Whether you are presenting in an audio conference, webinar or webcast, you need to make sure you are an effective speaker in order to efficiently engage your audience. Some people are great conversationalists, but this doesn’t always equate to being a good speaker. Speaking in front of a large group of people in a meeting environment can be an intimidating experience. Learning how to speak most effectively will ensure the success of your presentation so you can be sure everyone receives the message you are trying to portray.
The Effect of Group Size
The size of the group to which you are speaking during an audio conference or webinar can have a great impact on the way you speak to when trying to get your message across. If you have ever presented to different group sizes, you realize how different it can be to speak to a meeting of five people versus talking to more than 50 people through webcasts. The small intimate experience is often much easier for people than the larger, less personal presentations. Learning to cater to larger groups is important to becoming an effective speaker.
One of the best ways you can learn how to effectively speak to a larger group is to attend a live meeting or webcasts that features a larger audience. If you sit near the back, you will be able to easily notice the mistakes the presenter makes and how you can correct them. For instance, any hand gestures should be greatly exaggerated to make sure everyone can see them, especially if they are a necessary part of your presentation. You may also notice it is difficult to see the speaker from a distance, particularly when he stands behind a podium. You can remedy this by moving around during your presentation or at least stepping out from behind the podium. Looking all around the room is also critical to give the impression of an effective speaker.
Time and Space Correlation
It is important for you to realize that speaking is much different from the way you will write. This means you need to pay attention to the fact that an audio conference, webinar or other online event is often live. This means you will need to use language that talks to your audience in the present instead of in the past as writing typically conveys. In addition, as a speaker, you will only get one chance to get your message across and ensure a good first impression. When you write, you are able to create multiple drafts before it goes to your audience. To be an effective speaker, learn to make use of an outline and notes to increase your confidence and effectiveness the first time around.
Great Writing Equals a Great Speaker
You would think that great writing would lead to a great speaker. While it is always a useful skill to be able to portray a message clearly and effectively, doing so in writing doesn’t necessarily carry through to speaking. However, it also doesn’t mean you are doomed to stick to writing and leave the presenting to someone else.
Practice is an essential element to becoming the most effective speaker possible. If you are able to write something that can get the message across, you only need to study up on the ways to speak most effectively and begin implementing them into your presentations. Before you know it, you will be able to speak just as well as you are able to write.
More than Just a Presentation
Some people mistakenly think they only need to stand up in front of everyone and start talking. While this is the essence of any audio conference, webinar or webcast, you often need to do more than that. You will need to prepare for your presentation, listen and observe other similar meetings, manage the timing of the presentation and work on being able to properly control the volume and inflection in your voice. Add in the need to balance a slideshow and at least look like you are relaxed and you will realize how difficult being an effective speaker can be.
Being able to get your message across in the most effective manner requires plenty of practice and learning not what to do. For instance, you shouldn’t focus on only those who are in the front of the room. You will also need to take care not to stand in the way of the screen for your slideshow during a live event and to control the speed and volume of your speaking. It is also important to learn the right balance between keeping to your time limitations and still leaving time for answering questions.
In addition to the content you will portray to your audience, your webinar or webcast speaking needs to be exciting. The way you speak and present the information is often just as important, if not more so, than what you say. Try to smile through at least most of the meeting. Even if it is an audio conference, your audience should be able to hear the smile in your voice.
It doesn’t matter if you will be presenting for an audio conference or online with a webinar or webcast. The impact of the meeting will be directly affected by whether you are an effective speaker. Even if you aren’t a naturally effective speaker, you with some practice and following these tips, you will find you are able to make a much greater impact on your intended audience.
