When you think of speakers who motivate others, you may think of spiritual teachers who teach you how to know yourself or achieve success. A motivational speaker is someone who is good at giving presentations on a variety of topics. Interest in the subject being discussed is critical to the success of the presentation. In order to become a good public speaker, try to expand your knowledge, hone your speaking skills in front of an audience, and improve your communication skills.
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Part 1 of 4: Preparing Presentation Materials and Having a Specialization
Step 1. Learn from successful public speakers by reading their writings, watching their videos, and listening to their presentations
Take the time to find speakers who inspire you through what they do. Compare the material and presentation style with other speakers.
- Play TED Talks or Youtube videos to watch recordings of them giving presentations.
- Read the books, articles and blogs they write.
- Listen to their recorded presentation.
Step 2. Write down all the ideas to organize the material you want to discuss
Decide what ideas you want to convey when delivering a presentation. Choose a topic you want to discuss, such as career, relationships, or spirituality. Think about the issue in a specific aspect that you want to focus on, such as entrepreneurship, writing, marriage, parenting, Christianity, or Buddhism.
Think of as many ideas as you can and don't forget to take notes
Tips: Prepare a diary to record every idea that comes up so that there is more material for preparing the presentation. Get in the habit of carrying a diary in your bag or putting it on your desk so it's ready to use at any time.
Step 3. Present something special that is useful according to the topic of the presentation
The experience and qualifications of the speaker play a big role in this. Therefore, think in detail about the material that will be presented to the audience. Do you want to convey new information to your audience? Is there anything special about your experience and knowledge that deserves to be presented to an audience during a presentation?
- For example, you have successfully started an interior design business and want to inspire others to follow in your footsteps.
- Another example, you are able to publish a book in a short time and want to share your experience with others.
Part 2 of 4: Preparing to Give a Presentation
Step 1. Develop your speaking skills in front of an audience by taking courses
Contact your local campus community or educational institution for information about this course. By taking the course, you can develop and practice your speaking skills in front of an audience, and even practice giving presentations and soliciting feedback from the audience.
Look for opportunities to speak in front of an audience, for example by offering to speak at a friend's or family member's wedding, volunteering to host cafe guests, sharing live or recorded coverage when you speak to an audience once a week
Step 2. Make sure you deliver attention-grabbing material from the beginning, middle, to the end of the presentation
Well-prepared material helps the audience to listen well. Imagine a presentation like telling a story and then prepare the material for the first, second, third, and so on. Start your presentation by telling something that grabs your attention, such as a surprising fact or an interesting humorous story.
- For example, if you want to describe tips you've used to deal with life's difficulties, start by telling a story about a problem you've been through and giving a glimpse of your current situation.
- Then, describe the impact it had on you, the things that changed in your life, etc.
- End the presentation by explaining how to overcome difficulties in detail.
Step 3. Read the material repeatedly and make corrections before presenting it
After the material is well organized, read it again carefully and make revisions if necessary. Elaborate on unclear information, change confusing parts, and don't hesitate to delete unneeded material.
Prepare the material ahead of time so that you still have time to make revisions before presenting it. Make revisions at least 3 times before the material is presented to the audience
Tips: When practicing giving a presentation, measure the time it takes to make sure it is slightly shorter than the time available. For example, if you are given 30 minutes, complete the presentation in 20 minutes so as not to exceed the allotted time.
Part 3 of 4: Promoting Yourself
Step 1. Create a website to share information about yourself and your profession
To promote yourself and get a job, you need to create a website with information about your profession, who you are, and how to contact you. Take the time to build a quality, professional website yourself or hire an expert website builder. Then, share the web address with people you know to promote themselves.
Step 2. Upload a blog post, make a video, or write a book
Build a reputation and promote yourself as a public speaker by conveying ideas to others. Start writing a book or making a video to share a positive experience or problem-solving effort. Create a personal blog to build a career as a public speaker and then post posts or videos a few times a week.
- For example, if you want to provide a hint that motivates other people to start a business, write a guidebook or some articles on a blog about it.
- To motivate others to improve relationships, make some videos explaining tips for building a harmonious relationship or answering frequently asked questions about this.
Step 3. Spread the word that you want to be a public speaker
Spreading word of mouth is a great way to promote yourself. Tell your friends, relatives, co-workers, and acquaintances that you are starting your career as a public speaker. Give your business card or contact information to everyone you meet.
Community meetings can be used to meet many people and get job information from others. Check the schedule for community gatherings in your nearest location so you can attend and meet more people
Step 4. Apply to be a speaker by contacting a specific organization or company
If you know of an organization that needs a public speaker, find out who to contact and then submit a proposal. Choose an organization whose line of business corresponds to the subject you are discussing.
- For example, if you want to be a speaker on how to overcome drug addiction and want to inspire others to do the same, contact a drug addicts rehabilitation center or hospital.
- If you have experienced learning difficulties while in school, but were able to overcome them and achieve success, contact the high school leadership to offer presentation services for students.
Step 5. Apply to speak at conferences, conventions, and other gatherings
Many activities require speakers. Find out the schedule for holding conferences, conventions, and other gatherings in your city and apply to be a speaker at the event.
This usually involves you in competition and as a beginner, you may not get paid. However, being a speaker at an activity like this makes your name better known so that more and more people will offer you a job as a public speaker
Tips: If you get the cell phone number of the person in charge of recruiting speakers, call this person to talk to him or her. Send 3-4 sentences on the topic of the presentation then follow up by calling him a few days later if he doesn't tell you.
Part 4 of 4: Applying Effective Techniques When Giving Presentations
Step 1. Wear a neat and attractive suit or dress when giving a presentation
A professional appearance is a great way to form a good first impression in the eyes of the audience and increase credibility before you speak! In addition to wearing the right clothes, take time to do your hair, apply makeup (if needed), shave your facial hair (if any), and wear shoes that match your outfit.
Step 2. Stand without moving while giving a presentation and don't speak too fast or appear nervous
You may walk occasionally while talking, but move mindfully and don't talk when you change places. After arriving at the intended location, keep both feet firmly on the floor and keep your body straight while speaking.
Don't swing your body back and forth while giving a presentation. This makes you seem less confident and distracts the audience
Step 3. Engage the audience to keep them listening
Imagine you are telling a story to a friend and then use the same way to communicate with the audience. If you say something new or confusing, explain it in easy-to-understand terms.
Compliment your audience for their competence, accomplishments, or anything else you know about them
Step 4. Make short eye contact with the audience one at a time as you speak
Look for participants who seem friendly in the audience and stare at them for a few seconds. Then, cast an eye on the entire audience and then look at the other participants. Do this while you're speaking to make the audience feel engaged and connected to you.
Don't look up, down, or aimlessly, or you'll sound nervous and lose credibility
Step 5. Move your hands occasionally to apply emphasis
Your audience will be annoyed if you keep moving your hands, but you can use hand gestures every now and then to emphasize the issue you're trying to make. Raise 1 or both hands as a way of highlighting a particular issue every few minutes. Relax your arms at your sides if you don't need to move.
- Don't put your hands in your pockets, clasp your palms together, or cross your arms in front of your chest. It's a defensive posture that makes you seem nervous.
- When speaking in front of an audience, don't be busy fiddling with objects near you, such as a microphone, water bottle, or cell phone. This behavior annoys the audience.
- If you need to use a microphone, hold it in one hand and don't move it constantly.
Step 6. Project the sound all the way to the back row if there is no microphone
If you are forced to speak in front of an audience without a microphone, try to raise your voice so that all participants can hear. At first, it may sound like you're shouting, but it's still better than making your voice low so that some of the participants don't hear you.
Breathe in deeply using your diaphragm so that you can produce sounds from your abdomen instead of your chest or throat
Step 7. Watch a video while you speak in front of an audience to improve performance
Have a friend or family member make a videotape as you deliver your presentation. Play the video to find out what needs to be improved. Ask for opinions from friends, family members, or teachers who teach how to speak in front of an audience.
For example, if you often say "ummm" or clear your throat to clear your throat when speaking in front of an audience, break this habit
Tips: Videos when you give a presentation can be used to find a job. Potential clients may want to see you deliver a presentation before making a decision to hire a speaker.
