Do you record video courses, give presentations or keynote speeches to an audience, and want to be able to speak freely? Do you want to avoid needing cheat sheets or PowerPoint presentations to know your lines?
"Speaking freely" is now considered the gold standard of professional public speaking. If you want to become a professional speaker, you can hardly avoid the art of public speaking. I learned this through countless speeches at Toastmasters.
Speeches and presentations are essential for us as executives, sales managers, and experts. They allow us to share knowledge, position ourselves as experts, and win over customers. But how do we make our presentations sound natural and not like they've been memorized? In this blog post, I'd like to introduce you to my proven and easy-to-implement methods that will make your next presentation more authentic. Let's get started:
Many people wonder why you should even speak freely. It's quite simple: When you speak freely, you can convince your audience much more effectively. You come across as far more authentic when you're not reading from a script. Especially with a lot of content, such as in courses, you shouldn't write scripts that you then read from. What might sound good on paper sounds strange and inauthentic when spoken aloud. In addition, you can maintain and even improve eye contact with your audience.
According to psychological studies, you need to maintain eye contact with the audience for at least 90% of your speaking time to convince people and build a connection with them. You simply can't achieve this if you have to read from a script.
Your overall demeanor is also affected. You appear much more confident and competent when you don't need any aids during presentations. This demonstrates that you are well-versed in the topic of your presentation and that you aren't clinging to text aids.
Your presentation style is also affected. Once you no longer need notes, you'll have both hands free to enhance your content with impactful gestures and reinforce your message. Speaking freely is much more engaging than reading from a script and allows you to spontaneously connect with your audience. However, you don't have to go completely without aids, as even experienced speakers sometimes need notes in the form of index cards as memory aids.
Reading your entire speech is not recommended, because your audience can tell when you're glued to your slides or text. Reading is a surefire recipe for boring and unprofessional presentations. After all, you wouldn't go to a theater or movie theater if the actors were reading their lines, would you?
Can you learn to speak freely?
The answer is quite simple: YES! Giving a free-flowing speech is easier than many people think. It's primarily a matter of preparation and practice. Here are four tips on how you too can speak freely.
I know, you just want to get on stage and start talking. Preparing is so boring. But good preparation is half the battle. When I prepare for a presentation, the structure of my speech is the first thing I work on.
When experienced speakers give presentations without notes, it sometimes seems as if they're just talking spontaneously about whatever comes to mind. But that's usually not the case. Their text is simply well-structured, which helps them speak naturally and freely. Most people remember information more easily when it has a structure.
A clear outline provides confidence and clarity during the presentation. Therefore, I define the introduction, main points, and conclusion in advance. These serve as an internal guide and help me to move freely and be spontaneous even during the live presentation.
Content preparation is also the very first thing I work on with my clients. A structure works wonders. I've seen several of my clients feeling desperate, insecure, and uncomfortable. The structure immediately gives them confidence. Learn how to structure a good speech HERE.
By the way: I'm currently working with six wonderful experts over six weeks to develop their expert presentations, which they will then deliver live to an audience. If you'd like to participate in such a masterclass, prepare for a presentation, and receive feedback, please feel free to contact me. info@danjabauer.com.
One method that helps me find natural phrasing is recording my thoughts on my smartphone. I speak as if I were explaining the topic to a friend or colleague. This relaxed approach allows me to find an authentic tone and ensure that my speech doesn't sound too formal or artificial. Afterward, I transcribe the information into my presentation.
We develop our thoughts best by speaking them aloud, and the "think-speak" method can be helpful in this regard. Vera Birkenbiehl's advice is: The best presentations aren't created through writing, but through "thinking aloud"—that is, through speaking.
The next thing you absolutely must remember: Please avoid formal, written language. Write exactly as you speak, not in "written language," otherwise it will sound unnatural when you present. Our spoken language is more dynamic, personal, and direct. Use short sentences and active verb forms, use colloquial language where appropriate, and include questions or rhetorical questions to engage the audience.
This is also a very effective technique. Instead of writing an entire speech, you can simply jot down bullet points. These should concisely and precisely summarize the key ideas of each section. They serve as a memory aid, allowing you to speak freely and naturally without forgetting anything important. I personally find this particularly useful when I'm very familiar with the topic and have already given several presentations and workshops on it.
As a singer, I have to memorize the lyrics. I have to know them by heart. It's embarrassing if I don't know the words and my audience does.
But it's completely different with speeches. Your speech, your presentation, your talk is entirely your own thing—your own personal work of art.
Yet, time and again, I see (still inexperienced) speakers who memorize their speeches. And then, suddenly, they have a mental block in the middle of their speech. You don't want to experience that.
Furthermore, memorizing often leads to a robotic and unnatural-sounding presentation. Instead of connecting with the content, they desperately try to remember words, sentences, and phrases.
Memorized texts rarely come across as natural. You'd have to be a good actor to pull that off.
The important thing is not to fall into the trap of rote memorization. The goal is rather to be familiar with the structure and content so that you can move and interact freely.
It's better to set aside perfection and instead have the courage to be natural. A few "ums" or "ahs" are perfectly acceptable. The important thing is to be in tune with what you're saying.
You only learn to speak by speaking.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Once you've finished structuring your presentation, you should start practicing by speaking it aloud, instead of skimming your text and memorizing it.
It makes sense and a difference whether you simply read through your presentation beforehand or, conversely, practice it aloud.
Once, I had a very spontaneous speaking engagement and no opportunity to rehearse it aloud. I was on a train. I only read through the presentation and then delivered it live in front of an audience. Okay, it sort of worked, and I made a few mistakes. But the speech wasn't nearly as good as when I practice aloud at home. There's simply a huge difference in quality.
Speaking freely means preparing well. Personally, I find it helpful to go through my presentation step by step aloud. I start with the introduction and then work my way through the (usually three) main points to the end.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of the most important orators of antiquity, already advised us: "You only learn to speak by speaking!" Therefore, practice speaking freely during your preparation to get used to speaking without a script.
Imagine yourself in the presentation situation and rehearse it: Stand in front of a mirror and speak aloud to your imaginary audience a few times. Really try to immerse yourself in this situation. If you're presenting standing up, practice standing up. Also, work on intonation, pauses, and gestures. When the moment arrives and you actually give your presentation, the situation and your delivery will already feel a bit more familiar. You'll most likely be calmer and have the text more readily available. The more often you rehearse and practice your presentation, the more different phrases you'll find that you can then use. This way, you'll internalize your presentation much faster and experience the emotional aspect of speaking beforehand.
If you're not entirely confident at first, you can jot down a few bullet points and gradually "practice" speaking freely. For longer presentations, you can also try to remember the individual points of your presentation with images instead of memorizing every word.
These days, if I give a speech that's under ten minutes long, I don't use any notes at all.
For longer presentations and training sessions, however, I have flashcards on my iPad, or I print out a kind of moderator's or index card. With PowerPoint presentations, I sometimes make bullet points on the slides as a memory aid. It's important that these are really just short bullet points. If you write sentences on the flashcards, there's a risk that you'll read too much and you won't be able to liven up your presentation with spontaneity. The cards are only meant to serve as a reminder if you briefly lose your train of thought. Also, remember to number your cards. In the heat of the moment, it's easy for index cards to get misordered or fall out of your hand. With numbered cards, you can quickly restore their order and don't waste time sorting them.
CONCLUSION:
Speaking freely lends your presentation more authenticity and competence. Reading from slides or a script is a thing of the past. Natural and confident speaking isn't rocket science. It simply requires preparation and practice.
Have a good speech structure. Express your thoughts freely. Formulate concise bullet points. Avoid memorizing and practice your presentation aloud. This will ensure your presentation is authentic and impactful.
By the way, a natural presentation needs one thing above all: authenticity. The more you see yourself reflected in your speech, the more natural it will be. Try these tips and deliver your next speech with pride and a smile.
