6 mistakes public speakers should avoid
Speaking in the public is not an easy task but it is expected that constant public speakers should avoid some certain mistakes which are enlisted below:
- Make the audience feel small. Speakers, of course, don’t intend to irritate audience members but when speaking to your audience try not to deliver lines that will make them feel belittled.
- Demonstrate arrogance. Lines may flow from ignorance rather than arrogance. In addition to ego-filled references that the audience can’t relate to, arrogance rears its head in many other ways. Audience members notice behavior both on and off stage. Personality often drowns out the message.
- Outsmarting the Audience. All things being equal, audiences generally side with one of their own because the audience members are the “underdogs.” A speaker holds the position of power at the beginning of an encounter, including the microphone, attention, an introduction, and credibility. But once a speaker jumps into the fray and becomes confrontational with someone, he or she loses that original position of credibility.
- Apologizing for things you can control.-Be prepared. There’s no excuse for lack of preparation on things within your control: If you don’t have it and aren’t prepared to share it, don’t wave that flag. Apologizing for lack of preparation doesn’t help.
- Mishandle a Q&A period. Never make statements like, “I’ll take two more questions.” What if your audience has only one more question? The impression created is that the group isn’t all that interested in what you have to say. Or worse, what if the second question is a negative one? You certainly don’t want to end your Q-and-A period on a negative issue.
- End with questions. Always deliver your polished wrap-up comments after the informal question session. Otherwise, your presentation or speech simply limps to a close.