Fisheries Extension Education (2+1)

Some Tips for Good Public Speaking

• Be familiar with the place. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
• Greet some of the audience as they arrive.
• Practice your speech to avoid nervousness and revise it if necessary.
• Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
• Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to fail.
• Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
• Relax and deliver the message, instead of focusing on yourself.
• Make sure that your speech is right for your audience.
• Take your time. Don’t read your speech word-for-word and don’t rush through it.
• Be conversational, as if you were talking with a group of friends.
• Keep the speech short and simple. Make eye contact with the audience. Connect with them.
• Make them pay attention to you. Practice your speech ahead of time.
• Take time to pause in the right places to make eye contact and catch your breath.
• Don’t get into a debate if someone disagrees. Talk with him/her after your speech.