TOASTMASTER TIP OF THE DAY UPDATE

She always asks herself, “What is the specific audience and why are they there?” Josephine Lee, third place winner in the 2016 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, emphasizes that even if she’s giving the same speech to two different audiences, she’ll take the time to customize it.

“You don’t want to bore them with details they already know nor do you want to overwhelm them.” “Make sure you understand the level of knowledge,” Goodfellow says, and tailor your presentation accordingly. It’s as important to understand your audience as it is to understand the subject you’ll be discussing in front of them. It’ll also help you avoid technical or logistical snafus that can add unnecessary stress, Goodfellow says: “You don’t want any surprises as in realizing you were supposed to bring a laptop or handouts.”

Having all of this information ahead of time will help you prepare a presentation that fits the occasion and resonates with your audience. “Gather all of the information regarding location, technical setup, time you’ll be speaking, dress, topics to include/avoid, type of presentation, etc.,” says Tara Goodfellow, a Muse career coach and owner of Athena Consultants. Understand the Expectations and Learn the Details Here’s what you can do in advance to make the actual speaking part as smooth as possible.ġ. So much of what goes into public speaking happens way before you step up to the front of the room. Understand the Expectations and Learn the Details.No matter what it is or how daunting you find it, there are steps you can take to prepare and improve your skills.

TOASTMASTER TIP OF THE DAY UPDATE

It might be that you need to present in a small meeting, give an update to the entire company, or present at a conference or other event. Unfortunately, in many professions, some amount of public speaking is necessary. In fact, surveys have found that public speaking has long been one of the things Americans fear most.

It’s no easy feat to stand up and talk in front of people-whether it’s five or 50 or 500.

Toastmaster tip of the day