Tips for Speakers

Part 1, from David Dempsey's book, "Legally Speaking":

• Avoid the fig leaf. Speakers often hold their hands in the fig leaf position, seemingly protecting their crotches or behind. Neither position conveys authority; both prohibit you from gesturing.
  
  
• Don't clasp your hands. Many speakers habitually wring their hands or tightly clasp them at their stomachs. Such moves convey nervousness.
  
  
• Stop fiddling. Rattling coins in pockets is a problem for some. Others can't stop playing with their eyeglasses or jewelry. Another common distraction is buttoning or unbuttoning one's jacket.
  
  
• Keep your arms to your sides. Try not to clasp your arms across your chest, as it will make you appear stern and inflexible. Hands on your hips make you look bossy or prissy, not confident and credible. Let your arms fall to your sides, where they're in a position to move naturally as you become engrossed in sharing your message.
  
  
• Don't gesture repeatedly in the same manner. Add variety to your gestures. If you use the same gesture again and again, it will seem staged and lose impact. The audience's attention will begin to wander because of this predictability.
  
  
• Eliminate choppy or frenetic gesturing. You should strive for gestures that reflect your message, such as sweeping gestures if you are attempting to show a vast expanse. If your gestures are uncontrolled or wild, they'll distract from the speech.
  
  
• Make the gesture fit the emotion. If your intent is to convey anger or disgust, a small, dismissive wave isn't an adequate gesture; it could even undermine your credibility. Instead, pound your fist, wave your arms or point at documents.
  
  
• Make gestures fit the space. Tiny constrained gestures might suffice if you're speaking to a small group, but they'll be less effective in a large auditorium or a hotel conference room. Expand your gestures in a larger space and before a larger crowd so that they'll be visible.
  
  

Part 2, from David Dempsey's book, "Legally Speaking":

• Know your lectern options. You don't want to create a buffer between you and the audience, Dempsey says, so standing behind a massive lectern is a poor choice. The audience will only see your head and shoulders and you will be unable to use any body language.
  
  
• Find out beforehand how to control room temperature. We all know that if a room is too warm, the audience will become drowsy and inattentive. If you can't control the temperature, find out who can.
  
  
• Know what type of microphone will be available. Will it be handheld or hands-free? Will there be sufficient cord to permit you to move freely about the room? You should know this going in to eliminate any awkwardness. It is also suggested to arrive at least an hour early to test the microphone and make necessary adjustments (this is applicable for laptops and other presentation materials). If you find out you'll be holding a microphone, rehearse your presentation as such. Use a pencil, a ruler or any other object that will acclimate you to keeping the microphone near your face throughout the presentation. If you can, videotape yourself as you practice.
  
  
• Find out who will introduce you. You'll want to control your introduction to ensure that it creates a seamless transition into your presentation. Never leave this crucial detail to chance. Provide notes to the appropriate person well in advance of the speech and bring a backup copy in case it gets lost.
  
  
• Know when you'll be speaking. A speech heavy on content is perfectly acceptable in the morning when audiences are fresh and attentive, but not at the end of the day or following a meal. Typically, a late-day presentation would be kept light and more entertaining. If you're the last speaker of the day, you might consider cutting portions of your prepared presentation and focus on a few important points. Don't be afraid to cut a one-hour presentation down to 15 minutes. And let your audience know you're doing so; they'll appreciate your sensitivity and be more inclined to tune in.