07 May Public Speaking: A Gift & a Curse
I remember a time when public speaking was in the top 10 of my list called An Introvert’s Worst Nightmares. I couldn’t imagine a reality in which I would voluntarily appear in front of a group of people and speak about anything, even a topic I was familiar with. Fast forward several years and I’ve been fortunate to participate in a podcast appearance, a book reading and signing session, three panel sessions, four radio interviews and four masterclasses – all as a result of writing two books called Nigerian Gods and The Healthy Perfectionist 📚 When you create something of importance, you have to be ready to share your results with the world, and become comfortable talking about them. I had to develop the confidence and skills for public speaking. If you would like to start and/or improve, here are my top 10 tips: 🗣️ Nervousness is normal. Practice and prepare. 🗣️ Know your audience. Your talk is about the value you bring to them, not you. 🗣️ Organise your material in the most effective manner to deliver your message. 🗣️ Watch for feedback and adapt to it. 🗣️ Let your personality come through. 🗣️ Use humour, tell stories, and use effective language. 🗣️ Don’t read from a script or slide unless you have to. Work from an outline. 🗣️ Use your voice and hands effectively. Avoid nervous gestures. 🗣️ Grab attention at the beginning, and close with a dynamic end. 🗣️ Use audiovisual aids wisely. Above all, remember that good communication is never perfect, and nobody expects you to be perfect, and I’m saying this as a healthy perfectionist. However, focusing on preparing will help you deliver a better talk. You may not be able to shake your nerves entirely, but you can learn to minimise them.
Source • https://professional.dce.harvard.edu
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