How to Improve Your Technical Skills in Speaking for More Effective Speeches

Speeches are nerve-wracking; unless you have been specifically trained to stand in front of audiences, unless you have been in positions of leadership, or unless you have extraordinary experience in delivering the word to a large audience, chances are you’ll be nervous and may make mistakes.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to improve your performance, in several ways. When you deliver a speech, there are three main components – there’s you, the speaker; there’s the deliverance and the way it is done; and there’s the audience, the crowd that receives what you want to share. An understanding of those three components will make you much more effective. Here’s how to improve your technical skills in speaking for more effective speeches.

There’s you

Don’t worry about your end of the bargain – if you’re prepared, you’ll do just fine. Mind you, however, that you should prepare for certain things: understanding your audience and adjusting your deliverance for maximum benefit. You won’t be able to please them all; that’s not a realistic goal. But you should be able to please most of them, and to do so you will require knowledge of the audience and specific techniques when it comes to deliverance.

Don’t worry about you. Do your research about the audience, and focus on deliverance.

There’s the deliverance

You need to find your voice. Luckily, it’s easier than it seems. Here are a few points to consider:

• Accents. If you’re speaking to a local crowd, then by all means use the accent they are used to; the crowd will feel you are one of them. If you’re out of your local area, practice a neutral accent.

• Breathe. The way you breathe speaks volumes about your emotions; learn how to control your breathing and you effectiveness will skyrocket. Be calm.

• Volume and strength of voice. Some people have naturally strong or soft voices. Learn how to use volume and strength of voice to underscore important parts of your speech.

• Variety. Use jokes, then be serious. Be loud, then soft. Make one point, and be calm whilst you prepare the audience for the next point.

There’s the audience

Make sure you know to whom you speak. Understand what they want to hear. You’ll be much more effective if you do a little research and find out what the crowd has in common. Speaking to a gang of motorcyclists isn’t the same as speaking to a group of university professors, after all.

To help you prepare more effectively for your speeches, you should rely on transcription services which can transcribe your important notes. By relying on transcription services, you have more time to concentrate on your speech and are less stressed as well. Good luck!