Her Secret -- Public Speaking

Have you ever heard a great speech, and wondered if you can deliver a speech with the same poise and composure? Here are a few tips from Alissa Krinsky from Today's Chicago Woman magazine:

-- Never memorize your whole speech. If you were to sit down with your best friend and tell a story, would you memorize it beforehand? Of course not. That would be difficult and such a recitation would sound strange. The same concepts apply to public speaking. Don't commit your talk to memory, but make sure you know it inside-and-out by practicing many times.
-- Do memorize a few things. Your audience may not remember a lot of what you say but they'll usually be able to recall what you said first and last. Think of a few strong phrases or a good, short story to tell at the outset and at the finish and you'll make an impact.
-- The safety net: a brief outline. If you write out your speech in its entirety, you'll end up reading it to your audience. An outline will guide you while leaving you free to sound more conversational.
-- Keep it simple. You can eliminate a lot of stress by keeping your speech short and sweet. Your goal isn't to include as many SAT-caliber words as possible nor to set a world record for speech length. The more focused and concise you are, the less there is to worry about.
-- Physically prepare. If you were to run three miles, you'd first do some warm-up exercises, right? Prepare for your talk by taking some deep breaths. Warm up your voice by singing a few songs–I'm not kidding! Repeat positive phrases to yourself such as, "I'm going to be great" and if you have a good luck charm, bring it with you (can't hurt, right?). Wear your favorite outfit. Do whatever it takes to make you feel confident.
-- Always bring water. If you get a dry throat or begin to cough during your talk, you'll be able to rescue yourself. Remember, when you're thinking about thirst, you're not thinking about your speech.
-- Check out the room. Prior to your speech, check out the microphone and the seating arrangements. The more familiar you are with your surroundings, the better.
-- Keep things in perspective. Unless you're Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, whose every sentence is parsed by Wall Street, a speech is really nothing more than a talk. You most likely know your subject matter well and are qualified to talk about it, so view your presentation not as a test, but as an opportunity, a chance to shine. Speak clearly and with conviction and the rest will fall into place.