Arouse Interest
Project your enthusiasm and interest with vitality and intensity.
Orient the Audience
Tell them what you're going to tell them. Lay the ground work for your presentation.
Review events leading up to current situation.
Explain Key Terms.
Establish a "common ground" with your audience.
Direct Attention
What are the main questions that must be answered?
Why are they urgent?
What is the first question?
Reveal Yourself
In general, let the audience know at outset who you are, your attitude and conviction toward the subject, and your confidence in handling it.
They should feel your desire to put your ideas across to them.
Appearance
Posture - does it command attention without being stiff?
Gestures - be aware of the movements you make with your hands and your head, do they give point and meaning to what you are saying?
Facial Expressions - dead or alive?
Eye Contact - are you looking at individuals members of the audience?
Movement of the body - do your changes of body position have a communications purpose?
Voice
Enunciation - do you speak clearly, or do you tend to slur certain sounds?
Speed, pace - Fluent or halting? Rapid? Slow? How about the timing of pauses?
Tone - does your voice convey excitement, enthusiasm, seriousness, etc.?
Diction - are you using precise words to convey your thoughts?
Contact
In general, are you in touch with the audience? Have you established rapport sufficient to help carry the thrust of your thoughts?
NOTE:
Keeping these points in mind, you might try watching a televised presentation
with the sound turned off to see how effectively the speaker communicates without
the voice. Then try listening without the picture. Does the voice dramatize the
message?
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