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Wednesday, 24 April 2013 11:09

Dos and Don'ts of Public Speaking

improve_public_speaking_skillsOne important aspect to study while learning to improve spoken English is to understand the principles of public speaking. Most of us at some point of time in life have to speak in front of a crowd. Whether it is a presentation in your office or a project as part of your course curriculum, public speaking is a requisite. Good communication and a presence of mind help a lot in effectively delivering your message. But for people who have a doubt on their speaking skills, especially their language skills, for them nervousness is at another level. These people don't just have to overcome the stares of people but also their inner fear of English speaking.

It is a fact that some people are natural at public speaking while some face a hard time doing it. However, it is something that we all can mend ways with. Public speaking is not confined to just your language skills, it entails your facial expressions, body language, the ease with which you communicate and a whole lot of other factors.

Let's look at the dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind before facing a group of people.

1. Basic– Dos

Be enthusiastic – Show your enthusiasm and energy.

Face the audience – Manage your presentation such that you face the audience at all times. Don't show them your back.

Speak clearly – Be loud enough that the audience gets your message even the back benchers.

2. Basic – Don'ts
 

Don't show your nervousness – Don't fidget with things in your hands. Make only purposeful movement and gestures.

Don't play with your slides – Either move on to next slide or stick to one you are explaining, avoid confusion with your audio-visual aid.

Don't do awkward gestures – It's a strict no-no to put your hands in the pocket. Don't have awkward hand or facial gestures that create diversion.

3. English – Dos

Define your words – Do define any word or phrase that you think the audience is not familiar with. It is important to remember that not all sitting in a group belong to the same background as you.

Be Precise and simple – Be as precise and simple when it comes to talking. Don't use complex words like "panache"; instead you can use "style or flair". Keep it as simple, and precise as possible.

4. English – Don'ts

Don't start with affirmative words – This is the first lesson in how to improve communication skills. Always start with a positive word. A lethargic start to a sentence, for instance - So, we all are gathered here to discuss on IELTS preparation, sounds dull.

Don't introduce a topic with a start like 'briefly' – When you start your topic with something like "Briefly"; it implies that the intro is redundant but still forced on the listeners. It is better to avoid such an apologetic start.

Conclusion

When you are learning to speak English, a public speaking experience would add to your learning. Speaking English fluently is one the main concerns that makes us nervous before a presentation. However, if you are well-acquainted with your topic and have structured it well, the language barrier would not be a stumbling block. Organize your presentation, giving yourself enough space to speak slowly and clearly. Don't rush with your talk and gasp for words. Practice and practice more to get your speech right. All the best!

public_speaking 

Published in Spoken English

Everything in business boils down to one aspect – communication. Whether it is dealing with clients, interacting with colleagues, advertising, and marketing, everything needs communication. Therefore, it is safe to say that a successful business depends solely on communication.Business_Communication_2

Even for people involved in the business sector, it is important to develop the requisite skills for mastering communication. For example, you are a designer and your designing skills are unmatched, but how do you make sure that your designs are noticed? You need to market and promote your designs, and that my friend, requires communication.

After talent and skills, communication is one of the key principles on which your success as a businessperson depends. While many people will argue that being an effective businessperson requires other skills like analytical thinking, problem solving, being on one's toes, taking calculated risks, etc. All that is perfect, but how will you ever promote your business if you cannot even make a decent business pitch?

The need for communication

The world is fast becoming a global village. Brands have gone cross border, services has become international, and everything is made available at the click of a mouse. Every business, small or large, is open to a pan-world audience, and you definitely cannot lose out potential customers just because you do not speak the popular global language!

Whether it is for:

• Handling client meetings

• Pitching to potential clients

• Networking

• Personal level marketing

• Providing customer service

Communication plays the main role in all these jobs.

Many people would argue that their English is colloquial enough, meaning that they can carry a conversation in English. However, one should understand that the English spoken in informal and friendly conversations is strictly not the same as business communication.

When you are communicating in the capacity of a businessperson, you need to make sure that your words, pronunciation and style of speaking exudes professionalism.

What is business communication?

Whether you are pitching your business to a client or holding an office meeting, it is important that your speech is controlled, your vocabulary confident and your word-usage to the point. This is the essence of effective business communication.

A good business communication has to be precise, to the point, succinct, and drive across the message perfectly. For example, you have to make a sales pitch – how will you go about it?

Apart from having a good vocabulary, you should also master the art of speaking confidently. Most people, out of the fear of fumbling, speak too fast. They do so in a bid to get done with their speech without giving their audience a time to realize where they fumbled. However, you should realize that when you do this, you leave your audience confused!

When you fear that you might fumble, you should do the exact opposite – pause, think and speak. This will give you time to phrase your sentences, and your audience the time to understand!

Get a grip on English

There are no two ways about whether you can speak fluent English or not. If you wish to improve your English or are seeking tips on how to improve English fluency, your best bet is to enroll in an online English-speaking course. Online spoken English classes offer easy and convenient ways for improving your English fluency.

Published in Spoken English
    

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