| If you are scheduled to give a speech or | | | | want to be successful in public speaking: |
| presentation, plain speaking should be your choice | | | | 1. Do not try to speak with perfection. Nothing in |
| so as not to appear affected, superior, or on | | | | a live venue is perfect because perfection is |
| exhibit. Plain speaking, simply put, is the ability to | | | | subjective. Allow for a mistake or two. Is it |
| speak and be easily understood by all in | | | | natural; it is normal. |
| attendance. And, it goes hand-in-hand with the | | | | 2. Do not say your words with too much |
| theory of treating your audience as if you were | | | | precision because the flow of your natural speech |
| having a conversation in your living room. | | | | will be affected as well as the image you are |
| Lengthy sentences, long words, flowery speech, | | | | projecting. Certainly you should say your words |
| or highly technical terms do not lend themselves | | | | clearly and distinctly; however, exaggerating your |
| to plain speaking. If your audience has to struggle | | | | articulation is offensive. |
| to understand you, then you not only will lose | | | | 3. Do not use long words when simple ones will |
| their attention but you will also tire them out. | | | | suffice. |
| While the value of plain speaking is important at | | | | 4. Do not use technical language with which your |
| the lectern, it is also just as valuable in your | | | | listeners cannot identify. The only time technical |
| professional and personal circles as well. | | | | language is appropriate is if you are teaching a |
| Often those who use complex words in place of | | | | class. |
| a simple one are hoping to cover up their lack of | | | | 5. Do not try to be someone who you are not. |
| knowledge of the subject or are trying to | | | | Having taught voice and presentation skills for 30 |
| impress. Public speaking is not about impressing | | | | years, I can say from experience that too many |
| anyone. It is about relaying information in an | | | | people believe they should be someone other |
| entertaining manner for the purpose of informing | | | | than who they are. In truth, the best public |
| your audience or persuading your audience to | | | | speakers are those who are, first and foremost, |
| your way of thinking. The only means of | | | | themselves. They speak in a language which is |
| accomplishing that task is to talk to your audience | | | | readily accessible and easily understood by all. |
| in language that they will easily understand. | | | | Stick to plain speaking. It is the best type of |
| Below are 5 things you should never do if you | | | | speaking when addressing an audience. |