Public Speaking – How to Speak at a Company Meeting

You’ve accomplished something others want to know more about and agreed to share your knowledge by speaking at a company meeting. Unaccustomed to speaking before a room full of people, you find yourself unsettled at the very thought of having to do this and yet at the same time excited at the prospect. You wonder how to prepare for the event. Three aspects of public speaking will be briefly examined all of which have application for making a talk in almost any setting.

• The advance preparation.
• The presentation of the talk.
• How to end the talk on a positive note.

The Advance Preparation

Asked to speak the chances are it is because you know something about what the intended audience wants to hear. Even if you are very knowledgeable about the general topic you will discuss, it is still your responsibility to refine the topic, narrow its scope and research and prepare interesting and informative remarks you can deliver within the allotted time. You don’t want those in attendance looking bored or falling asleep in their seat so prepare what you know will hold your listeners’ attention and be sure you are not speaking over their heads.

The Presentation of the Talk

Conventional wisdom when I went to school a long time ago was that if you are going to give a public talk – stand up, speak up, shut up and sit down. That is still good advice today. But let me expand upon that thought a bit.

Is it okay to prepare a verbatim text of your intended remarks? If it will help you organize your thoughts and calm your nerves as you prepare go ahead. I have sometimes done that myself for those reasons . But unless verbal inerrancy is indispensable to what you are going to say, the last thing you want to do is actually read your remarks from a prepared text. You will greatly improve your presentation if you can comfortably think on your feet and speak extemporaneously in words that come to mind while speaking. Ideally, if you must have something in writing in front of you to aid you in your presentation and act as your safety net, create and use a brief outline of the major points you intend to make and once focused on one of those points, if you have prepared properly, the details you want to present are sure to follow.

How to bring your talk to a close on a positive note

To make sure you end within the allotted time, as a last resort consult a watch. But it is much more helpful to read the demeanor and body language of the audience while you are delivering your remarks if you can do it.

Is the audience squirming in their seat? If so, you have spoken too long. Bring your talk to an end as gracefully and quickly as possible. If those attending are still paying close attention to what you are saying but you know you have used your available time, end your remarks and if the format allows, consider taking a few follow-up questions from those interested.

A question and answer segment is brief. Take two or three questions, after which express your thanks for being permitted to make your talk, complement your audience for their attentiveness, thank your host or sponsoring entity for inviting you to come and take your seat. Anything that takes place after you have sat down is no longer your responsibility.

Conclusion

Much more information is available about making public talks but it is beyond the scope of this article. Most importantly, present your remarks in a way that is comfortable for you. Proceed with confidence. Use the information contained in this article to guide you through each step of the way. If you do you will be well prepared for the task at hand and your presentation will improve with each new opportunity you have to speak publicly.

© 2013 Douglas M Midgley, J.D. All Rights Reserved Worldwide