On Saturday, I undertook my first ever role as a wedding emcee when two of my long-time pals tied the knot…
And what a jol I had!
I have always had a knack for public speaking and participated in a number of contests as a young whippersnapper at Arbor Primary School.
In my high school years at Benoni High I kind of drifted away from the whole “standing in front of crowds and delivering a speech” thing (in those days it wasn’t “cool”), but returned to my chattering ways by delivering speeches at various friends’ 21st birthdays in the years following matric.
If you are a novice to the art of public speaking here are a few of my personal tips that may help you if you have been asked to say some words at a birthday, business event or a wedding:
- Being nervous is just dandy: Getting nervous before delivering a speech to a big crowd is as inevitable as death and taxes. My way of overcoming anxiety is to identify a “target” person in the crowd. By that I mean, pick out the person who seems to be enjoying your words the most and work with and roll with the energy that they put out.
- Incorporate body language into your delivery: If you just stand there like a deer in the proverbial headlights you will be as exciting as Jacob Zuma singing Do-Re-Me. Body language is crucial as it shows your audience that you are 100 per cent involved in your subject matter. Fidgeting is NOT body language!
- Always give the audience something to take home: The best speakers are the ones who give the people in the crowd a lesson or inspire them to take action. You want the audience to remember your name long after the event. If you motivate at least one person in the crowd your job is done.
- Have fun and enjoy yourself: If you do not have a good time when you are presenting, how do you expect your audience to enjoy it? At the end of the day you were asked to say something because you obviously have an infectious personality and have the ability to make people listen. Enjoy each moment. There’s just something awe-inspiring about being in that “zone”.
- Tell personal stories and share your experiences: When I say “personal” I don’t mean giving away the colour of the undies that you are wearing. By telling a funny or emotional story about something that has happened to you, in your life, your audience will more easily identify with you and get a taste of what it is like to be in your shoes.
The above tips have helped me get through numerous events as a public speaker and I sincerely hope that they can assist you too.
Every time that you stand up and deliver a speech is a learning curve.
Like riding a bicycle or driving a car, the more you do it the better you get at it.
It’s like Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.”
LG
