A good public speaker has traits similar to the effective teacher. Before speaking to a group, you should:
- Talk with your supervisor to ensure that you will be talking about what your organization wants you to share with specific groups
- Call the organization's contact person to make sure that you will be covering what has been requested
- Carefully plan your talk and make notes to which you can refer
- Use presentation/visual aids if appropriate (tabletop displays, slide show, PowerPoint presentation, posters, etc.)
- Practice, practice, practice
- Look and speak like the professional you are
- Wear a nametag, take business cards, and if appropriate distribute a fact sheet or overview of what you will be talking about
- Remember that even if you have planned everything down to the last second, it is impossible to control everything so be flexible and adaptable
Remember, the more practice you have in speaking to groups, the more comfortable you will become.
This web-based training program
was developed by the State of Florida Adult Basic Education Committee
of the Practitioners' Task Force, through an Adult Education State
Leadership Grant from the Florida Department of Education, Division
of Community Colleges and Workforce Education.
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