7 Reminders For Public Speaking

Years ago one of the most helpful organizations I was a part of, at least for my professional development, was the years I spent with Toastmasters International. If you do any public speaking at all, I highly recommend participation.

Obviously there is far more than what I will share here to learn about public speaking, preaching is not necessarily the same thing, and I’m certainly not an expert, but a few of the things I learned I have tried to incorporate into my public speaking and preaching. Here are 7 basic reminders for public speaking:

1. Count your uhs and ums as you practice and make them purposeful; allow pauses to work for you not against you. (Also, always practice)
2. Know your audience; you’ll relate to them better if you do.
3. Respect people’s time…people don’t want you to ramble. They have better things to do with their time.
4. Remember you’ll have multiple listening types…some will need colorful word pictures (illustrations) and some need a plainly spoken bottom line…
5. The beginning and the ending are crucial…
6. Be natural…be yourself…the closer you can get to the real you the better.
7. Humor works and so do tears…

Have you ever heard of or participated in Toastmasters?

What tips do you have for public speaking?

Also curious, what differences do you see, if any, in public speaking and preaching?

Print This Post

Related posts:

1. 5 Things I’ve Learned In Public Speaking
2. 5 Reminders When You are the Community’s Pastor
3. 4 Do’s and 4 Don’ts for Speaking to Visitors or Strangers
4. Where I’m Speaking Next…
5. Public Recognition Makes a Difference