What's wrong with having a speech in front of you? Nothing! Here's how to speak from notes or a written speech and still be effective!
Do you think it's difficult to read from notes or a manuscript and still relate to a public speaking audience?
It isn't, really. Why then do so many people do it badly? Keynote speaking, motivational speeches, pitching business, or contributing to a meeting are all examples of the same transaction: someone sharing important information, and others listening. Obviously, it can’t help to have a closer relationship with one's speaking notes than with the audience! But that's exactly what we see in too many presenters.
If you want to influence listeners, you must establish rapport with them. After all, are you persuaded by someone whose attention seems to be elsewhere when they're talking to you? Of course, you should also pay attention to your language, including the 25 words or phrases you should avoid in speeches and presentations.
To be an effective presenter, then, you need to be able to gather your thoughts from a page, yet appear to be speaking without any notes at all. (And here are 5 ways to succeed when using PowerPoint. ) Below are six practical tips for doing so—that is, for performing effectively while using a manuscript, notes, or other speaking aid.
How to Deliver a Written Speech Dynamically
1. Write to Speak. Compose your talk for the ears—not the eyes—of your listeners. Aim for the rhythms of conversation rather than the more formal style of memos and reports or the barely-composed slang of e-mail. That means using simple words and short sentences. Use a tape recorder and listen to yourself to improve in this area. If it's inspiration you need, wrap your headphones around any speech by Winston Churchill. The idea is to make your words conversational, and therefore easy for you to access. And take a look at my Free resource, "How To Speak As A Leader: The Power of Performance."
2. Make it Readable. Give yourself pages of typeface (or handwriting) that are easy to see from the lectern. Use a 16-point sans serif typeface like Arial, along with triple-spacing. Avoid printing near the bottom of the page, or your audience will see the top of your head too often. When you finish a page, slide that page face-up on top of the page that preceded it. It's less distracting for your audience than if you flip the pages over in the air.
3. Grab Key Phrases: You don’t want to spend more time with your text than with your listeners. So look down and “grab” a key phrase or idea. Then look up and say it. This is actually easier than it sounds. Practice it so you acquire a rhythm, an essential skill of public speaking. Remember this important rule: If you’re not looking at your audience, nothing should be coming out of your mouth. Especially resist the temptation to look for what's coming next while you're still talking about the current point. Here are 20 more easy ways to connect with an audience.
4. Use 'The Pause That Refreshes'. That’s a slogan from an old soft drink ad. But it applies equally well for you as a speaker, because you have to learn to use pauses! They help shape your speech. They show that you’re confident enough to let an idea sit still long enough to sink in. Pauses are refreshing for audiences. A speech without pauses seems to go on forever, regardless of its actual length. Combine this skill in pacing with these 5 key tools of vocal dynamics to be a more powerful speaker.
5. Make Eye Contact. This is the forest that many speakers don’t see because of the trees that made up the pages of their manuscript. Get in the habit of looking up from your speech with every sentence. Audiences need eye contact to believe you’re talking to them. So yes, eye contact is central to influence. Here's more advice on how to begin a presentation, especially in the critically important first 60 seconds.
6. Hit Your Peaks. Your speech needs shape in both ideas and delivery. A speech without a climax, for instance, is as formless as an amoeba. And presentations without vocal variety are sheer torture to the ear. The tendency of your voice to “flatten out” increases when you read from notes or a manuscript rather than actually talking to listeners. Audiences demand much more from a speaker than someone who just reads lines on a page. Your job is to breathe life into those words. Your listeners will love you for it, and wonder where you were if you don't.
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Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching and corporate group training worldwide. He was named for nine consecutive years as One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals, and also named as One of America's Top 5 Speech Coaches. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Sellers How to Give a Speech and Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. His book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." " He is also the author of the Dr. William Scarlet Mysteries. Contact Gary here.
