Speaking in public is most people’s least favorite thing. The reason is that we’re all afraid of making fools of ourselves. The more important the speech is, the more frightened we become.
But stop biting your finger-nails. Public speaking is easy. It’s just plain talking, and you talk all the time. Although I’m basically shy, I’ve been making speeches and talking on radio and television for more than 30 years, and I can tell you that public speaking is not a “gift” like musical talent or being able to draw. Anybody who can talk can speak in public. Here are some of the lessons I have learned:
Keep it simple.
Your audience is going to come away with one or two of your main ideas. One or two. Not ten or 20. If you can’t express in a sentence or two what you intend to get across, then your speech will not be focused well enough. And if you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to say, there’s no way your audience will.
Get it organized.
No matter how long or short your speech is, you’ve got to get your ducks in a row (把事情安排得井井有条) ― how you’re going to open, what major points you want to make and how you’re going to close.
When I do a radio or TV piece, I often write the last sentence first. When you know where you’re headed, you can choose any route to get there. A strong close is critical: the last thing you say is what your audience will most likely remember.
