recent conversation you had with someone present. For example, say this: “I was talking to Tom Robinson in the lobby a few minutes ago. He told me that now was one of the most good times in order to do business in this industry. And I agree with him."

Make a shocking statement. You can start your speech with a statement that will cause some shock. For example, you might say something like, “The latest indications are that next year, competition in this industry will not only increase, but will lead to changes and new opportunities that were unimaginable in the past. As a result of all the upheavals, 72 percent of the people sitting in the hall now will be working in another field in two years if they cannot adapt quickly enough to the changed environment.”

Start with an anecdote—if appropriate. You can start a speech with a joke, but only if it is actually funny. You must be 100 percent sure that the audience will perceive your statement or story as comical. Therefore, you should first test your joke several times on other people to ensure its effect. Use humor only if you yourself think the story or joke is funny, and also if you are convinced that you can tell it well and it will actually be adequately perceived by the audience.

Entertain your audience. One of the best American speakers, Bill Gove, after he was formally introduced to the audience, usually took the stage as if he had just interrupted one conversation backstage to now move on to another - with a group of people sitting in the audience. The listeners got the feeling that he was not going to give a speech, but just wanted to talk to them.

Beal often walked to the very edge of the stage, gave himself a conspiratorial look, used his hands to encourage the audience to move closer to him and said in a half-whisper: “Come closer, I need to tell you something.” One got the impression that he was going to reveal some great secret - at the same time to everyone present.

The most amazing thing is that people in the audience actually leaned forward to hear the “secret.” And then suddenly they realized what they were doing and burst out laughing. After this “trick,” Gove could already, as they say, twist ropes out of them.

Ask a question, conduct a survey. You can also start by making a positive statement and then ask a question that requires a show of hands. Try this option: “Today is a great time for us to live and do business. By the way, how many of you have your own business?”

I often start a conversation this way and, after a certain number of people in the audience have raised their hands, I ask one of them sitting closer to the stage: “How many people are really doing their job?”

Invariably someone answers: “We all do!” After that, I give confirmation to this answer: “You are right! We all do our own thing, from the moment we get our first job until we retire. We all work for ourselves, regardless of who pays us."

Make a statement and ask a question. You can start with an impressive statement and follow it up with a question. Then give an answer and ask the next question. This technique instantly draws people into the topic, and they will eagerly hang on your every word. Here's an example:

“Twenty percent of the people in our society make 80 percent of the money. Are you in that top 20 percent? So, over the next few minutes, I'm going to introduce you to some ideas that will help you become one of the highest paid members of our society. Do you think it was worth coming to the seminar today for this?”

There is one interesting psychological phenomenon that manifests itself in people from childhood: they are determined to answer questions posed. Every time you ask a question and then pause to give people time to process it, you gain complete control over the audience. Even if people don't answer out loud, they can't bring themselves not to answer at all.

Start with history. You can start your speech with history. It is difficult to come up with more powerful words that instantly capture the attention of the audience than the words “Once upon a time, once upon a time...”.

Ever since infancy and early childhood, people love all kinds of stories and fairy tales. The listeners instantly calm down, fall silent and lean forward, like children sitting around a fire. When I conduct all-day seminars and want the participants to quickly take their seats after the coffee break, I say loudly: “Once upon a time, there lived in a city, right in this very city, a man...” Having heard These words, the seminar participants quickly sit down and fall silent, waiting for the continuation of the story.

Build a bridge between yourself and the audience. One of the most important tasks of the introductory part of a speech is to establish contact with the audience, to build a bridge between you. Start with something that connects you with your audience. For example, from the fact that today - or some time in the past - you worked in the same industry. Maybe you have children just like them. Maybe you're familiar with their city, or maybe you're a fan of the local football or basketball team. Or you have some kind of problem or concern that is in many ways similar to the problems and concerns that listeners face in their work or life.

If you spend a few minutes building this bridge between you and your listeners, they will immediately come over to your side. They will see that you are one of them and will be more receptive to your words and ideas, and will also become more generous and forgiving of your possible mistakes. They will feel that you are knowledgeable and approachable because you have a lot in common with them.

Tell the audience about yourself. Very often I begin my speeches to businessmen, entrepreneurs and sales representatives with the words: “I went into business without graduating high school. My family had no money. Everything I have achieved in life, I had to achieve on my own. If anyone helped me, it was only a little.”

It's amazing how many people come up to me after talks like this to confirm that they've been through the same journey. And, according to them, they immediately began to identify with me, because they themselves, like most people, started with bad grades at school and little financial opportunity. Therefore, they listened to my speech with great interest and felt: everything I say describes their current situation much more accurately and is much more useful for their future than what a person with a “high start” in life could say in my place. It is very useful to build such bridges between yourself and your listeners: they will definitely come over to your side.

And 6 more ideas:

• Thank the organizers
• Praise your listeners
• Remember a historical event
• Quote the words of a famous person
• Provide the latest research data
• Start with the problem

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Comment on the article "How to start a speech: 10 ideas. What listeners like"

Discussion

This boy's parents should be killed for sure.

Grades are not the main thing, the main thing is knowledge
but they are the ones who are evaluated
so what about not important... a big exaggeration
they are important, but they are just grades, either well done, I remember, I understand, you can rest, or there is still something to work on
and nothing more
but maybe that boy has inadequate parents and they blame him for his bad grades as “why he brought so little money”
this is not a reason to cancel tests
That's what psychologists at school are for - to correct parental stupidity, which is not easy and not always possible

How to start a speech: 10 ideas. What do listeners like? How to come up with a powerful, bright beginning for a speech in front of an audience? You can start your speech with history. It's hard to come up with stronger words, instantly...

Discussion

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We also made Christmas tree decorations ourselves every year, just in time for last week before NG... together with mom and dad. Toys made from eggshells (in 1990 I remembered my childhood and made the Snow Maiden - she’s still alive :-),
Beads were made from candy foil, garlands were glued from colored paper... It was a good time! :-)

Cosy). Oh, how many such joint family affairs there were. We sculpted the dumplings all together, I used a glass to make circles of dough. And the filmstrips are on the sheet.

In short, in our time...)))

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Discussion

Very interesting!! I'll be happy to participate:)
Yes, nothing bothers me, I’m happy! Every day! Not all day long, as Charlotte said in Sex in the city, but every day:)

I'll be happy to participate!)
Regarding happiness, I’m happy, but my laziness really bothers me...