Originally Published MX May/June 2003
BUSINESS PLANNING & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Tips on Speaking to a Large Audience|
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Communicating effectively with many people at once is actually a matter of seeming to speak to each individually. Television works this way. And for its part, the many-member audience needs a compelling object on which to rivet its collective attention. The following guidelines for public speaking can help that solitary figure with a message to connect with the multitude for whom it is intended.
Get Connected. Mentally divide the room into three or four sections and pick out individuals in those sections to look at in turn for a full sentence or thought. Eye contact has a ripple effect; the people on each side of and many rows behind its selected recipient will feel included in the conversation as well. The more the audience is regarded rather than the lecture notes, the more impact the speaker's presentation will have.
- Stand Tall. Adopt a posture that commands the room. Body weight should be balanced on both feet equally to create an image of sturdy authority.
- Express Yourself. Take advantage of the expressiveness of face and hands to emphasize points. Someone who appears stiff or uncomfortable does not easily win listeners. Speakers should not eschew large gestures or smiling.
- Take a Break. Pause for a second or two between statements. Such a cadence enables the speaker to properly inflect each sentence and helps listeners to digest the ideas they are hearing.
- Cut Loose. Use a lavalier microphone. A speaker untethered from the lectern is more visible and dynamic —and thus more interesting.
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