How to Become a Masterful Communicator and Public Speaker

poppy

今天看一份书摘觉得这个挺有用的，特分享给大家。

How to Become a Masterful Communicator and Public Speaker

Focus：
• Many people greatly fear public speaking.

• However, anyone can learn how to deliver strong speeches. It’s a matter of knowing
what to do and how to do it, and being determined to do it well.

• Practice giving numerous speeches to eliminate any fear of public speaking.

• The fi rst rule of speechmaking is to learn all you can about your topic.

• The second is to rehearse, over and over, until you know your speech thoroughly.

• Never learn a speech by heart. You may suffer a memory lapse at the podium.

• Be earnest and sincere when you speak before an audience. Such winning
personality traits will quickly get the crowd on your side.

• Audiences love to hear about themselves, so always work information about them
into your speech.

• To win over listeners, add relevant, personal anecdotes and stories to your speeches.

• When you speak, use simple words, but not too many of them. And whatever you
do, don’t speak for too long.

请教这点啥意思（是建议不要背书吗？）：Never learn a speech by heart. You may suffer a memory lapse at the podium.

poppy

Anyone Can Speak Well in Public

No matter who you are or how fearful you may be of addressing an audience, you can
become a powerful speaker. To do so, learn everything you can about your subject. About
10 days to two weeks before your presentation, spend 20 minutes writing no fewer than
50 questions about your topic. In another session, learn their answers. This will help you
create an outline for your speech. Now, start rehearsing repeatedly – in your mind, in the
car, before a mirror or with your friends.

Don’t memorize your speech. Your recall may fail at the podium. Instead, know it so
well you can speak naturally, using your prepared answers as your main points. As you
rehearse, your presentation’s structure will take form. Speak naturally, not in a forced or
histrionic tone. Practice how to stress different words and phrases. Alternate your timing,
delivery and vocal pitch. Try talking at various speeds to see what works best.

poppy

Be Yourself

Speak straight from the heart. Be true to yourself. Dale Carnegie and Earl Nightingale,
both superb public speakers, spoke naturally, each according to his individual personality,
background, and natural talents. With his Missouri farm roots, Carnegie spoke freely
and easily, like someone chatting with a neighbor. Nightingale, who possessed a
remarkably powerful voice, was a famous radio broadcaster for more than three decades.
His dramatic delivery was totally different from Carnegie’s sound. Yet both were wellregarded
public speakers – by being themselves.

Like all effective speakers, Carnegie and Nightingale made their audiences the focus of
their speeches. All audiences love to hear about themselves. Russell Conwell, a popular
public speaker, delivered his most famous speech, “Acres of Diamonds,” almost 6,000
times. Each time, he made the speech different, depending on where he gave it. Prior to
each engagement, Conwell talked with local townspeople, including ministers, school
principals and barbers, to fi nd out what was on the minds of the people in the community.
Then he delivered his speech accordingly. Be conscious of your audience – but also of
yourself. Dress smartly. Move around in a planned, carefully limited way on stage. Use
eye contact to connect with people in your audience.

poppy

Does the Idea of Public Speaking Make You Want to Hide?

You can control your fear of public speaking, but fi rst you must truly want to communicate
with your audience. See yourself in the role of a messenger who must deliver a vital
message. Psychologist William James taught that bravery derives from simply acting
bravely. Use this approach on stage. Remind yourself of the benefi ts of effective public
speaking. To take your mind off yourself, use props when you speak publicly.

The best way to overcome the fear of any activity is to do it, over and over again, until it
becomes second nature. This rule applies to every facet of life, including public speaking.
Give yourself credit for your speech preparation. Let all your hard work move you along
when you are on stage. While you are speaking, reserve judgment about how you are
doing until later. Don’t let anyone distract or discourage you. If your speech bombs,
learn from that failure so you will give a better speech next time. Spend an hour a day
developing your writing skills. List your goals and write 20 steps you can take now to
“deeply embed” your objectives in your “subconscious mind.”

When he fi rst started out as a writer, novelist Stephen King, then a poor laundry worker,
received one rejection notice after another from publishers. One day, after he’d received
two rejections, he threw out the manuscript for his book Carrie. His wife retrieved it and
sent it to Doubleday, which published it. Carrie sold in the millions, and King was on his
way to fame and fortune.

poppy

Did You Hear the One About…?

Humor is a valuable tool for speakers, but you don’t have to be funny to use humor in your
speeches. However, you do need to communicate to your audience that you want them to
get a laugh from your speech – you want them to be happy. Gracefully tie your humor to
your presentation, but don’t use awkward transitions, like “That reminds me of a story.”

One way to add humor to any presentation is to make yourself the butt of a joke, just
as funnyman and supposed notorious tightwad Jack Benny did on his radio show. In a
famous skit, a robber held up Benny, saying, “Your money or your life.” As Benny’s pause
grew longer, the audience completely broke down, laughing uncontrollably. Once his
listeners regained their composure, the robber repeated his demand: “I said your money
or your life.” Benny’s measured reply: “I’m thinking. I’m thinking.” The audience again
exploded into extended laughter as Benny acted the part of a skinfl int in a supposed
life-or-death quandary. His self-deprecating humor was a hit. Of course, use comedy
judiciously. Be sure the context of your speech lends itself to levity.