A5-c: Focusing on delivery
Establishing a relationship
If you give your audience your full attention, they will return it. Before delivering your speech, make steady eye contact with your listeners, introduce yourself, and help your audience connect with you. If you establish a relationship with your audience, you’ll start to relax into your role as a speaker and feel confident.
Starting strong and ending strong
The beginnings and endings of speeches are critical to gaining and holding an audience’s attention. Just as with a written paper, your oral presentation will benefit from using effective strategies for introducing and concluding your speech. (See C2-a and C2-c.) Plan your opening strategy: Will you pose a question and ask for a show of hands? Will you tell a brief personal story? When you move confidently through your introduction, you will find your voice and connect with listeners. For a strong conclusion, look directly at your audience as you review your key points. Finish by thanking your audience and inviting questions.
Using slides and notes
Projected slides are a popular method to support your delivery. Slides offer both a sequential structure (one slide after another) and a hierarchical structure (general message with supporting bullet points). Consider what information you may need to reinforce visually in order to meet your audience’s expectations. Keep slides simple and use them for a specific purpose. Don’t crowd slides with text or data and don’t leave listeners confused about why you are showing them.
For his presentation, student Sam Jacobs created a clear, readable slide to summarize counterarguments to his position.
Confident speakers rely on brief notes to remind them of the main points they wish to convey. Notes work best when you have rehearsed and know how much time to devote to each point. You might want to use notes to capture the exact wording of a quotation or the details of a research finding; or you might want to use notes as reminders to pause or to repeat key phrases.
Boosting your confidence
Effective speaking starts with good organization and a clear message. However, pay attention to additional details that will boost your confidence and strengthen your presentation:
- Dress appropriately for the occasion.
- Make eye contact; use body language and hand gestures to emphasize your points.
- Practice, practice, practice. Speak out loud in front of a mirror or a friend, and practice using visual aids. Practice is especially critical for a team presentation.
- Time your rehearsal.
- Know the setting in which you’ll deliver your talk.
- Understand the room’s lighting and technology; preload any necessary slides or software; check the volume for any video.
Listening actively and critically
Speakers have the main role in presentations, but audience members have important roles, too.
- Speakers need encouragement, so look at a speaker, make eye contact, and show your interest.
- Be ready with a question about an interesting or surprising point, and always offer a compliment on the presentation.
- In class discussions, listening is just as important as speaking. Practice being a skilled listener by focusing on the speaker—whether it’s a peer or the instructor—and by paying attention to body language. Listen for ideas as well as words so that you can understand the speaker’s point and respond.