Effective Delivery Techniques
The way we say something in public speaking has far greater impact on an audience that what we say. Anyone who doubts this need only watch audiences react while other people are speaking. Their body language is eloquent.
Here are some techniques that we have found useful in connecting with an audience.
Looking Confident
Audiences warm quickly to speakers who appear confident. Speakers who appear nervous quickly make their audience feel uncomfortable. As audience members we want to empathise with the speaker and enjoy ourselves, we don‘t want to feel embarrassed for them.
Audiences start judging a speaker from the moment they first see them. So a speaker who walks confidently to the speaking position and warmly greats their introducer projects a good initial impression to their audience. If they are able to keep that up throughout the presentation the audience is likely to stay on side.
At Toastmasters we find that many new speakers are able to project an image of confidence even though they might feel very nervous. As they gain more experience their confidence comes more naturally. As we say “Fake it till you make it”.
Using Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the most basic means of communication that we humans have and public speakers are able to use this to influence their audience. A quizzical look or a raised eyebrow is able to communicate much more than words alone. But most of all eyes can be used to demand attention from an audience.
The best way to influence an audience with eye contact is to look around, selecting individuals at random, look into their eyes for a short period, say three seconds, then move on to the next person. Even if it is not possible to cover everyone in this way it will still generate a feeling in your audience, a bond between you.
After a little practice participants at Toastmasters soon find themselves able to use effective eye contact without thinking about it, freeing them up to concentrate of their presentation.
Gesturing
All of us are constantly sending messages to each other by body language, about how we feel, about what we think, about what we are about to do. And we are all expert at reading that language. Public speakers can use this effect to support their verbal message with a visual one, effectively adding a second channel of communication with their audience.
At Peninsula Toastmasters participants are able to have their presentations recorded on DVD for viewing at home. This is an excellent tool to help build effective body language and eliminate distracting mannerisms.
Vocal Variety
Adding vocal variety to a speech is like adding spice to a meal, it adds interest and flavour. It is a very effective technique for attracting audience attention, and maintaining it.
There are four qualities of voice that can be varied, tone, pitch, rate of delivery and volume.
Tone can be varied to impart meaning. For example in the sentence, “Thanks for your help, I hope I can return the favour”, tone can be varied to imply either appreciation or sarcasm. By using variation in tone speakers can add subtlety and dynamism to their presentations.
Pitch variation can be used to add atmosphere to a speech. It can be varied across both a word and a sentence. The word ‘Johnny’ is a good example of a word that can be said either with a flat pitch, a rising pitch or a falling pitch, each giving a different shade of meaning. An example of a sentence given with a rising pitch is an introduction of a speaker where a rising pitch is used, with the speaker‘s name given last, giving a feeling that an event is about to happen.
Rate of delivery has three components, the duration of a word, the rate at which words are strung together and the duration of pauses. The duration of a word refers to the time taken to say the word. This can be varied to indicate its importance, or even its meaning. The rate of stringing words together can be varied, fast to imply fast action or less important ideas, slow to add emphasis. This can be used to add dramatic effect to a speech. Pauses between sentences or within sentences can be used to separate ideas, to add drama or simply to give people time to reflect on an idea. Think the value of pauses in the famous Churchill speech, “ if the British Empire and its Commonwealth should last for a thousand years — men will always say — ‘This — was their finest hour’”.
Volume variation is a powerful tool. By selecting certain passages to be louder that average and some to be quieter than average a speaker can add impact to their speech. The quiet segments, especially after a louder piece, and when combined with changes in tone, can be used to stun an audience.
Using these suggestions
Many people might believe that these suggestions on speaking techniques are too specialised for the average speaker. They are not. With practice at Toastmasters these techniques can be easily mastered and applied without conscious effort, leaving speakers able to concentrate on their presentation.
© 2005 Eric Davies - Peninsula Toastmasters
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