1 SPEAK WITHIN YOUR LIMITS
Use words, grammar and sentence structures that you’re familiar and comfortable with.
2 VOICE ONE IDEA PER SENTENCE
This will not only make it easier for you to speak, it will also make it easier for the audience to follow you. Opt to use plain English, i.e. shorter words and sentences.
3 PACE YOURSELF
Take your time and deliver your presentation at a speed you feel comfortable with. It is more helpful for the audience if you speak slowly and clearly than if you rush, which can cause you to muddle up your words or leave out syllables.
4 USE DESCRIPTIVE AND MEANINGFUL WORDS
Don’t ever assume that the audience sees the world the same way you do. Instead, paint a picture providing them with as many details as possible.
5 USE NEUTRAL LANGUAGE
Be specific and provide facts to allow the audience to form their own opinion. On the same note, avoid judgemental language.
6 INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TIME REFERENCES
If you’re uncertain on the tense, make clear time references to the past, present and future. This will help the audience understand what tense you intended to use, even if you’ve used the wrong one.
7 CONSIDER CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Align your presentation to the audience, based on their beliefs and values as well as how they perceive your own nation. Elaborate on topics and concepts they’re not familiar with. Avoid certain topics altogether if they might cause offence.
8 CAPITALISE ON NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
How something is said outweighs what is actually said, so make sure your gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice support and underpin what you’re saying.
9 MAINTAIN GOOD EYE CONTACT
This will make you appear confident and helps build trust, which is needed if you want them to listen to you.
10 DELIVER IN A CONVERSATIONAL TONE
Present as if you were speaking to just one single person; in a conversational tone with vocal variety. This will make you seem more personable and helps to keep your audience engaged.
