Do not think that applause and grateful smiles go only to artists, professional speakers and outstanding teachers or those who are naturally given eloquence. This is not true! The ability to hold the attention of any audience can be learned

Eloquence is necessary not only for the head of the company or politician. Everyone may need to make a memorable toast, express their opinion on camera, speak to the team, make a report at the conference. In her new book "You have the word!", Published by Alpina Publisher, TV journalist and teacher Nina Zvereva offers an author's training system that allows you to acquire the skills of successful performances in front of a variety of audiences.

The book is a set practical advice, which will help prepare for the performance, even when there is no time; learn to cope with anxiety and communicate confidently with the audience; build your speech according to the laws of dramaturgy; create an atmosphere of trust and creativity in the hall. The ability to perform is, first of all, training. Constant rehearsals and honing of skills "on living objects" are required.

“There is a beautiful expression on television: “The plot is ready. All that's left is to take it off." This means that the author has found answers to all questions: what is the plot about? Who are we filming for? How to make it fun? And only after that he went to the shooting. As a rule, such stories are the most interesting and accurate,” writes Zvereva.

It is always better to think first and then speak. The process of thinking about any step - speaking in front of an audience, getting married, inviting friends, buying new furniture - invariably benefits.

We must learn to focus and ask ourselves questions: what is my main idea? How do I formulate it? How much time do I have to perform? And most importantly - why will these people listen to me? When you get out of a stressful state and go into a working state, you will already win!

It is very important that you have no other reasons for excitement, except for one thing - how to perform better? For example, you need to avoid unnecessary worry about how you look, whether you are dressed correctly ... All this can be thought out and foreseen. It is worth agreeing in advance on the place where you will stand. It is very difficult to stand on an empty stage; as Zvereva notes, only experienced actors or speakers can handle this. It is much more convenient if you have a table where you can put sheets of texts, and a chair to put your briefcase or bag on, or even sit down if the situation arises.

Of course, you should come in advance and check everything in person. And then Zvereva advises to find a secluded corner somewhere behind the stage and ... three to five minutes before the performance to be alone.

“It seems to me a mistake when your future listeners enter the audience and see their “guru”. And at that time he rushes about with microphones, or calls on the phone, or tries to concentrate in conditions when they are already beginning to look at him or even ask about something, - explains the author of the book “You have the word!”. “I prefer to enter the hall at the very moment when the performance should begin, or even after a minute or two, as people should settle in their chairs, calm down, turn off their phones.”

It is useful for the audience to immediately tell how long your presentation will last, what the format of communication will be (lecture, game, training, conversation), whether you are going to use slides or videos, whether there will be a break. Discussing the regulations is also an imperceptible pulling in of the public. This is how you show that you are a partner, not a boss.

Zvereva advises keeping a few good phrases, jokes, anecdotes in your active memory. Or it is useful to write down at least the name or keyword of a joke that you liked in a work notebook or phone. Even the most famous and beloved aphorisms tend to slip out of memory at the right time.

It is also convenient to keep the abstracts of your report at the ready. To memorize them, according to the author, is not necessary. During the speech, your theses can not only change places, but even remain unspoken, and it will not be a mistake if the audience learns the most important thing - the main idea.

“It is important that they are with you - your theses, and all your previous life and previous experience is also with you. And exactly the same people are sitting in the hall, quite nice, ready to show you full confidence, if you do not find yourself a slave to your excitement and excessive preparation, ”writes Nina Zvereva.

It happens, however, that among the listeners there are people who want to “cut” you. Or in a wonderful group there is one special person who for some reason believes that you have come to him and to no one else, who revels in the opportunity to show himself, his knowledge and prefers to communicate with the speaker directly, as if there is no one else in the hall.

Two or three questions of "know-it-know-it-all" are very helpful. As a rule, such people really love to learn and have a certain amount of knowledge, sometimes even exceeding yours. “Praise for the question. Answer if it does not take much time and does not violate your speech plan, Zvereva recommends. - But beware! As soon as such a person gets the opportunity of direct contact with the speaker, he begins to claim to take his place. And this is unacceptable! Gently but firmly remind you of the rules of the game that you agreed with the audience at the very beginning. This will be a direct appeal to the audience for support, and you will definitely receive it.”

At the same time, one cannot ignore questions that, apparently, sound “on behalf and on behalf of” the entire group - you should not spare time for an answer, you can even change something in the original plan of the lecture.

If a topic suddenly comes up that clearly takes the conversation in the “other direction” and concerns only the person who asked it, you should try to postpone the answer and do it as correctly as possible, but tough enough.

Having mastered the technique of public speaking, instead of fear, tension, excitement that usually interfere with speakers, you will feel looseness, a sense of freedom, self-confidence. The feeling of power over the hall, the moment of intoxicating success - it's hard to compare with anything! It is not for nothing that people who have conquered the stage find it so difficult to say goodbye to it.

The main thing is that even if you managed to perform well, do not relax and look in your memory for those moments for which you can scold yourself. After all, having ceased to doubt our infallibility, we will cease to be interesting. Each new audience in each new case has to be conquered again. And this is the most exciting, assures Nina Zvereva.

speaker.

The speech you are about to give can be compared to a vessel on the high seas. Fragile ship or luxury airliner - what is your report? Will you calmly cut through the waves of people's attention with your text, or will you barely be able to stay afloat, constantly risking losing the attention of your listeners? If at least one guest yawns in the hall, then soon you will notice that the rest begin to nod off. Build your presentation so that it contains a story. A few jokes will help to dilute the report, which consists mainly of listing values and indicators. If possible, use visual aids. Some people are better at hearing information, while others need graphs. To take possession attention each listener in the hall, use all available methods of conveying information. The report itself should be logical, clearly structured and interesting.

It happens that you list some numbers and draw conclusions from them, but there is a lot of data, and the audience, which caught your thought faster than you finished it, was somewhat distracted and bored. No person can continuously perceive information, even important and interesting. Therefore, if you see that people are tired, take a break. To get the audience's attention back, look around the room. The audience will again begin to look at you and listen carefully to your speech.

The voice is your main instrument when you are reading a report. The ability to control intonations, pauses, speed up somewhere, and slow down somewhere, raise or lower your voice - all this determines the success of the report. A confident and strong voice is what will allow you to take over attention the public unconditionally. If people understand that your speech reflects what you yourself believe in, that you take your words seriously, this will generate huge interest and response.

Don't forget to pause. V important places pause for a moment to grab the attention of the audience. Speech speed is very important. Slow speech is a confidential atmosphere, but faster speech contributes to the growth. Of course, except for those cases when the speaker is just chattering from.

Tip 3: How to attract the attention of a loved one

The most interesting and probably the most ancient way to attract the attention of a loved one is sign language. Men are quick to respond to visual cues. With their skillful use, you are provided with the attention of your chosen one.

Instruction

Use openness in body language. V different situations people use body language without even knowing it. The body's ability to reflect a person's thoughts is in the genes and operates on a subconscious level, especially when communicating with the opposite sex. The essence of the reception lies in your willingness to open up to your beloved man and attract his attention with the help of gestures and facial expressions.

Start with the face. Look in the mirror and remember the expression in your eyes when you are in a confident and calm state, ready to communicate with your chosen one. The eyes should have a clear expression, on the face - a half smile, when the corners of the mouth are slightly raised.

Keep it light, free, open. Avoid defensive gestures such as crossing your arms, turning to the side. To attract the attention of a man, use a moderately lit room. Penumbra, acting on the subconscious, will create a more intimate atmosphere and position the man to subtle communication with you. By tuning in to the openness of your gestures, the body itself will reflect your interest in further communication with, which, of course, will be correctly interpreted by them.

To attract a man, be in his field of vision. But, of course, you should not rush at him, violating his space. Choose a distance where you can smell your perfume slightly and you can see the expression in your eyes. Most likely, he will try to shorten it and chat with you. Take advantage of the situation and find an opportunity to slowly enter his space and stay there at ease for a while. Play with your eyes, looking away as soon as he starts looking at you. Be sure to keep a slight smile on your face. Your job is just to draw attention to yourself.

To provoke your beloved man to approach you, support yours. Again, gestures are indispensable here. A slight tilt of the head with a simultaneous touch of the hand to the hair, the movement of the fingertips along the shoulders or around the face will surely attract the attention of your chosen one. All these gestures are easy to explain. An attempt to please makes a woman pay increased attention to her appearance, which does not go unnoticed by a man when meeting his eyes.

Tip 4: How to quickly attract the attention of a stranger

Which of the ladies is not familiar with the situation when suddenly an unfamiliar man meets on the way, who immediately arouses interest? However, the fair sex is often lost and do not know what to do in such a case. There are little female tricks, thanks to which you will not miss the chance to meet interesting man.

An important (but not the only!) factor in your success is impeccable appearance. You should always look like the winner of men's hearts. Women's confidence in their irresistibility is very attractive to most men!

So, a worthy man has come to your attention. You internally collect all your feminine energy into an imaginary fireball, say to yourself the mantra “I am irresistible (options: mind-blowing, gorgeous, charming, exceptional, etc.), you are irresistible (also with options)”, and try to get closer to this man.

Look at him and if he catches your eye, hold him for 5-7 seconds. At the same time, a slight smile should play on your lips. At this time, mentally release a “fireball” into the man. Then slowly, as if reluctantly, look away. Look again after a while. If a man, having caught the outgoing vibes, becomes interested, he himself will try not to miss the moment. You must appear friendly and ready to interact.

Find an opportunity to speak so that he hears your voice. Try to keep your voice "velvet", in low tones. Turn to a man with some harmless request or question, depending on the situation.

If a conversation starts, do not drag it out and try not to talk about yourself, listen more. You have to remain a mystery in order for a man to want to meet you again.

To gain confidence, train whenever possible: outdoors, in public transport, in the theater ... The main thing is not to despair and not to lower self-esteem if the stranger does not make contact. He probably has it good reasons. Remember that you are irresistible and your right is to give your attention to anyone without demanding anything in return!

A master class from the brilliant speaker Reinaldo Polito in the format of super tips is a real gift for everyone who wants to learn how to speak beautifully, convince and inspire the trust of interlocutors. To master this skill, you should pay attention to a number of little things, a complete list of which you will find in this small book. Let it become your desktop or pocket friend, helping you remember all the subtleties in any situation. Standing in front of a large audience or in a private atmosphere, you will always find the right word and make the right impression. For a wide range of readers.

All rights reserved. No part of the electronic version of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including posting on the Internet and corporate networks, for private and public use, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

©The electronic version of the book was prepared by Litres (www.litres.ru)

Introduction

'Cause life, life, life

Life can be changed.

Cecilia Meirelis

Remake your life.

Perhaps this is the greatest and most important principle that Reinaldo Polito puts forward in his current work: how to change our approach to communication in order to become truly competent in relationships and interactions with other people.

The Art of Public Speaking book. Super Tips, the fruit of extensive research and vast experience, offers tips and skills that have been tried and tested in and out of the classroom. This carefully crafted book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to communicate more effectively and confidently: in public speaking, business meetings, formal events, and everyday conversations.

These tips can be read from beginning to end in the harmonious and practical order in which they are given, or you can quickly skim over a specific issue. All questions are considered in short, devoted only to them, chapters in which there is a beginning, middle and end.

In this book, Reinaldo Polito offers us the opportunity - intelligently, talentedly and sensibly - to reflect on the meaning and value of words in our lives: how we refine our intentions, ideals and goals; discover common interests and (last but not least) improve ourselves and bring out the best in us.

Marlene Teodoro,

Master in Communication and Market Research, writer and public speaking specialist at English language

* * *

The following excerpt from the book How to capture the audience from the interlocutor to the hall. Super Tips (Reinaldo Polito) provided by our book partner -

Introduction

'Cause life, life, life

Life can be changed.

Cecilia Meirelis

Remake your life.

Marlene Teodoro,

Master in Communication and Market Research, writer and specialist in public speaking in English

1. Learn to talk to people

Conversation skills are useful in almost any situation, whether it's a conversation between two or three people, a business meeting, giving a lecture, teaching a lesson, or attending a convention. In short, these are the skills that pave the way for you to succeed.

Conversation skills include being able to tell interesting stories and knowing how to ask the right questions at the right time.

If your goal is to start a conversation or create a favorable atmosphere for quick receipt information, favor “closed” questions that require quick, short answers, such as “Who? What time is it? Where? When?"

Please note that by asking these questions, you get direct answers that allow you to quickly get important information, without interrupting your flow of thoughts and without affecting the concentration of listeners.

However, if your goal is to encourage people to participate more actively in a conversation or to reveal their intentions, wants, and needs, use open-ended questions that encourage longer, more complex responses: “What? Why? How?"

You will see that unlike "closed" questions, "open" questions produce answers that make the audience accept more Active participation in conversation, as people have to explain their train of thought and provide information that almost always reveals something about their personality and way of thinking.

2. Use humor

Using humor doesn't mean you have to turn into a clown or a court jester.

It is also not synonymous with vulgarity. If you avoid harsh puns and learn to see the funny in every situation, you will always find someone who will willingly enter into a conversation with you. The combination of subtle irony and implicit (implied) information will show that you respect the perceptual abilities of the person you are talking to, as well as demonstrate your own intelligence, sharpness of mind and perception. However, consider the level of education and intelligence of your listeners when making witty remarks.

And be careful: even if the circumstances seem to encourage vulgarity, do not fall into this trap - you can never benefit from a vulgar remark.

There is a very fine line that separates humor from vulgarity, and where the line is drawn depends on your listeners and the context.

The closer you are to this line, the funnier your remarks become, but, accordingly, the greater the risk of crossing the line of vulgarity. Since you can never be sure exactly where this boundary lies, stay at arm's length from it.

It is better to take a lower tone - this way you maintain your favorable image and show respect for others - than to step over the line, which, of course, can cause laughter in the hall, but if you misjudge your audience, it will leave a stain on your reputation.

3. Make it clear you're joking

Be very careful with subtle humor. When you are about to make a joke, clearly demonstrate your intention.

If, for example, after you use irony, you have to explain that it was just a joke, this means that you have misused humor. When speaking or writing, express your intention clearly and understandably to avoid misunderstanding. The typical outcome of a misunderstood joke is usually embarrassment.

There are many factors that influence how people understand and perceive humor. It depends on the:

their cultures,

intellectual development,

environment,

As well as the perception of the speaker and his (or her) message.

There are so many little things that understanding and mastering them requires experience and honed observational skills.

In addition, the style of your humor should be so obvious to the listeners that they have no doubts about whether or not to take what is said at face value.

People get irritated and feel "betrayed" when they honestly follow your reasoning, and in the end find that you just decided to joke. Sometimes this situation is very difficult to correct, especially when your audience crosses their arms emphatically, expressing their displeasure.

The lower the level of education of the listeners, the brighter you should signal your intentions.

The more educated your audience is, the more subtle hints you can use.

When in doubt, go for the lowest common denominator to avoid risk.

4. Don't take yourself too seriously

Learn to laugh at your own mistakes, joke about slips of the tongue, find humor in your mistakes and appearance.

This is a great way to become a more fun and charming communicator (participant in the communication process).

It's nice to be around people who aren't constantly trying to justify themselves or explain their mistakes.

If you make a mistake, don't make a molehill out of a fly: just step over it and move on as life goes on.

Though self-criticism is a great way to build rapport with people, as it shows that you are not driven by vanity and are not constantly on the defensive (don't go overboard with it). Don't criticize yourself unnecessarily and don't point out mistakes that could harm you.

I advised so many people to reconsider their approach when I noticed that they, in trying to be charming, began to devalue themselves, saying, for example, that it is very difficult for them to work in the morning and they can only do it at gunpoint; or when asked to clarify something, they said that it was slowly reaching them. Don't even think about talking about yourself as slow, dumb, lazy, disorganized, always late, frivolous, or use any other epithets that can damage your reputation.

Not taking oneself too seriously is wisely undermining one's own dignity by revealing, witty or slightly casual, those personal facts or characteristics that people usually hide for reasons of vanity or fear of criticism.

5. Learn to tell stories

One of the most important skills of a good communicator is the ability to tell short interesting stories (emphasis here on the word "short"). Most people enjoy listening to such short stories from time to time. Do you understand? Very short and from time to time.

Don't turn into an obsessive storyteller - it is unlikely that anyone will like a person who does not know when to stop. If you start telling a long story, your listeners will quickly lose interest and begin to pray for a speedy deliverance from this torture.

No matter how good the story is, if it's long, don't tell it.

Test stories and witty remarks on family and friends. Be careful: if the story does not work, then it will affect strangers even worse. Also, do not talk about situations and cases that people are already tired of hearing about: when stories are too well known, they lose their appeal.

The best stories are those that can be found in books, newspapers and magazines, heard in movies, plays or in conversation.

You can change the details of the story and pass it off as your own, thus raising the interest and expectations of your audience.

If, however, you decide to tell an old, time-worn story, get creative and breathe into it new life so that listeners feel like they are hearing it for the first time.

6. Stop saying "You know?"

But the frequent use of "Do you know?" , in just about every sentence, can get people so irritated that they stop paying attention to what you're saying, whether it's in a work meeting, during a business negotiation, or during an interview.

I singled out the expression "Do you know?" because it is the leader of a huge tribe of expressions like "Got it?", "Right?", "Know what I mean?", "Don't you think so?", not to mention about their relatives "Isn't that right?" and “Am I being clear?”

To remove the annoying "Do you know?" from the process of communication, one must first become aware of their presence.

Though sometimes it's hard to tell if that "You know?" into your speech, it's worth putting in some effort and you'll see if that nasty little bug bites you. One way is to record your speech in an informal setting or ask friends for help.

When people feel insecure, they speak with a raised voice, as if asking a question, even if they are making a statement.

Lack of confidence will always make you talk like you need something. Feedback or approval from the audience.

It sounds like at the end of every sentence you're asking, "I'm making it clear, right?" When you speak with a questioning tone, it seems to justify your "You know?" and "Do you understand?" at the end of each sentence.

So, if you notice that an interrogative intonation has crept into your speech when you say affirmative sentences, try to change the intonation and express yourself more firmly.

7. Get rid of "hmm" and "uh"

A very common and annoying habit is to often say "hmm" and "well" at the beginning of sentences or during pauses.

The same annoyance can arise in listeners if you start a conversation or presentation with the words “Okay,” “So,” or “Right.” In more advanced cases, some speakers make sounds so loud and strange that they distract listeners from the topic of the speech.

The fact that we think much faster than we speak can lead to - when you know what you want to say, but keep looking for the right expression for it - that you will use these sounds to reassure the audience that you have there is a message for her, and you are about to put it into words. It's like if you said: "Now it will come, uh-huh, uh-huh." In addition, speaking in front of a group of people, you may feel tension, which makes you urge to fill the gaps with some sounds designed to save you from uncomfortable silence.

The first step in overcoming this burdensome shortcoming is to become aware of it.

Then you have to make an effort to learn to think in silence.

Silence is a positive and necessary quality of your communication. The fact that you are silent for a few seconds without saying a word can even help emphasize the information you convey to the listeners.

Silence will spur the curiosity of your listeners and help them understand what you just said, as well as make your speech more expressive, natural and pleasant.

8. My mind is off

If you're speaking in front of a group of people and your mind suddenly turns off, don't despair.

Desperation has a devastating effect during public speaking.

If you allow despair to overwhelm you, you will find yourself under even more pressure, and it will be more difficult for you to get out of the current situation.

So, try to remain calm. I know it's not easy, but it's the only thing you can do.

Don't persist. If your mind is off and you are in a stupor, try just once to remember exactly what you were going to say. If you don't succeed, repeat the last sentence as if you want to emphasize this part of your message - it is likely that by returning to the moment when you fell into a stupor, you will naturally recall the information.

If that doesn't work, use the magic expression, which always helps if information has slipped out of your head. It works flawlessly.

Say, "What I really want to say is...". This will force you to explain the information from a different perspective and your thoughts will fall into place. This expression never fails. Use it. It works.

If, for some unknown reason, it does not work, tell the audience that you will come back to this later, and immediately go to the next point.

When you relax and do not frantically try to remember at least something, the necessary information may pop up by itself as you continue your presentation. Even if you don't remember it until the end of your speech, your listeners are unlikely to ask you about it.

9. Keep your cool

Some individuals are so prone to arguing that they deserve a degree in professional mischief.

They argue over trifles with such vehemence as if they were defending their own lives. Any topic will do for a dispute (football, politics, religion), and they will argue out of empty vanity, knowing that in the end all the participants in the dispute will still remain in their opinions.

I have listed the above topics because they are classic, but I can name hundreds of others that fill our daily lives, such as the quality of television programs, fashion, lifestyle, children; what suits one should suit another; or the price of chicken eggs. I'm talking about the polite, decent sort of debater who arrives at a party, shakes hands with everyone, and then in the blink of an eye forgets all the rules of etiquette and rushes into battle for no reason. They make their friends feel uncomfortable, and their attitudes only exacerbate this misunderstanding. Such verbal debates can cause alienation and hostility that can seriously damage a relationship.

Analyze the situation before entering into an argument. Ask yourself if it is so important for you to convince others of the correctness of your point of view, and make a decision to refrain from arguing. You will find that you almost always win by keeping your thoughts to yourself.

If, in the heat of a discussion that began as a natural exchange of opinions, you realize that people's voices are getting shriller, people are clinging to their ideas with more fervor, and some may lose control of themselves at any moment, act without hesitation:

Forget your pride, agree with your opponent on all issues and end the argument.

10. Be polite

Politeness is the most effective way to attract friends and the benevolence of others. Politeness also helps win over the audience, make them wish you success and accept your message and ideas.

Politeness can be found in a friendly tone of voice, noble words, honesty and ethics. As a rule, being kind is rewarded with goodwill from others, happiness, and the knowledge that by treating people well, you sow the seeds of sincere and lasting relationships. The rejection of resistance and prejudice is reflected in your attitudes and how you behave towards others.

If you've come to the conclusion that you're hard to call polite and accommodating, it may be time to adopt behaviors that will improve your social relationships and ultimately your quality of life.

It is polite to give up your seat on a bus, subway, or waiting room to an elderly person or someone carrying a baby, carrying large bags, or carrying heavy objects.

Holding an elevator or restaurant door open for another person is a very simple act of kindness, generosity, and caring. Thus, you not only behave well towards the person for whom you make this gesture, but also look good in the eyes of everyone present. Even without knowing you, they will look at you as good well-mannered person admirable. Moreover, if someone was kind enough to hold the door for you, don't forget to thank him (or her).

11. Make “we” the magic word

Personally, I don't like pluralis majestatis(royal "we") and pluralis modestiae("we", used to show modesty).

V modern world they sound fake and artificial. Fortunately, this is a legacy of the past (with the exception of members of the royal family).

However, there are situations in which "we" becomes a real magic word and can be the little thing that will help you win over listeners.

When we teach, give advice, or make a suggestion, "we" has the ability to overcome unnecessary resistance.

It sounds as if the speaker includes himself in the group of those to whom his message is intended; he gives advice, but at the same time he receives it; teaches but also learns.

There is a big difference in using "you" instead of "we", because in the first case it seems that the speaker is the sole owner of the information, and the listeners are a kind of homogeneous mass, waiting for enlightenment.

"You" can create barriers between the speaker and the audience, making it much more difficult to convince listeners.

12. Be yourself

If you ask me how to become a successful communicator, I will answer you without hesitation and without fear of making mistakes: stay natural.

Learn and apply whatever communication rules you want, but never lose your spontaneity. Maintain and respect your style and personality at conferences, social events and business meetings.

Remember that even if you make technical mistakes in communicating with your listeners, but remain natural and spontaneous, people will trust your message.

On the other hand, if you do everything "by the book" but look artificial, the listeners will doubt your intentions and will resist what you say to them.

Pay attention to how you behave when talking to people close to you - friends, colleagues, family members - and try to imagine yourself the same way in other situations.

It is clear that you can always strive for excellence, learn and apply the rules of effective communication, but never lose your naturalness.

But being natural does not mean repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

Mistakes can be corrected through training and practice.

A significant role is also played by the desire to make sure that your message achieves its goal - to convince, inform or entertain listeners.

If you speak naturally, you will feel more confident, and this will allow you to make the most of your intelligence, wit, and ability to connect ideas and information, which will make your communication with interlocutors and audiences more effective.

13. Speak with enthusiasm

Never speak just for the sake of speaking. No matter how important your message is, if you deliver it just by doing your duty, you won't be able to captivate or move your listeners.

Therefore, when delivering your message, always speak with energy, passion, and emotion. If you don't show interest and enthusiasm for the subject, you can hardly expect it from your listeners.

You must always seem (“look and sound”) truthful in order to reach your listeners.

Seemingly is the key word, because it makes no sense to say that you are sad or happy unless people detect sadness or happiness in your words. Under some circumstances, you may have to play the truth of your feelings; that is, you will have to say how you feel and act out those feelings at the same time to ensure that your words are in tune with your behavior.

If you want to successfully master the art of communication, then in addition to natural and spontaneous behavior, you must speak emotionally.

The combination of these two aspects - spontaneity and emotion - will lay a solid foundation for the most important task of communication: trust.

Therefore, be natural, speak emotionally, win people's trust - and the path to successful communication will open for you.

14. Show that you know the subject

You will achieve anything you want if you can inspire confidence. Therefore, you must not only speak with ease and enthusiasm, but also demonstrate mastery of the subject.

If you want your listeners to believe what you say, you must show them that you know what you are talking about.

People need to see that what you say is the fruit of your experience, research and activity, and that you talk about all this easily.

So start preparing early. If your presentation is due in a week, spend that week preparing. If in a month, then use the whole month. And so on, and it doesn't matter whether it's a year, two years, or a lifetime.

Take every opportunity to absorb information.

If you have to give a talk on a topic, learn everything you can about it and become a true expert in that field. As you speak, listeners will see your confidence and be more likely to trust your message. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will appear and the more confidence you will inspire in your audience.

If there is a rule that should always be followed in order to gain the trust of the audience, then here it is: acquire an in-depth knowledge of the subject and demonstrate it during the speech.

So get ready. And when you feel ready, don't stop there: prepare a little more.

15. Be consistent

We all know the qualities that are important for creating a favorable image - punctuality, organization, a sense of time and tolerance for others.

We are so well aware of the importance of these qualities that we often assume that they are already part of our daily behavior and speak about them accordingly. But people who know us well sometimes notice that we say one thing and do something exactly the opposite.

The concept of consistency is based on the fact that we do what we declare.

One should not thoughtlessly pronounce words, as if only in them the truth of things is hidden. Priest Antonio Vieira once said: “Do you praying priests know why your sermons have such little impact? Because we don't preach to the eyes; we preach only to the ears. Why was John the Baptist able to convert so many sinners? Because his words preached to the ears, and his example to the eyes.”

This is a daily task: to observe our own behavior and notice if we are talking just for the sake of talking; are we using empty words that do not convey what we think, what we believe, what we feel and do.

16. Consider the intellectual capabilities of your listeners

Awareness of the intellectual abilities of listeners is of great importance for successful communication.

If the average intellectual ability of your audience is below average, that is, if you have to speak in front of a group of uneducated people who absorb what they hear more slowly, you should not present information in a complex way, based on abstract ideas, because your listeners will most likely not be able to keep up behind the course of your reasoning and quickly lose interest in them.

Similarly, it would be unproductive to offer them a polished, brilliant argument, then ask them to reflect on it and draw their own conclusions, because they clearly cannot reach the desired conclusion on their own.

When you see that the intellectual abilities of the listeners are below average, do everything in your power to help them understand the material being presented:

Present information clearly and understandably;

Accompany it with illustrations and metaphors;

Try to repeat important concepts several times.

If, after offering your listeners a few arguments, you decide to ask them a question, you should be ready to answer it in order to make it easier for the listeners to understand the material they heard.

Conversely, if the group's intellectual ability is average or above average, you can present information more abstractly, resorting to complex reasoning, since listeners can easily follow the flow of your ideas.

If you decide to ask a question to such an audience, you can leave them to draw their own conclusions.

17. Assess the knowledge of your listeners

Obviously, if you are in front of a group of people who specialize in finance and you are trying to teach them how to calculate the rate of return taking into account reinvestment (compound interest), it will be elementary for them, and in a few minutes there will be only empty seats in the hall - or your listeners most likely just fall asleep.

But if you teach this same material to people who haven't even heard of the interest rate and try to show them how to calculate compound interest using formulas, they'll soon start looking at their watches in concern.

Analyze the level of knowledge of the participants in advance and adapt the complexity of your speech to their level of understanding.

The situation becomes more complicated if the group is heterogeneous in composition. In this case, one part of your group has a good knowledge of the subject, while the other part knows very little or nothing about it. If, faced with an audience like this, you decide to explore the topic either deeply or superficially, you could lose half of your listeners.

It is best in this case to speak as if everyone sitting in the hall has knowledge of the subject at an average level.

In this way, you can simplify your message somewhat and provide additional information that will help those who do not quite understand the subject to get to know it. At the same time, those who are well acquainted with this topic will not lose interest in your speech.

18. Consider the age of your listeners

If you are in your 70s or have someone close to this age limit, then you should know that people at this stage of life can tell a lot of stories and they like to go over their memories.

According to Aristotle, older people have an important feature: they prefer to talk about the past and about their own. life experience rather than speculate about the future.

On the other hand, if you are young or live with teenagers, then you know that at this stage of life people have little interest in the past - they prefer to plan and take risks, they are irreverent and impatient, and they are interested in the future.

The ability to recognize and understand the characteristics of different age groups is critical to the success of a performance.

Try to find out in advance which age group will dominate your audience. If this is not possible, you will be able to see it when you are in front of the audience. Don't worry about the modifications you have to make - your message will remain the same. The only thing you will have to change is how you will speak to suit the characteristics of your listeners.

If you notice that your audience is predominantly made up of young people, state your information in such a way that your presentation includes plans and a discussion of what might happen in the future or what needs to be done to fulfill those plans.

On the other hand, if your audience consists mainly of old people, include in your speech facts from the past and use the experience of your listeners to arouse their interest and motivate them to draw the conclusions that you would like to hear from them.

19. Make field changes as needed

Imagine an unpleasant situation in which you may find yourself. You have carefully prepared your speech, but when you are in front of the audience, you see that it is not at all what you expected.

Since public speaking makes most people nervous, such a mistake can have serious consequences.

In such a situation, it is best to forget everything that you have planned and create a completely different presentation, more appropriate to the situation, taking into account the intellectual abilities of your audience, their knowledge of the subject and age.

This new, impromptu performance, for all its imperfections, will no doubt prove to be more effective than the one you planned in advance. Although you have carefully prepared the initial speech, it will be very far from the reality of your listeners.

So prepare as thoroughly as you can, but stay vigilant and be prepared to change your game plan depending on which audience you have to speak to. You may be tempted to give a pre-prepared presentation because it seems safer to do so. But…

There is no point in trying to convey your message to people if they cannot understand and accept your goals and objectives.

You have nothing to lose if you muster up the courage and try to salvage the performance through improvisation, instead of doing a planned performance that is doomed to failure.

20. Can I hold a pen?

It may seem silly, but not a week goes by without a student asking me if it's okay to hold a pen while I'm speaking.

Most people report that they are relieved and not as nervous when holding a pen. Who am I to forbid that which brings confidence and serenity to the speaker? Obviously, if you can speak without holding anything in your hands, then your presentation will probably be even more effective.

To decide whether or not to hold a pen or any other object in your hands during a speech, analyze the context of your speech.

For example, if you plan to use a white plastic board as a visual aid and hold a marker in your hands while explaining various things to your listeners, then there is no problem at all, because the marker in your hands is a natural part of the context. In the same situation, a ballpoint pen (which cannot be written on a blackboard) falls out of context and can distract listeners. But the same ballpoint pen you're holding at your desk doesn't fall out of context because it can be used to take notes.

Sometimes we need to speak while holding several objects in our hands - a laser pointer, a microphone, a folder or a notepad. Even if you have both hands full, you can present your speech without distracting the attention of the audience, because all these subjects are part of the context.

21. Prepare the ground

When someone gradually removes one obstacle after another in order to achieve some particular goal, we say that he is setting the stage for himself.

This folk wisdom must be remembered when we encounter people who resist the topic of our speech.

When controversial things are being discussed, some people will approve of your message and others will not. It follows that your task is not to win those who already agree with you, but those whom you have yet to convert to your faith.

You must try to change the minds of those who think otherwise. Therefore, it would be wrong to express your view on the subject right from the threshold, because this will make those who resist harden, and it will be even more difficult to convince them.

No matter how much your point of view differs from those of your listeners, you can always find some common denominator.

Learn to identify these areas of understanding and use them as a "no man's land" where you can move safely.

A very simple rule applies here: start your speech by mentioning those things that make you related to your listeners, and people will agree with you.

After a while, your listeners will begin to think that because of these points of contact, you think the same way as they do. This will make them lose their guard, and they will follow with interest the course of your reasoning.

22. Do you think so, or do you know it?

Some people immediately get their hair on end when they hear someone say, "I'm thinking."

In the classroom, it is not uncommon for students to turn to me with a questioning expression when their classmate on the podium says, "I suppose" or "I think." They seem to say to me: “But he said:“ I think. Doesn't that undermine his authority and weaken the power of his convictions?"

Analyze the use of this expression in each specific situation and see if it fits the type of message you intend to convey to your listeners. To be honest, expressions like “I believe”, “I believe”, “I believe”, “I guess”, “I think” and others are usually great diplomatic means to avoid confrontation with people whose opinions differ from your own.

When I say “I think,” I am informing my listeners between the lines that I am aware that other people may think differently and that my opinion is not the only possible one.

Therefore, those who disagree with what I say do not feel challenged and are at least willing to listen to a completely different point of view without too much resistance.

However, the expression "I think" is not suitable for a situation where you must make a guess or give a solution to a problem that does not give room for error.

It would be unacceptable for a government minister to propose a series of measures that will affect the entire population of the country, accompanied by the words that he "thinks" that this is the best solution.

Therefore, in some situations, such words should be avoided, since they interfere with convincing the audience of something, while in other situations, these same words have the exact opposite effect: they help avoid conflict and convince listeners.

23. Fully Engage Your Listeners

If your speech is devoid of any content and is a collection of stories, jokes and quotes, then your listeners will laugh and may even give you a real standing ovation at the end. But they will leave the hall with a feeling of emptiness, with a feeling that it was fun, but they did not take anything out of your message.

Curiously, companies in this situation feel cheated, because they believe that by inviting a motivational speaker to speak to their employees, they are making a good investment. They often find that such a speech has little impact, and because no one seems to have learned anything, companies lament the wasted time and money. When people return to their work, they continue to do what they have always done and do not put into practice anything they hear.

If, on the other hand, your talk is purely content-driven and you think that this is the key to a successful presentation, then you are wrong, because your presentation will cause boredom rather than a source of motivation.

Build your presentation at the same time submission and content, because successful presentation depends on the proper combination of both of these elements.

The whole secret is to divide your speech into separate parts, connected by a common theme that would indicate their interdependence, but at the same time each part could be understood separately.

tell listeners a block of information,

tell interesting story or a joke to illustrate this information,

use visual aids to help people remember what you have said,

predict future results that will surprise everyone or benefit everyone,

and move on to the next section.

And so you go through your entire talk, section by section, captivating your listeners and conveying an important message to them.

24. Questions: before, during or after?

There are situations when it is better to move all questions to the beginning of the presentation, while in other cases it is better to save them until the end of the presentation.

There are also situations when it is best to ask listeners which option they prefer.

If you are fluent in the topic of the report, you can invite the audience to ask questions as you speak, allowing you to interact with people as you speak.

If your knowledge of the subject is limited, then it is better not to risk getting a question at the very beginning of the report that you cannot answer. In this case, it is better to leave all the questions at the end of the presentation.

If you know your subject well and the audience is small(less than a hundred people), you can let the audience ask you questions at the very beginning, since in this scenario you will be able to keep the situation under control.

But if the audience is large(more than a hundred people), it would be better if people ask questions at the end.

If your presentation time is limited(and is less than half an hour), you should only allow questions at the end of your presentation, because if you answer them during the speech, it will be difficult for you to stick to the schedule and fully state your message.

If the intellectual capacity of your audience is not great, or the audience knows very little about the subject of your presentation, then it will be better if they ask questions only at the end of your report. Limited knowledge and/or understanding of the audience may cause people to ask inappropriate or uncomfortable questions, due to which people's interest in your performance will weaken.

25. When to use visual aids?

Be careful. Visual audiovisual aids are great, but if used incorrectly, they will put a spoke in your wheel.

First of all, you need to decide when exactly to use these benefits.

It's hard to imagine a good presentation without visual aids. This clearly illustrates the fact that:

If we deliver our message orally, then in three days the audience will remember only 10 percent what was said;

If the same message is accompanied visual audiovisual materials, then in the same three days people will remember 65 percent heard.

An effective visual aid should solve three problems:

Emphasize important information;

Help listeners to follow the course of the speaker's reasoning;

Help people remember what they heard for a longer time.

When making a visual aid, always ask yourself: does it serve these three purposes?

If the answer is yes, then go ahead and use this guide during your presentation. However, if the answer to at least one of the three questions is negative, you should carefully consider how useful this manual is and whether you should refuse it.

You should forget about visual aids if their only purpose is:

Make your performance more attractive;

Replace information that could be conveyed to listeners orally;

Serve as a kind of guide for you, or, worse, imitate other speakers who always use visual aids.

Discard visual aids even if they are expensive and time consuming to produce that cannot be justified by the end result or the importance of your presentation.

26. Ten basic rules for creating effective visual aids

Let me suggest you a few useful advice to create useful visual aids.

1. Give them names.

A good title should be clear, simple, and just a few words long. Usually the name is placed at the top.

2. Use accompanying captions.

Colored bars and horizontal lines remain colored bars and horizontal lines unless provided with captions. Make labels easier to see by rounding numbers.

3. Write legibly.

Use large letters, large enough for everyone in the lecture hall to read.

4. Limit the number of fonts you use.

Your visual aids can be made more consistent by using no more than three different fonts.

5. Use short sentences.

Each sentence should express one idea in a minimum number of words. As a rule, six or seven words are sufficient.

6. Write text in several lines.

General guidance: If you are using a horizontal visual aid, it should have six or seven lines. If vertical, then the number of lines can be increased to eight or nine.

7. Use different colors.

Use, but don't abuse them. Use contrasting colors to emphasize important information, and unless absolutely necessary, limit yourself to three or four different colors in one visual aid.

8. One visual aid should contain one idea.

Identify main idea messages and present it.

9. Each visual aid should contain only one illustration.

Illustrations should clarify your message and make the information easier to understand. One illustration for one visual aid is enough.

10. Remove anything that might interfere with your message.

Leave only the information that contributes to understanding.

27. Dress appropriately

When deciding what you will wear for a performance, keep the following in mind.

Profession. Observe how professionals in your field usually dress. For example, a male director of a financial company or a lawyer is expected to appear in a suit and tie, while women in the same positions are expected to appear in formal attire. However, it is perfectly natural for athletes to perform in public in informal attire.

Epoch. It is equally unsuitable to look old-fashioned or so ultra-fashionable (having watched a fashion show on TV the night before) as if you had just flown in from Mars.

Officiality. It's best to dress appropriately for the occasion, but if you're in doubt as to what the dress code is for an event, go there in formal attire.

Habits. If you regularly purchase for yourself new clothes there is nothing better than getting a new outfit for a performance. If you rarely buy new clothes, choose what you are comfortable in, because people often feel uncomfortable in new clothes.

Style. Regardless of everything else, your style plays an important role; that is, in what kind of clothes you feel at ease. If possible, choose clothes that are comfortable for you and that reflect your style, making some adjustments to them, focusing on the field of activity and a specific event.

28. Speak loudly and clearly

When you get to the place where you're supposed to be speaking—a meeting room, lecture hall, or classroom—take a look at the environment so you know how you'll have to direct your voice.

Analyze the acoustics of the room, the distance to the back rows of chairs, check if there is a microphone in the room. In short, consider all the little things that can affect the volume of your voice. Based on all this, you can estimate how loudly you will need to speak.

You should not shout when talking to one or two people - so that they do not feel annoyed and want to resist.

However, you should not whisper when speaking in front of a large audience, because it will not be easy for your listeners to make out what you are saying, as a result of which they may quickly lose interest in your speech.

However, always try to speak a little louder than necessary because this will demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the subject. If you are speaking to a group of 20 people, speak as if there were 50 people in the audience; if your audience is 50 people, speak as if you were speaking in front of 80-100 people. In this way, it will be easier for you to maintain the enthusiasm and attention of your listeners.

But don't forget to set the stage for people to be passionate about the way you express yourself. If you simply raise your voice, it will only demonstrate your own enthusiasm, while your unmotivated listeners will behave like spectators who do not take the slightest part in your performance.

29. Keep talking fast

From time to time someone complains to me that he speaks too fast and that he needs to learn to speak more slowly.

“Mr. Teacher, I speak too fast. If there was a communication radar, then I would have received a ticket for speeding a long time ago.

But can you speak more slowly?

No, because I think very fast. When I try to speak slower, I can't think properly and start to feel dumb.

“Well, if things are as you describe, how are you going to speak more slowly?”

Be careful, because by trying to develop a quality that you consider important (the speed that you think is appropriate), you can have a negative impact on a much more important quality - the flow of ideas.

If this applies to you, then continue to speak quickly, but develop techniques that suit your characteristics.

Make sure you have clear diction.

If you learn to pronounce words clearly, even if you speak quickly, people will understand you and perceive your message.

Pause after each argument.

When you're done with your reasoning, pause and change the inflection of your voice to indicate that you're done. Thus, people will be able to digest the information they hear.

Repeat important information.

Get in the habit of repeating important information in different words to make it easier for your audience to understand your message.

If you clearly pronounce words, pause at the right places, and repeat important information, you can transform your habit of speaking quickly into an effective communication style.

30. Keep talking slowly

From time to time someone complains that he speaks too slowly.

“Mr. Teacher, I need to change the way I speak because I speak too slowly.

But can you speak faster?

- No, because when I speak, I like to build everything that I want to say in my head.

“And do you really believe you can speak faster?” You are so preoccupied with planning what you are going to say from the beginning to the end of your speech that if you try to speak faster, it will go against your nature and reduce the effectiveness of your communication.

If this is you, then keep talking slowly, but develop techniques that are useful for slow speakers.

Keep looking at your listeners.

When you pause, keep looking at your listeners. Thus, you will not break contact with the audience.

Resume the performance with more pressure.

When you start talking again after a long pause, put a little more pressure and energy into your words to show that you are carefully choosing the information you want to convey to your listeners; this will help avoid the impression that you have fallen into a stupor.

Take proper breaks.

When you pause, use your intonation to indicate that you are going to continue speaking, and pause after you have presented the idea.

Get rid of "hmm" and "well" during pauses.

Learn to be patient and silently wait for the right words to come to you. In this way, you will get rid of the most common drawback of slow-talking people.

If you take all these precautions, you can continue to speak slowly and you will be able to turn this feature of yourself into good style communications.

31. Set your speech rhythm

Boo-boo-boo, boo-boo-boo, boo-boo-boo. Monotonously and at a constant speed.

It doesn't matter how interesting the subject of the speech is - there is hardly a single living soul who can withstand a monotonously mumbling speaker for a long time.

This is the best sleeping pill, specially designed to put listeners into a deep sleep.

If you always speak at the same speed and volume, without any inflections marking pauses in sentences, very soon your listeners will begin to nod and you will be able to enjoy the spectacle of bowing heads.

If you are speaking in public, then, regardless of the situation, try to give your speech a rhythm, make it more colorful and attractive.

Speak faster, slower, louder, quieter. Whisper if necessary if that will help engage your audience and keep them interested in what you are saying.

Watch famous speakers and see how they magnetically draw listeners in, setting a melodic rhythm to their speech from beginning to end. Practice modulation and rhythm by reading the verses aloud. Long and short pauses between lines of a poem will help you practice this important conversational skill and make your communication style more interesting and effective.

Don't wait for long and important speeches to put this advice into practice: grab every opportunity (when talking with friends, family members, and colleagues) to make rhythm a natural part of your communication.

32. Good pronunciation

Let's look at two extremes...

First imagine a person who received a very a good education using grammar correctly and pronouncing words clearly. And then imagine an uneducated person who makes all sorts of grammatical errors and has a monstrous pronunciation. No matter what additional information you have about these people, you will immediately detect the intellectual sophistication of the former and the ignorance of the latter.

You will be judged by how you speak, so try to speak as clearly as possible. It will be easier for your listeners to understand you, and you will give the impression of intellectual sophistication, and this will give you more authority in the eyes of the audience.

However, you should not obsessively think about the pronunciation of individual sounds during a speech, because this will make your speech sound artificial.

Practice reading the exercises out loud for two to three minutes a day with something in your mouth (for example, put your bent index finger between your teeth) and try to pronounce the words as correctly as possible. After a week of these exercises, you will find that it has become much easier for you to pronounce the words.

Until your speech improves naturally, put up with your poor pronunciation - it's better than trying to speak correctly and making your speech sound artificial.

33. How to use a microphone on a stand

People often tell me about their fear of microphones.

“Just put the microphone in front of me and I will start stuttering. It's weird, but I feel like the microphone is stealing my thoughts and I can't think properly."

This is why some speakers choose not to use a microphone at all, even when speaking in front of a large audience. And, of course, after a few minutes of such a performance, their voice begins to sound tired. In more severe cases, such speakers can lose their voice, like football fans after an important game.

However, most people are afraid of microphones only because they do not know how to use them correctly.

Since people are not familiar with the microphone, they consider it a strange instrument that is not clear how to use it. Fear of the unknown makes people feel squeezed in the presence of a microphone. All this is exacerbated by the fact that the microphone is associated with performing in front of a large audience, at a radio station or in a television studio.

If you must use a floor microphone:

set it at about chin level, usually ten centimeters from your mouth, and take into account the sensitivity of the equipment.

always speak into the microphone while looking over it; rotate your torso slightly from side to side so that the microphone is always in front of your mouth;

never lean closer to the microphone, because such a posture gives the impression of weakness.

adjust the height of the microphone stand and speak as if there is no microphone.

34. How to use a handheld microphone

Although speaking while holding the microphone in your hand is easy, you must take some precautions.

Some people pick up a microphone, but speak as if it is not there. They stand up, gesticulate with a microphone, causing amazement of their listeners and distracting them with flailing hand movements. And that's not to mention that it's impossible to hear your voice if you're waving the microphone around.

If you must speak with a microphone in your hand:

hold it at chin level, and turn your hand into a microphone stand, always keeping it in the same position;

to find the correct height and distance to your mouth, simply hang your arm along your body, then bend it and bring the microphone to your mouth; this will be the correct position of the microphone, which can best convey your voice;

holding the microphone in your hand, you can walk in front of the audience, holding their attention; even if you must speak into a microphone that is mounted on a tripod, table or music stand, take the microphone in your hands and move with it; this will give your presentation dynamism and encourage the audience to focus on your message;

try not to shift the microphone from one hand to the other too often; it can distract listeners and give away your discomfort, which will damage your image; if you make this movement once or twice in your entire performance and it goes unnoticed by the audience, it may look completely natural.

35. How to use a miniature lapel microphone

When choosing which microphone to use during a performance, you may be asked if you intend to use a miniature lapel microphone.

In this case, there is always an impulse to say yes, because, in general, such microphones work well. They allow you to walk in front of the audience and leave your hands free so you can grab a folder, a laser pointer and whatever else you need.

But be careful, because such miniature microphones vary greatly in quality.

I can tell by own experience that most chest microphones are less sensitive than traditional, both wired and wireless, the use of which (on a tripod or in hands) we have already talked about.

When using a lapel microphone, try to attach it to your clothing as close to your mouth as possible.

If the sound is still quiet, do not hesitate to replace the miniature microphone with a traditional one, as the sound quality in the latter is much better.

The headset is so good that I suggest you get your own if you regularly perform in front of an audience.

Because this headset may not always fit into the speaker system in lecture halls, it's a good idea to bring your own plugs, cables, and connectors. This way you always have equipment you can rely on to give you a great performance.

36. Analyze your vocabulary

If you have ever had concerns about the poverty of your vocabulary, welcome to the club of mere mortals.

My students often complain about the lack of vocabulary or how difficult it is for them to find the words to properly express their thoughts. In such a situation, I ask the person to specifically identify his difficulties. After that, complainers almost always talk for five minutes about their problems and how they suffer because they are speechless standing in front of an audience, unable to find the right words.

However, oddly enough, none of these people have trouble finding words to describe their vocabulary woes.

As a rule, the problem lies in our attitude to the vocabulary, and not in the vocabulary itself.

If, speaking to a group of people in official setting, you will use the same words that you use in everyday conversations with friends, family members and colleagues, your vocabulary will be more than enough to express any ideas.

It may happen that in a formal setting you will express yourself in different words than you usually use, use a more complex sentence structure - in this case, you may encounter difficulties in expressing your thoughts. If you are not trying to do this, then congratulations, as you already know what to do.

But if you feel that the latter description suits you, try to speak in a formal setting as you speak in ordinary life, and you will see that the right words will come to you.

37. Show a red card to obscene language

If there is a reliable and fast way damage your own image and undermine the credibility of your speech, is the use of obscene expressions.

Some people naively believe that the use of swear words and slang will help them come across as natural and relaxed.

On the contrary, the use of such expressions worsens the image of a person and undermines confidence in him.

Pay particular attention to this as you interact with your customers, suppliers, and other professionals more frequently, because frequent communication can help you relax and use swear words more freely. Slowly, and without even realizing it, you will turn into someone who is said to have the talent to scratch his tongue, but who lacks the professional respect necessary for success. In a formal setting, especially in a professional setting, your language should be free from swear words and slang.

I'm not saying you should never use slang or swear words. In a close circle of family and friends, depending on the circumstances, these words can be part of effective communication.

It is unlikely that you will be able to make your friends laugh if you tell them a joke without slang or obscene expressions over a glass of beer - it will seem too insipid to them.

But indiscriminate use of such expressions can damage your image and even reputation in general. It's too risky, so ensure good communication by giving the vulgarities a red card and getting them off the field.

38. Be careful with tricky words

When addressing a large group of people, remember that not all of them have received a good education.

Therefore, it is best not to use unusual words indiscriminately. If you do this, then there is a risk that when you get to the middle of your speech, half the audience will be desperately trying to figure out what you were talking about at the very beginning. Since people will not be able to understand the meaning of your words, they will not be able to follow the course of your reasoning and will stop paying attention to your presentation.

Oral communication means that the message is received very quickly; listeners cannot go back to things they did not understand the first time, as can be done in the case of printed text. Therefore, words that are not found in our daily life can make it difficult for people to understand your presentation and distract them.

The extra effort they have to spend on understanding will cause them to turn to their own thoughts and stop following the presentation. The only exception is good educated people, because even if they do not know the meaning of a single word, they are able to understand it from the general context. But since such an audience is rare, it is better not to risk it.

Remember, if the audience cannot understand your message or follow through with it, you are responsible.

If you are honest with yourself, you may find that you simply do not know how to adapt the information presented to the intellectual capabilities of the listeners or did not put the necessary effort into this.

39. Save technical jargon for conversations with colleagues

Perhaps you work in a professional field that has its own professional jargon.

Current law and case law are legal terms adopted in the legal environment. Gross domestic product and per capita income are expressions used by managers and economists. The use of these expressions when communicating with people who are not familiar with law, business management or economics can be serious communication error.

If you communicate with professionals in a particular field using a specific vocabulary, this not only makes it easier to understand, but also creates a favorable image for you.

But using the same words with non-professionals can jeopardize the success of your presentation.

Technical terms adopted in various professional fields are very useful and effective when communicating with colleagues. However, using these terms when communicating with outsiders who do not know the meaning of these words can make it difficult to understand and interfere with the perception of your speech.

Even at work, when referring to employees from other departments, you need to use a professional dictionary very carefully.

If you are not sure that people will understand you, do not take risks: translate technical expressions and speak plain language so that everyone can understand your message and follow the flow of reasoning.

40. Use foreign words carefully

The best thing to do when using foreign words is to avoid extremes.

Globalization has opened the way for a wide cultural exchange, and as a result, foreign expressions penetrate across national borders into other languages.

Some outspoken nationalists demand a complete ban on the use of foreign expressions, arguing that they pollute the purity of their native language. However, such radicalism loses sight of the dynamism of language.

Throughout history, all languages have naturally absorbed foreign words, especially if they denoted new goods and concepts.

And again, we must examine the characteristics of the listeners to decide whether the use of foreign expressions can be beneficial. If, for example, you are addressing a group of people who often communicate in a foreign language, a few words in that language will naturally please them. On the other hand, if you are addressing people who do not know any foreign language, then the use of foreign words can provoke a negative reaction. It all depends on the people with whom you want to communicate.

If you use foreign expressions, give preference to those that do not have exact equivalents in your native language; pay special attention to pronouncing foreign words correctly.

There is nothing funnier than a situation when a person tries to use an expression in a foreign language, but pronounces it incorrectly.

41. Expressive body language

In any presentation, pay close attention to your body language.

Whether you're speaking in public, at a small business meeting or an important conference, your body language will always be the foundation of your success.

Avoid talking with your hands in your pockets, crossed over your chest, or behind your back. Try to recognize if you have a habit of clenching your fists, or scratching your head, or some other unconscious habit that may be distracting your listeners.

Your gestures should be moderate and harmoniously accompany the rhythm and pace of your speech.

Try to keep everything your hand gestures were above waist level; hold your hands in a certain position until you state a piece of information, after which you can return them to a relaxed position.

At some moments, the arms in a relaxed position should be at the level of the belt, at others, they should hang down on the sides of the body. This change in posture will make your presentation seem more natural and spontaneous. Do not sway from toe to heel, do not spread your legs too wide or press them together.

Watch carefully to do not move senselessly around the stage. You can and should move in front of the audience, but only if these movements have some purpose, for example, to emphasize what you have said, or to attract the attention of those who have begun to lose focus.

When you look at people in the audience, you can tell by their reactions whether they are following your line of reasoning, agreeing with it, and absorbing your message.

If you notice a lack of interest, disagreement, or difficulty in understanding, you can quickly change your approach and modify the material in such a way that it piques the interest of your listeners.

Another purpose of eye contact is to demonstrate your understanding of value and respect for the people in the audience.

When you look at people, your eyes should not roam over them, like a person who remembers something that he has learned by heart. You should not cast too quick glances at the audience, so you simply will not be able to see people, or move your eyes around the hall without turning your head.

“Look” at the audience with your whole body: when you look at people to your left, turn your torso and head towards them so that you look directly at this part of the audience. When looking at people to your right, do the same.

When you turn your torso and head, in addition to being able to see the reaction of the listeners, you show people gratitude for the fact that they came to listen to you, which the listeners will certainly appreciate.

These movements will help you achieve the third goal - the movements make your posture more free and natural.

43. Plan your speech well

The only way to guarantee the success of your speech is to prepare it step by step.

In any presentation, four main stages can be distinguished: introduction (introduction), preparation, main topic and conclusion (conclusions).

Introduction is the first part of your presentation. This is where you must do everything in your power to hypnotize the audience. At this stage, you should set yourself the following goals:

Make listeners sympathize with you, please them;

Attract the attention of the audience and arouse its interest;

Disarm your listeners and overcome any resistance.

Training This is the moment of laying the foundation. At this point, you analyze how well your audience is familiar with the subject of your speech, and try to provide the audience with information that will make it easier to understand the material. Right at this moment you specify what you will talk about, what problem you will solve and what aspects of the topic you intend to discuss.

Main theme is the most important part of the presentation, because this is where you set out your argumentation system. At this stage, on the basis of the laid foundation, you build your argument, solve the problem and keep all the promises. This is where you counter-arguments and refute any objections from the audience.

Conclusion is the part of the presentation that you return to the essence of your message and ask listeners to reflect on or act on the message.

44. Don't start with jokes

... And here you are standing in front of the audience, looking at the audience as if you are going to throw out something very funny and say: "Did you hear the joke about the parrot? .."

Alas, starting your speech with a joke, you can put it in jeopardy.

When you have to speak in front of an audience, take this advice into your arsenal: avoid starting your speech with jokes. I said "avoid" because sometimes - very rarely - it works, but it's very risky.

The beginning is the hardest part of the presentation. It is at this point that you must find the most appropriate place to stand in front of the audience, trying to determine how you should direct your voice and deciding how best to win over the audience. It is at this moment that you feel the maximum release of adrenaline and, naturally, experience anxiety and discomfort. For all these reasons, starting a speech with a joke is a bad idea.

Imagine standing in front of an audience, nervous, telling a joke, and it turns out not to be funny. You will become so upset that you are unlikely to recover before the end of the performance and will not be able to concentrate properly.

You may disagree with me because you are going to tell your listeners a really funny joke. But don't forget that good jokes travel fast a short time become widely known. And no matter how good your joke is, if it is "with a beard", it will no longer amuse the audience.

If you really need to joke, do it towards the middle of your presentation, when you and your audience are more relaxed.

45. Don't start with an apology

Apologizing is not always a sign of good manners.

In certain circumstances, it may demonstrate a lack of tact. For example, if you start your speech by apologizing for some physical problem, such as a headache, a cold, or the flu, you will draw unnecessary attention from your audience to something that might have gone unnoticed.

If you start by apologizing for a sore throat and asking your listeners to accept that your voice might be going down, you will get people to focus on your voice and they will start thinking, “Oops, your voice is going down!”

Do not apologize for not knowing the topic (first of all, if you do not know the subject, then what are you doing on the speaker's podium? If you are really not ready to speak, this will become clear to everyone very soon).

But if you have already told them that you know nothing about the topic of the report, it will be difficult for you to arouse people's interest in what you will tell.

I'm not saying that you should never apologize. I'm only talking about apologizing at the beginning of the speech for health problems or ignorance of the topic.

If you're late for a conference or for a talk you're due to give, people will naturally expect you to apologize.

46. Capture the attention of the audience

If the audience is not paying attention to what you are saying, your presentation has failed. So make an effort to arouse the interest of your listeners from the very beginning.

Say something that will cause the effect of an exploding bomb.

If you notice that your listeners are lost in their dreams, mentally wandering somewhere far away, or their interest is starting to fade, say something that immediately grabs their attention.

Say something funny.

Always be sensitive to the details that arise in the context of your talk or the general atmosphere of the meeting, present them artistically and make them funny.

Tell an interesting story.

Most people love good stories. Here is a very simple and effective tactic: start telling good story and people will be interested in it. And then tie that story into the subject you're going to introduce your listeners to, and you'll have a willing and engaged audience.

Give them food for thought.

Stimulate the audience with an interesting question, preferably related directly or indirectly to the topic of the speech.

Show the audience what it means to them.

Make no mistake: people are EGOCENTRIC, and you can only get them to pay close attention to your lecture if they feel that the lecture has something to offer them.

If people believe that your presentation can bring them some benefit, security, prestige, professional growth or confirm their philosophical principles, they will be attentive and interested in receiving your message. Therefore, at the very beginning, emphasize the benefits that the audience will receive from your speech.

47. Cut off the platitudes

If the audience likes your talk and likes to act on your suggestions, guess who gets the credit? To you! Go celebrate your success.

On the other hand, if the listeners look apathetic and disinterested, guess who is responsible? Again, you. Go away and sprinkle ashes on your head.

There is one important lesson we need to learn - there is no disinterested audience; there are uninteresting speakers.

It makes no sense to blame the audience, because an experienced lecturer can always lead the audience to where they want to go. And if you failed to do this or did something wrong, you can only blame yourself for this. Therefore, cut off the platitudes and make your report interesting.

Surprise your audience with unexpected information, give them something they didn't expect. And do this at the very beginning of the speech, because this is the most opportune moment to arouse the interest of the audience.

Instead of saying, “This meeting is about next semester’s sales tasks,” surprise your listeners with statements like, “We are here to crush our competitors,” or, “Based on the numbers we are going to discuss, I see that we are leading by a wide margin,” or even “Competitors will have to arm themselves with binoculars to see us far ahead.” You know how to present information from a new angle and arouse interest in your message.

Start thinking, cut off all the platitudes, be special and grab the audience's attention.

48. Formulate the topic of the speech

Someone enters your office and starts talking about something, but no matter how hard you try, you can't figure out what it is. Familiar state?

If you were told at the very beginning, in one or two sentences, what topic the visitors will talk about and why they came to you, it would be much easier for you to follow their logic from beginning to end.

Perhaps this is one of the most common communication mistakes - not to inform listeners or readers (because this rule also applies to writing) about the topic that you intend to discuss.

Although the sentence by which you inform your listeners about the topic of your speech should be simple and short, it should be well worded so that it can be easily understood.

Think carefully and write a sentence that clearly articulates the content of your message.

It should tell the audience what you intend to discuss and set the general tone for your message. Your way of speaking should indicate whether your presentation is humorous, serious, stimulating or motivating, thus preparing the audience for what happens next.

In some cases, this sentence should not be too explicit, because the topic follows from the context.

49. A problem for every solution

You may be used to hearing that every problem has a solution. In this case, the opposite is true: for each solution there is a problem.

If you think about it, you will understand that the purpose of most presentations is to solve some problem. However, you should not assume that the audience is as familiar with the problem as you are.

When you structure your message so that the audience can understand it, if you decide that your task is to offer a solution to a problem, you must first formulate the problem itself so that people can follow your reasoning. How can they approve a decision if they don't know what the problem is?

After you greet the audience and tell them what you're talking about, explain the problem to be solved. At first, it may seem to you that by telling people the topic of the report, you are also showing them the problem, but it is not always as obvious to the audience as it is to you.

If, for example, you want to discuss airport problems in your city and suggest ways to solve them, you can say the following: “As most of you know, our airport is overworked. In the past two years alone, the number of flights departing from our airport has increased by more than 60 percent, greatly increasing the risk of plane crashes in densely populated areas.”

50. Explain how it all happened

Is your information new?

If so, then be very careful, because if you tell it to the audience without first preparing the ground, it may be difficult for the listeners to understand the essence of your presentation.

Remember that people are not always ready to accept this or that message.

If you think it will be difficult for listeners to understand new, modern or cutting-edge developments, lend them a helping hand.

To make it easier for people to absorb new information, tell them about the backstory, discuss the past, and explain how things have happened up until now.

When the listeners learn how events unfolded and realize what transformations accompanied it, they will naturally understand the meaning of the new message that you are ready to carry to them.

For example, if you have to talk about a machine that automatically produces packaging boxes, help the audience understand the benefits of automating the process by explaining how the first such machines worked in a time when boxes were almost made by hand. Tell us about the problems associated with this and the improvements made since the first machine tools to the present day. People will be interested in how difficulties were overcome and innovations appeared, and this is how you get to the modern equipment that your talk is about.

51. Don't fall in love with any argument

When defending an idea, use your arguments skillfully, but don't fall in love with any of them.

If you insist on any one argument, there is a risk that you will repeat it so often that you will inevitably weaken the power of its persuasiveness.

If the argument is good, then its repetition should not be too noticeable, because its importance will speak for itself, and all listeners will realize it.

At the right time, if you feel the need to repeat this argument, try to do so using different words, as if looking at the idea from a different angle.

There is another important precaution to keep in mind if you are dealing with solid, reliable arguments - you must prepare these arguments before the presentation.

Let the intellect and reason prevail over anxiety, which can literally destroy everything. When we know that we have a brilliant argument, we tend to want to present it as soon as possible so that we can bask in the glory of our triumph.

But haste can spoil everything if we draw our precious weapons at the wrong time. And if that happens, then we will have to repeat this argument over and over again, trying to assure the audience that we have some kind of logic that they are not able to see.

Therefore, be vigilant and careful, using the most convincing arguments. Present them to the audience at the most opportune moment so that the listeners can fully enjoy your best argument; do not repeat it too often, so as not to deprive it of persuasiveness.

52. Make the most of your arguments

You won't always have brilliant arguments to defend your idea; sometimes you have to use weaker arguments.

In such cases, you need present arguments in a specific order that will increase the chances of success.

Start by making a list of all your arguments - review your weapons. After writing down all the arguments that you can remember, determine the weight of each of them (for example, on a scale from 1 to 10). As you calibrate your arguments, try to go beyond your own assessments and preferences and imagine how those arguments will be perceived by your listeners.

After determining the weight of the arguments, divide them into four categories:

acceptable;

Good;

Brilliant.

If you find that you cannot divide your arguments into four groups, try to divide them into two or three groups.

Once you've categorized your arguments, you're ready to develop your attack plan.

1. Start with good argument- not the best, but good enough to grab people's attention, create expectations, and motivate listeners to pay attention to your message.

2. Then present to the audience the weakest argument(but not the one you abandoned because of its inconsistency that could jeopardize your strategy).

3. After that, list increasingly persuasive evidence until you get to that argument that you consider the most effective and practically irrefutable.

53. Help listeners understand your message

There is no point in presenting your arguments with brilliance and technical accuracy if the listeners do not understand your intentions.

So when you give your audience a piece of information, make sure people understand you correctly.

If they need additional help to understand this information, illustrate the material presented. By illustration I mean clarification, clarification and illumination of the material.

You can use real and even fictional history to help listeners understand your message. Fables, parables and true stories work great. During technical presentations, where the lecturer is expected to be objective, objective, and concise, it is best to use examples as illustrations.

Examples not only help listeners to better understand the message, as they are closely related to the topic of the report, but also act as an argument.

Illustrations can be of benefit to all listeners, but are especially useful if you are speaking to uneducated people who may find it difficult to follow complex reasoning.

When choosing a story as an illustration, try not to tell the ones that lecturers and speakers usually use, because such worn stories, instead of clarifying your message, will only make the listeners lose all interest in it.

Give preference to new stories that you have read or heard during conversations.

54. Use the right strategy

Be careful! You can be defeated in an argument, even if you serve a good cause. An acceptable idea, if skillfully presented, can defeat a great idea.

So before jumping into the attack to counter the counterarguments, find out what needs to be done in order to increase the chances of success. In disputes, the opposing side usually brings arguments of varying quality. Some of them are great, others are just good, others are acceptable, and one or two may be weak.

Regardless of the order in which your opponent makes these arguments, refute them in the order that will make your presentation more effective.

Consider this: Your opponent's strength is not in his weak arguments. Therefore, by refuting them at the very beginning, you will not gain much, because your counterattack will not affect the more convincing arguments in any way.

It is best to suppress the instinctive urge to start by refuting the weakest arguments and save them for dessert.

Start by touching briefly on a collection of the strongest arguments, even though you know you can't refute them, and then work your way down the stairs to your opponent's increasingly weaker arguments. It is clear that the more vulnerable the argument, the easier it is to refute.

Even if you can't refute many of the arguments, when you completely smash the opponent's last argument - the weakest one - you will give the impression that this was your last in a series of victories.

55. Save the best for last

Experienced lecturers often come to my classes to improve a small and seemingly insignificant communication skill, which, however, plays a crucial role for those who must speak in public: the ability to close a speech.

If the end of a speech is difficult even for eloquent lecturers, you can imagine what happens to those who take their first steps in the field of public speaking. Most people just capitulate when it comes to the end of a performance. They usually use the last sentence as if they have additional information in store. Then, after a long pause that feels like an eternity, they mumble something like, "That's it, thanks."

You end your speech perfectly if you do it at the right moment, that is, when you have already told the audience everything you wanted and convinced them of the correctness of your ideas.

At this point, you should use a tone of voice that signals the end of your speech and that allows the audience to think about or act on your message.

Remember, the quality of your conclusion is extremely important to the overall success of your presentation, but the tone of voice that indicates that you are ending can be even more important in certain circumstances.

Listeners need to be informed not only about the facts, but also about the emotions of your final message.

56. Best Ways to End a Performance

Here are a few ways to end a speech that work well.

Ask the audience to think about something.

In general, the audience is inclined to continue your chain of reasoning, and there is a high probability that they will take your suggestions into service.

Use a quote.

When you quote someone who is respected by the audience, it not only inspires admiration for your knowledge, but also highlights your knowledge of the subject.

Call to action.

This is one of the most effective ways to end a speech, especially in situations where immediate action is needed.

Refer to the event.

This kind of conclusion works great when the atmosphere and context of the message is closely related to the presence of the listeners.

Sincerely praise your listeners.

Genuine praise can remove any remaining audience resistance and please your listeners.

Mention some historical fact.

A historical fact related to the context of the report will not only help listeners connect the story with your message, but also remember the information they heard for a longer period.

Say something funny.

It's an easy and fun way to end a talk, and the more connected it is to the content of the talk, the more effective it will be in terms of persuading the audience.

Take advantage of circumstances.

Circumstances associated with a particular person, place, or time provide excellent opportunities to show how successfully the speaker identifies with the audience, and this helps to get rid of the remnants of their resistance.

57. Know how to improvise

Speaking offhand does not mean that you are inventing information.

If you think that impromptu is to stand in front of an audience and just rely on the circumstances to come up with exactly what you want to say, then you are mistaken. It would be irresponsible, naive and could damage your public image and reputation.

An impromptu speech, unlike what many people think about it, is just a presentation with a report without proper preparation. It implies that you must simultaneously speak and plan your presentation.

The secret of improvisation is very simple: before you turn to the topic of the speech, you start talking about something that you know very well. For example, you might mention something related to your work or hobby, recall an excerpt from a book you just read, a scene from a movie that made a big impression on you, a challenge you were given that you responded to, an episode from your life or the lives of your friends.

While you are talking about things that you know very well, you will be able to plan the sequence of presentation of the material in your report.

Later, you will clearly be able to find a connection between the information presented at the very beginning and the main message.

Since listeners tend to take what they hear as a whole, they will tend to believe that you know what you are talking about - even if your knowledge is limited only to what you said at the very beginning of your speech, and you have very little knowledge about the main topic. vague presentation.

58. Public Reading

Most people don't know how public reading works, for two reasons...

First, they had few opportunities in life to practice it.

Secondly, because they did it without any technical criteria.

Look at your audience. During longer pauses and at the end of sentences, look at your listeners. This will show them that you are reading for them. Make sure you look at the different sections of the lecture room.

In order not to lose the right place when you look at the audience, mark it with your thumb so that you always know exactly where you stopped.

Hold the page at the correct height. Keep the page level chest, so you can see the text clearly, and the sheet of paper will not obscure your face from the audience.

Keep gestures to a minimum. Gesticulation during public reading should be moderate. Less than six gestures should be made while reading a page.

It's better to make only a few gestures to emphasize the most important information than to constantly interrupt reading by lowering the page and quickly picking it up again, as if you have changed your mind. If you are very inexperienced and you find it difficult to gesticulate, then it is better to do without gestures at all.

Label text. Use vertical lines between words to indicate the most expressive pauses. This marking does not have to match the grammar rules.

59. Use reference materials

The written plan is simple and easy to use.

On a piece of paper, write a few sentences that will help you remember the sequence of presentation of the material.

Each sentence should contain one idea, that is, the idea that you want to convey to the audience.

When you are standing in front of an audience, you should read the sentence and then make a few comments, critique, praise it, elaborate on it, or link to other information—and do this until you are done with that particular aspect of the report. Then move on to the next sentence, and so on. Thus, by reading and discussing the proposals, you will be able to make a good presentation.

The advantage of having a written outline is that it ensures that you cover all the important aspects of your presentation in the right order, while still being able to freely navigate through the documents.

During simple presentations, you can use the memo. The principle of working with them is different from using a written plan. On a small, palm-sized piece of cardboard, write down the most important words from your presentation in the order in which you will say them, as well as the numbers and dates you need to mention.

Please note that these reference materials differ from each other:

the written plan consists of sentences containing a complete idea that need to be read aloud;

memo contains only keywords, which will help you present the material in the desired sequence.

60. How to deal with fear of public speaking

Let me offer you some useful recommendations for all occasions in the life of an orator.

1. Know exactly, literally verbatim, what you are going to say at the very beginning of the speech.

2. Always have a written outline with you that outlines the main sections of your presentation. It will make you feel more relaxed.

4. When you go to the podium in front of the audience, do not rush to start the report. Take a deep breath in and out, adjust the height of the microphone, look around the audience, and slowly begin to speak in a slightly muffled voice. Thanks to this, you will not look nervous.

5. At the beginning, when you are still nervous about being the center of attention, if there is a board of directors in the hall at the table of honor, greet each member of the board calmly. This will help you get through the first and most difficult moments of the performance.

6. When you are already standing at the place where you plan to make your presentation, before you start talking, stop obsessively thinking about what you are going to say. Focus on what others are doing and try to distract yourself a bit.

7. If you are very nervous, put your hands on a table or lectern and let them stay there until you calm down.

8. Before the performance, practice on colleagues or close friends. Be sure to practice answering possible questions and prepare for objections so they don't catch you off guard.

9. If you get stuck, don't panic. Say, "That's what I really mean..." This will allow you to rephrase what was said and present it from a different angle. If that doesn't work, tell the audience that you will come back to this question later.

10. All of the tips above will help you in public speaking, but there is nothing more effective than good preparation. Use every minute to prepare a good presentation.

Reinaldo Polito

Writer, lecturer and teacher of public speaking.

Reinaldo Polito trains businessmen, executives, politicians and top-tier professionals. Since 1975, more than 1,200 students have graduated from his eloquence courses every year.

Qualification

Master's degree in the art of communication.

Postgraduate degree in Social Communication from the Caspero Libero Foundation.

Postgraduate degree in Financial Management from the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

Postgraduate degree in Financial Management from the Faculty of Economics of the University of São Paulo.

Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Management from the Faculty of Economics of the University of São Paulo.

Professional activity

He taught public speaking at the School of Communication and Humanities at the University of Sao Paulo.

He taught public speaking at the Law School of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation.

He taught verbal and non-verbal communication at the University of Sao Paulo.

He taught verbal and non-verbal communication at the Armando Alvarez Pentiyado Foundation.

He taught public speaking at the Casper Libero School of Social Communication.

Invited speaker at national and international conferences on phonology and seminars of professional associations.

He writes communication columns for Vencer, Seu Sucesso, Brazilian Press, Segmento Empresarial, Empresarios and Voce S/A.

Writes a weekly economics and careers column for the UOL website.

Member of the Academy of Education of Sao Paulo.

Chairman of the advisory board of the NGO Via de Acesso.

Coordinator of the "Super Tips" series published by "Editora Saraiva".

Trains managers of such organizations as Alcan, Alcoa, Basf, Caterpillar, Citibank, Dow Quimica, Du Pont, Ericsson, Esso, Ford, Gessy Unilever, Goodyear, Hewlett Packard, Hoechst, Honda, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes-Benz, Monsanto , Nestle, Philips, Pirelli, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Rhodia, Saab-Scania, Sanbra, Sharp, Siemens, Volkwagen and hundreds of other big companies.

Ask: "Do you know?" Once or twice is perfectly acceptable. Three or four times is bearable.

Do not state the subject based only on your own knowledge, because this may not meet the expectations of the audience.

Notes

1

Rapport (psych.) - a direct relationship, intuitively coordinated interaction "on the same wavelength" of interlocutors, participants in a common creative process, based on complete mutual understanding, openness and trust. - Note. ed.

The speaker must be able to manage his states in difficult situations in accordance with the values with which he goes to the audience. When he is confident in his position in life, it makes others believe in his ideas. Audience opposition is not a threat to him, but an opportunity to use the behavior of others to assert his professional competence. Even if you have to speak to dignitaries who are obviously critical, success depends on you. Light anxiety can be used to your advantage, and fear can be replaced with gambling interest.

Meditation through visualization

In order for a speech to be effective, that is, in order to convince high-ranking officials, the speaker must believe in what he says. When he says important things, he must imagine how they happen.

For example, you need to defend the project in front of a high-ranking person - so that this person approves the budget for it. You know that he is a dry, strict person who does not show emotions, can abruptly cut off the speaker, and these thoughts make you feel fear and apathy.

During rehearsal, imagine for 10 minutes what you want to happen today: how you perform, what it feels like, the room where the action takes place, interested listeners - everything that will help you get used to the role. The reality that you create in the inner space will be embodied.

Neutralization of a negative reaction

Let's say the speaker has an ambitious task - for example, to sell an idea to the audience, but among the listeners there may be people who are negatively minded, who will use discrediting tactics. For example, to show signs demonstrating that the project is worthless. Devalue, ironize, referring to authoritative sources or opinions. The task of ill-wishers is to knock a person out of balance so that he begins to doubt. His condition will be reflected in speech, non-verbal behavior and, as a result, the presentation of the project will worsen. As soon as we allow the thought that we are performing poorly, the same impression begins to form in the participants.

One of my clients was preparing to defend a large project, where, as he knew, his potential competitors would be among the listeners. Indeed, already in the tenth minute of the speech, opponents began to try to destabilize him. At the same time, it was decided in advance that he would take on the role of leader, and their remarks would be perceived as acting, not seriously. Moreover, he was waiting for these remarks, since for him it was already a challenge. He had to use cues to demonstrate his stress resistance and managerial endurance in the face of external aggression. As a result, the project was approved, besides, after a short time, the first shareholder offered him a partnership in another, very large project.

Working with restrictions

Fear, anxiety before public speaking are often generated by erroneous attitudes. For instance:

If you are an expert, you must know everything and have no right to make a mistake;

If you don't answer the audience's question, everyone will know you're worthless.

When you are overcome by such beliefs, you lose the ability to calmly think and present your position convincingly. Come up with reverse beliefs that will help you not only control the emotions that arise, but will create a positive perspective and help you become interested in how the performance will go. For example: "An expert always investigates, always works in the zone of the unknown." If an expert works in a zone of growth and discovery, and does not repeat what he said five years ago, then the likelihood of disputes and other positions has a right to exist, and the fear of not knowing the answers to questions disappears by itself.

Write down your new beliefs on your phone. It is important that they catch the eye as if by chance. As a result, you will become more confident in presenting your ideas in meetings in front of management, cope with the fear of showing that you do not know something. High-ranking officials appreciate those who are not afraid of difficult situations and can admit mistakes.

Eye contact

A good speaker should make eye contact with at least seven to eight people in the first five or six minutes of a speech. And further - the more, the better. The importance of eye contact with another person cannot be overemphasized. This satisfies the basic need to be valuable to another. The people you make positive eye contact with will feel loyal towards you. Do not hold your gaze for a long time, this can confuse a person. If you meet someone with an unfriendly look, do not try to please him, switch to other listeners. Otherwise, you will spend energy to win over this person, but you will suffer losses: you will speak worse, and loyal participants will receive a worse result than they deserve.

The most difficult thing is to establish contact with a significant person for us, about whom we know that he has a high expertise or status, and we seem to ourselves weaker against his background. Think about the people in your life that annoyed you the most, most likely they will be something like him. Look for such people more often and meet them with a calm and confident look. Gradually, they will cease to be so frightening for you.

Role complementarity

The speaker's speech always affects the audience: either inspires, or increases activity, or causes irritation, or maybe boredom. In order to learn how to manage an audience, analyze its needs, choose the right role and play it.

For example, if the situation is confrontational, then the task, speaking, is to convince.

If your listeners are intellectuals, choose the role of an expert researcher. Share knowledge generously, but do not moralize. Give others the opportunity to express their opinion.

If the listeners work hard and get tired, be their friend. Not only give information and declare goals, but give optimism and inspiration, help to gain strength.

If they are lost, try on the role of a mentor. This will help them gain confidence and follow you.

However, when trying on roles, one should not forget about fundamental things. If you claim to be a star of oratory, then the content must be relevant. The speech should be filled with facts. Evaluate your presentation in terms of usefulness to the audience, because its time is the most valuable resource.

In my understanding, when preparing for a speech, the speaker must be a perfectionist, eat into details, work out different options for interacting with the audience. Having crossed the threshold of the hall, he must enter into the image, become an artist for whom this is a game. And most importantly - notice after the performance what went well so that your brain does not consider the efforts in vain.