The Practical Guide: Giving a Presentation (Part Four)

Check out the rest of this mini series if you’ve missed the previous sessions!

Part One: Introduction to Public Speaking

Part Two: Preparing and Researching the Speech

Part Three: Speech Design

Speech Delivery

Now that your speech has been constructed and you have a solid understanding of your topic, it’s time to think about the appropriate way to present your speech. Speech delivery has to do with your gestures, vocal modulation, posture, articulation, extemporaneous quality, and interaction with audience.

Charismatic individuals are the ones who really rock the delivery aspect of public speaking, but even us lowly mortals can learn how to frame our speech so that it is well-received.

Depending on the presentation, speech delivery can range from incredibly formal to relaxed conversational style. Regardless of the formality of the situation, it is always important to maintain a professional demeanor to help to build your ethos. You can increase the professionalism of your speech by wearing appropriate dress (nothing too casual—although you also don’t want to go over-the-top wearing a tuxedo, unless you’re at some sort of state event which requires such attire), and by standing straight and tall with the shoulders back.

Slouching, rocking on your toes, and leaning against the podium all have the potential disadvantage of diminishing the credibility of your presentation. If you don’t look the part, you will not be taken seriously by your audience.

Presenting a speech can be nerve-wracking, so this is why you want to practice a lot ahead of time in front of an audience to get a feel for what it will be like to stand in front of the crowd. Orators who give presentations whilst appearing to be at ease and in control are far more likely to gain approval from the audience than someone who fumbles over their words, fidgets, or looks petrified of the people before them. For those who are truly terrified of public speaking, the only way that you will get over your fear is by getting up there and putting yourself in the position of orator again and again until you grow comfortable with it.

Allow your personality to shine through in your speech, in a disciplined manner. The key here is to demonstrate your passion and genuine interest for the topic without going off on a tangent or beginning to rant, as your audience might lose respect for you if you do happen to lose control.

Speak loud enough that everyone in the room can hear you. Project forward. Assess your audience as you are speaking; if they are straining forward to hear your voice, you probably aren’t being loud enough. But you also don’t want to shout at them!

Speaking slowly, clearly, and enunciating each word will also help your audience to understand what you are saying when you give your speech. Don’t be afraid to breathe! Pausing to make solid eye contact and to let your words settle in everyone’s minds is much better than interrupting your speech with “um” or “uh.” Varying the tones of your voice can also help to convey your earnestness. Tempo change also has the affect of snapping the audience to attention if they start to drift off.

Using physical expression in speech delivery

Delivery also involves physical expression beyond the vocal aspect. Make use of your hands to gesture when it feels natural; otherwise, place your hands on the podium or relax them at your sides. If you are using visual aids, gesture towards them when you are referring to them within your speech, and point to different parts when you find it to be relevant.

Use your facial expressions to get your point across. You can practice in the mirror to exaggerate your movements—remember, people at the back of the room can’t quite see you, so if you exaggerate your movements just a touch, everyone will appreciate them without it appearing overly dramatic.

Being aware of your own unique quirks can be very useful to successful speech delivery. If you tend to drop the “g” on the end of words such as “going” or “doing,” pay more attention to ensuring that you articulate every syllable of the word during your speech.

Likewise, know which words and phrases you tend to use over and over. Common ones include “like,” “y’know what I mean?” and “alright, so…” When you are aware of them, you are more capable of preventing yourself from using them. If you yourself do not know what words and phrases you use frequently, ask some friends—you might be surprised to learn that they hear and notice your “tics” all the time!

Incorporating visual aids smoothly into your presentation is an important part of speech delivery. Only use them if they will add to your presentation. They should not be the bulk of your speech; instead, they should act as supporting material to supplement your speech.

When it comes to speech delivery, your best bet is to be yourself. Play to your strengths and stay natural to convey your sincerity and to relax yourself, too.

What tips do you have for awesome speech delivery? What have been your experiences with preparing for presentations? Share in the comments section below!