I am sure you have enjoyed the series of short articles on public speaking. I am closing with a summary of tips, which will help you to prepare and give an effective speech.

Start early: If you have to give a speech, start preparing it sooner rather than later. The more time you have to prepare, the more confident you?ll be. As a rule of thumb prepare for three- quarters of the time allotted. You will stay within time.

Research your audience: Find out everything you can about WHO you will be speaking to.... What things your audience members have in common; what challenges they face; their level of education. The more answers you have to questions like these, the more you can focus your talk to something they?ll want to hear.

Keep it simple: If you can?t state your central message in one or two sentences, you probably haven?t narrowed down your topic enough. Smaller, chunks of information are easier to absorb.

Revise, revise, revise: Rehearse your delivery in front of a mirror or of a friend. Visua-lize your audience. Revise it continuously so that it?s the perfect speech for YOU to deliver.

Dress appropriately: Wear something comfortable and suited to the occasion. Avoid bright white shirts, big jewellery and brass buttons, any of which may catch the light and produce a distracting glare.

Involve the audience: Look for a friendly face near the centre and deliver your opening to that person. Then move your gaze around the room, giving each thought to a different person. Interact with your audience. Ask them questions.

Create a conversation: Speak to the audience as if you were speaking to a friend. Use contractions. Avoid acronyms and jargon. Use short words and sentences, plus active verbs. Listen to yourself: How your speech sounds is more important than how it reads. Create your speech for the ear, not the eye. Show enthusiasm for your topic. Don?t speak too quietly, too loudly, too slowly or quickly. Don?t use verbal fillers such as ?um,? ?uh? and ?you know.? Instead, pause silently.

Use gestures and facial expressions effectively: Smile at the audience. Use hand gestures when appropriate. Between gestures, rest your hands at your sides or lightly on the lectern.

Develop an effective close: Restate your central message. Use a short story, quotation, or poem related to the message. Work on mastering the art of making a challenge. Make the audience remember you and YOUR speech.

Join us at The Plateau Toastmasters on the 4th Monday of the month at 19.30 at IVTB House (Seminar Room), Phoenix. Contact : Dharamjeet Bucktowar, Tel: 6966960, Mobile: 7627411