Speaking

Speaking

• When you are speaking at an in-person activity, realize that you are the focus and not the slides, so consider your presentation manner—how you hold yourself, how you speak and move, how enthusiastic you are, etc.          
  • However, in the virtual environment, it is the opposite. The focus is your slides. Be sure to put more thought and time into your slides in the virtual learning environment for this reason.
• First impressions matter. Move confidently to where you will present, stand tall, and take a moment before speaking to look around the audience and smile.
• Maintain eye contact throughout your talk. If you don’t, you are sending a signal that you don’t want to be there or that you aren’t committed to your message.
  • In the virtual learning, space make sure you are making eye contact with the camera, and not looking at another monitor the whole time.
• Present with energy. Underscore important points with movement or change in facial expressions. Keep a lively tone of voice, but vary pitch and pace. Always speak clearly.
• Read the audience. If you think their interest is waning, change your voice pitch or tempo or pause abruptly. If they have confused looks on their faces, ask if you can clarify something.
• Practice can help to avoid a lot of “ums” and “you knows.” Advice on whether to use a script or an outline is varied. A script is useful in practicing, and it can be a security blanket if you lose your train of thought. But reading from a script during a presentation is a surefire way to lose your audience’s interest.
• One of the most important things is to practice in advance to be sure you stick to your time limit. There is nothing worse than a conference chair or coordinator who has to interrupt the speaker because they have run way over time.