visual aids and power point

visual aids are an important part of many presentations. the most commonly used media are the flipchart and computer based presentation programs. here are some suggestions for making the most your visual aids such as flipchart, computer based audio visual
keep your visual aids:

• visible
• simple
• colorful, but don't let them upstage you
• justified by the content not too many or too few slides

for effective powerpoint shows :

• don't read the slides to your audience!
• make your text large
• choose colors that make the text easier to read
• use bullet points instead of full sentences
• don't let the text or graphics fly around too much
• avoid charts and diagrams that are hard to see

most importantly : remember, you control the presentation, don't let it control you. powerpoint should be a "visual aid" not the entire show

body language on speech

here's how you can incorporate appropriate body language into your speeches :

• start with eye contact. being prepared, having control of your message is a prerequisite for being able to project and establish a bond with the audience. don't just pass your gaze throughout the room; try to focus on individual listeners and create a bond with them by looking them directly in the eyes for five to 10 second
• smile!
• express emotion with your facial muscles. for inspiration, take a look at the the human face, a bbc  documentary narrated by john cleese of monty phyton fame, now available on dvd
• avoid distracting mannerisms. have a friend watch as you practice and look for nervous expressions such as fidgeting, twitching, lip biting, key jigling, hands in pockets or behind the back
• telling a story? highlight the action verbs and look for ways to act out one or more parts. speaking about marathon running? run a few steps
• stay true to your personality. don't copy gestures from a book or other speaker, but respond naturally to what you feel and say
• make gestures convincing. every hand gesture should be total body movement that starts from the shoulder never from the elbow. half-hearted gestures look artificial
• vary your speaking position by moving from one spot on the stage to another. for example, walk o the other side of the stage as you move to a new topic or move toward the audience as you ask a question

conquer the fears of speaking

here are some suggestions for the speaker to conquer his or her fears of speaking.

1. be prepared. there is no substitute for preparation. practice your speech, revise, and then practice again
2. pick out friendly faces to speak to. these pleasant expressions will inspire you and help you relax
3. think positive things about your content. one of my favorite thoughts is, "this information will be helpful to this audience" repeat this statement to yourself several times before you speak
4. have a great opening line that you know will grab the attention of your audience.
5. pause before you begin to speak as you make eye contact with those friendly faces
6. include a personal experience early in you speech. you are most comfortable relating a story

public speaking

what is public speaking? it is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner, intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners.

public speaking is challenging for those of us who want to influence people

the objective of public speaking

1. informative : this is to provide listeners with new information
2. persuasive : this is to change, either in direction or strength, the attitudes or behaviors of our listeners
3. entertaining : this is to provide the listeners with momentary entertainment