After a recent client meeting in Birmingham, Praetorian Outsource Marketing decided to hunt
down their top speakers and ask them for their top tips on public speaking.
Being able to speak
well is part and parcel of a marketing and sales job, you need to be able to
connect with customers and sell your product well. But what happens when you
move beyond one-on-one conversation? The team at Praetorian Outsource Marketing
are well equipped to answer that, they recently spoke at a meeting in
Birmingham with over 500 delegates.
If there is one thing that we make a big deal of at Praetorian Outsource Marketing it’s ‘Practice
Makes Perfect.’ Practicing your speech is incredibly important. You should do it the whole way
through, in front of someone and in an room close in size to the one where
you’re going to be doing the real thing. The more your practice, the less
you’ll need to refer to your notes and the more comfortable you’ll feel. If you
lose your way, you should know the content well enough that you can freestyle
until you pick it up again!
One of Praetorian Outsource Marketing’s speakers from last weekend recommends that you don’t try
and memorize your speech, unless it’s really short. She said, “The stress of
trying to remember your lines will put you off and often it can sound stilted.” You’re much better to have some clear points, the punch lines and beginning and end
written down, then practice what you’re going to say over and over again.
You won’t have a full script, but you’ll have enough to feel confident without it sounding too rehearsed.
The managing director
of Praetorian Outsource Marketing implores you to think about your body
language. “It’s important to keep your feet planted and stand up straight, this
will give off the impression of poise. Don’t look too stiff and wooden but it’s
definitely preferable to being slouched or leaning against something. People
often complain that they don’t know what to do with their hands. If you have a lectern
that you’re standing at then put your hands on that and forget about them. You
will naturally gesticulate as you talk and it’s somewhere easy and comfortable
for them to return to.”
Praetorian Outsource
Marketing hopes that these hints will give you the skills to approach any
public speaking engagement with confidence. Don’t forget eye contact and
you’re ready to go, good luck!
Praetorian Outsource
Marketing is a direct sales and marketing company specialising in the
telecommunications industry and in utility-funded insulation schemes. Their
main offices are situated in Birmingham and Southampton. For more information visit http://www.praetorianmarketing.co.uk
