OPN Speakers Bureau Orientation & Training

Week 5 Lesson Practice Your Nonverbal Delivery Once you have developed a strong outline (see Week 4’s lesson) to speak from, you are ready to practice the delivery of your speech.

To help you achieve a successful speech, this lesson covers:

· Practicing your speech for best results

· Understanding the basics of nonverbal communication

· Projecting confidence with your nonverbal delivery

· Preparing for speech day

· Managing speech anxiety

The most powerful speaker in the Civil Right Movements was Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. His words were eloquent and intelligent, but so were other speakers of the day. Why then, did people come hundreds of miles to hear Dr. King speak? They were drawn by his charismatic speaking style.

If you want to touch the people in your audience, if you want them to remember your speech, then pay attention to how you deliver your speech. Sure, your words are very important, but your delivery will make your message stand out.

Practice Your Speech

The surest way to achieve confident and powerful delivery is practice. Let’s look first at some delivery goals, and then we’ll review practicing tips.

GOALS OF EFFECTIVE SPEECH DELIVERY

Before you start practicing your speech, visualize what you are striving for. Find your own way to achieve the following speech delivery goals. Try to:

· Speak naturally, like a conversation

· Show your enthusiasm for your subject

· Deliver the speech in a way that emphasizes speech content

· Connect with the audience

· Achieve time objectives

· Minimize distractions and disruptions

PRACTICING YOUR SPEECH

Once you’ve visualized your goals, you can practice your speech. My suggestions for practicing your speech include:

· Practice out loud. Going over the material in your head is nice. But if you really want to feel confident, you need to practice your delivery out loud.

· Find a quiet place. Choose a time and place where you can practice without interruption.

· Practice several times. The more you practice, the more smooth your delivery will become.

· Practice with your outline. You can practice with a rough draft of your outline the first time through your speech, but be sure to practice with your final copy before you give the speech for real.

· Practice with your visual aids (VA). Know where you want your VAs before you talk about them, what you will do while you talk about them, and where you will put them when you are through. If using handouts, decide whether you will pass them out before or after your speech.

· Time your practices. The first time through your speech may be choppy and rough. You might even stop to make adjustments on your notes. Keep the timer running. After several times through the speech, your timing should be more consistent.

· Record yourself. If you want a lot of feedback, watch yourself on video or listen to yourself on an audio recording.

· Ask for feedback. After you have practiced a couple times and gotten comfortable, recruit an audience and practice your speech in front of them. Try to get at least two audience members, so you don’t get in the habit of looking at only one person. After your speech, ask your audience what they learned, what could go better and what really worked.

When you feel comfortable with your outline and visuals, when your delivery is smooth and confident, and when your timings are consistent, you are ready to give your speech for real.

Since you took a lot of care and planning to develop the content of your speech (i.e. your outline), a lot of your attention during your practice sessions will be on the delivery of your message.

I’ll warn you now: once you start talking on speech day, you won’t have time to worry about whether you swayed back and forth or said “um” too many times. So now – while you are practicing – is the time to work on your nonverbal delivery.

The next section overviews what nonverbal communication is, and the following focuses on NV tips for speakers.

Understand the Basics of Nonverbal Communication (NVC)

When you give your speech, you are sending your audience verbal and NV messages. Your verbal message is the words you say. Your NV messages include everything else, such as your appearance, body language, vocal inflection, and other elements that are reviewed below. Since we send NV messages without words, we might more accurately think of NV communication as “non-language.”

Communication studies suggest that about 2/3 of meaning comes from NV messages. In other words your audience will interpret more information from your NV messages than from the words themselves. So you need to be aware of what your NV messages are saying.

NVC has the following characteristics:

· All NV behavior has message value (a.k.a. “You can’t not communicate”); we constantly send and receive NV messages.

· Some NV messages are intentional, such as when we smile at our audience or display the peace gesture.

· Some NV messages are unintentional, for example a defeated posture or worried expression.

· NVC is ambiguous and easy to misinterpret. For instance, a “strange look” could be annoyance or indigestion.

· NV messages make sense within a cultural context. For example a teethy smile is a sign of happiness in American culture; some cultures view it as a sign of aggression.

· NVC sends messages about emotions, for instance teary eyes suggest sadness.

· NVC sends messages about confidence and honesty. An audience will assess eye contact, posture, movement, etc. when deciding if the speaker is believable.

Project Confident Nonverbal Delivery

Now that we know the characteristics of NVC, let’s review the different types of NV messages and some do’s and don’ts for speech delivery.

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Before one word of your speech ever leaves your mouth, your audience will receive messages about you from your appearance. Your clothing, accessories, hairstyle and general grooming can give messages about your age, values, occupation or physical condition.

For example, if you arrive in a wheelchair the audience will most likely assume you are a patient. If you wear a NORML T-shirt, they will assume you have positive attitudes about marijuana.

Some OPN speaking events, such as rallies and marches, call for a more casual image. Many other events, such as a hearing or conference, call for a more professional image.

When deciding what to wear or how to style your hair, consider the following suggestions:

Effective	Ineffective
Dress appropriate to the occasion	Wear a T-shirt and beads to testify; wear a suit and tie at a marijuana march
Always be well groomed	Wear clothes with holes, wrinkles or stains; wear muddy shoes
Dress for credibility (i.e. wear your nurse’s uniform)	Cultivate the “just woke up” look
Wear something comfortable that makes you look and feel good	Wear a too short skirt that makes you feel self-conscious; wear a tie that is too tight
Wear something easy to look at	Wear stripes and checks

EYE CONTACT

“The eyes are the mirror to the soul.” In other words, we can read people’s feelings by looking in their eyes.

Eye contact is culturally sensitive. In some cultures, to look a person in the eye is a sign of disrespect. American culture, however, typically views eye contact as a good thing. If you want to know whether your audience is paying attention, look into their eyes.

In our culture, looking someone in the eye is a sign of confidence and honesty. Since we want our audience to believe we are confident and credible speakers, we want to maximize our eye contact.

Effective	Ineffective
Look directly at each person in the audience	Look at the ceiling, floor or only one person
Keep your speaking outline concise and easy to use	Clutter the outline with empty words; read the speech word-for-word
Look at the audience when discussing your visual aids	Talk to the screen behind you; shuffle through unorganized handouts
Create an unobstructed view of your audience	Wear a hat that blocks your eyes; sit too low to see everyone

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

If the eyes are the mirror to our soul, then the face is the mirror’s frame. Our facial expressions also send messages about our feelings. For example, we can look at the faces of our audience to see if they are interested, pleased, annoyed or bored.

Of all the types of NV messages, facial expressions are the most culturally universal. Even in the remote regions of the Andes, a smile still suggests happiness.

Effective speakers project a friendly and confident facial expression. Here’s some practical advice:

Effective	Ineffective
Smile at your audience before you start speaking, because smiling: +Loosens tense muscles in your face +Projects confidence +Helps you connect with the audience	Look at audience with “stress face”; appear scared or nervous
Use sincere expressions to reinforce your spoken words	Keep face frozen stiff; smile when content is sad

BODY LANGUAGE

We also send NV messages, both intentional and unintentional, through our posture, gestures and other movements.

Most people are unaware that their posture sends NV messages. People can seem shy or confident, approachable or standoffish just by the way they stand or sit. Since your audience will notice your posture before you ever talk, be aware of your posture while you are waiting to speak. Do your best to project confidence throughout the speech. As mom would say, stand/sit up straight!

Closely related to posture is our body movement. The quality of our movement also sends messages about our confidence. If you visualize a person who “moves with confidence,” you might imagine someone with a smooth, upright stride. Confident people often move a little faster, and they look like they know where they are going.

The third element of body language is gestures. We naturally use gestures all the time. We wave our hand to say hello. We put up two fingers to say peace. We use our hands to show “how big” that bud was.

When you speak, your goal is to be natural. So let your gestures flow as normal. You can plan an emphatic gesture or two into your speech, but otherwise keep your hands lose and natural.

The following tips will help you project confident body language.

Effective	Ineffective
Face forward in an “open” posture	Cross arms in front of you
If standing, balance your weight on both feet	Lean to one side; lean on podium; sway from side to side
Move around naturally, if possible among the audience	Stand stiffly; pace around randomly
Use natural hand gestures; get emphatic once and a while	Grip your hands to the podium until the knuckles turn white; clench your hands together; drop/slap hands on podium; bite nails, twiddle change and other nervous tics
Print your speaking outline onto 24 pound paper, reinforce if needed	Hold floppy paper in shaky hands; drop two dozen 3X5 note cards on the floor

VOCAL DELIVERY

Most of you have probably heard the expression “It’s not what you say but how you say it that matters.” This famous line describes vocal delivery.

We pick up a lot of NV information through the voice without even noticing. Consider, for example, the difference between internet chat (all words) and a telephone conversation (words + vocal inflection).

Vocal delivery includes a speaker’s:

· Pitch (variation of high/low tones)

· Volume (variation of quiet/loud)

· Speaking rate (average is about 150 w.p.m.)

· Articulation (patterns of enunciation – e.g. dem vs. them, warsh vs. wash)

· Pronunciation (I once heard an NPR talk show host pronounce cannabis as ca-NAB-is. Boy did he sound ignorant.)

· Verbal fillers (e.g. uh, um, like, you know…)

· Silence (can be used to encourage attention, deep thought or a response)

Our fabulous brain combines information from all these elements and turns it into meaning (e.g. “I bet the speaker is from Boston,” or “This person is smart”).

Studies about how people communicate in groups showed that people who talk slightly louder and faster are believed to be more intelligent and credible. In other words, if you “sound” smart, people are more likely to believe you are smart.

On the other hand, voice also gives away our nerves. Have you ever encountered a stressful situation only to find that your voice is shaky? Lots of calm breathing can help reduce shakiness and project vocal confidence.

Effective	Ineffective
Use natural, yet animated inflections	Raise your voice at the end of a sentence (this makes a statement seem like a question)
Emphasize important ideas by the way you say them	Talk in monotone
Speak slightly louder and faster	Speak in a quiet, mousy voice; yell at audience; talk super fast or slow
Articulate your words as they appear in the dictionary	Make a D sound in place of TH; add an R sound where there’s no R; drop a T sound at the end of a word
Pause between ideas	Use a lot of fillers (e.g. uh, um, like, you know) between thoughts and in the middle of ideas

OTHER NONVERBAL ELEMENTS

Nonverbal messages are also sent through proximity, touch and time.

Proximity refers to the space and distance between the speaker and the listener(s). Famous anthropologist Edward T. Hall noticed that the proximity of communicators influence their interaction. Placing obstacles, such as a desk, podium or table, between the speaker and listener also affects how we communicate.

When I tell my students that the design of our space can promote or inhibit interaction, I give the example of the senate judiciary subcommittee hearing. The senators were on a raised platform that had a 5-foot high wall of dark wood paneling. They peered down at us in the gallery. The room seemed intentionally designed to appear foreboding and intimidating.

If you want to seem approachable, eliminate any unneeded barriers and, if possible, move among the audience.

Who we touch and how we touch sends messages, too. As a speaker, you probably won’t be touching a lot of people, but you may encounter handshakes. Project your confidence with a strong, firm shake.

Finally, time sends NV messages. As a speaker, plan your speech so you can comfortably meet the time limit. Speakers who don’t plan effectively usually start to realize that they don’t have enough time and they start to talk faster. Well the audience picks up on this, and they are likely to think, “This speaker didn’t plan very well.”

Arrive to your speaking appointment early, so you have plenty of time to scan the environment, test any equipment, make minor adjustments and relax!

Get Ready for Speech Day

Although you don’t want to make large changes to your speaking plan at the last minute, there will be times when adjustments are needed. For example, if the display projector has a burnt out light bulb, you might go make copies instead. If your audience is more informal than you thought, you might remove your suit coat.

While you are speaking, stick to your plan. Some people are “ad libbers.” They have a tendency to add information at the last minute. This strategy only works if you have more time to speak than you prepared for. Usually, speakers who ad lib find themselves running short on time at the end. This is unfortunate, because your ending should be powerful, not rushed.

Some people are “fast talkers.” That is, they speak faster during the speech than during their practices. Try not to speed up too fast, because the audience may have a hard time understanding. They might also think you are running late.

While you are speaking, scan your listeners’ expressions, body language and eye contact to see if they are distracted, confused or enthusiastic. You can make minor adjustments, for example:

· If they seem confused, restate your point in a different way.

· If they seem distracted, regain their attention.

· If they seem resistant, talk more about the benefits they’ll receive.

· If they seem “sold,” move on to your action request.

· But don’t get too off track – stick with your plan.

Since the average adult attention span is estimated at only 10 minutes, regaining your audience’s attention is a common activity. Some speakers talk louder or softer to gain attention. I like to use a silent pause to help people focus. Your audience will also pay attention if you move closer to them.

John Precup used the most creative attention getter I’ve ever seen. He was speaking at a Hemp Fest on a stage in between bands. The audience was distracted and talking amongst themselves. After a moment or two with little attention, John rose up from his wheelchair and said, “Because of marijuana, I can still walk.” That got them cheering. The audience was with him for the rest of his speech.

Having an audience cheer for you is a great feeling. But let’s face it, that’s probably not the first thing you think of when you think about giving a speech. Most people find the thought pretty frightening.

Overcome Speech Anxiety

You made it this far through the training, which means you’re committed to giving your speech, even though you may find the thought scary.

Speech anxiety, or fear of public speaking, is common in our society. In public opinion surveys, Americans regularly rank public speaking as their biggest fear. People are more scared of speaking than heights, snakes, even death. So don’t feel alone if you are nervous.

To help you manage the tension of giving a speech, let’s look at some of the physical and psychological effects of stress and some ways to overcome speech anxiety.

EFFECTS OF SPEECH ANXIETY

Because of primitive conditioning, our bodies are programmed to handle stress by going into survival mode. You’ve probably heard of the “fight or flight” survival instinct. Unfortunately, when giving a speech, we don’t get to punch or run away, so all that energy is pent up. With all that stress trapped inside, we feel physical and psychological effects.

Here’s what we are dealing with:

Physical Effects	Psychological Effects
Increased adrenaline à increased heart rate à blood moves to center of body (away from extremities)	Fear of -Complete failure -Being judged by others -Unknown
-Tight muscles, red face, dry mouth -Cold, sweaty and/or shaky hands -Shallow breathing -Trouble sleeping	Self-doubt and other negative self-talk

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you? Can you think of a few more? Well fear not, because many people have overcome their anxiety, and you can too.

Remember the self-fulfilling prophecy. If you expect to do poorly, you probably will. But if you expect great things, then great things will more likely happen.

TIPS FOR MANAGING SPEECH ANXIETY

Everyone will have their own best way to manage stressful situations. Pick and choose from the ideas below and use them with your own relaxation tools.

In the days before your speech:

Physical	Psychological
-Practice your speech out loud -Exercise or stretch to burn off extra energy -Meditate or use your favorite relaxation method -Breathe plenty of fresh air	-Feel prepared (don’t wait until the last minute) -Support yourself with positive thoughts -Let go of negative thoughts (think of something else) -Take advantage of the self-fulfilling prophesy and expect to succeed -Visualize yourself giving a successful speech

On speech day, while you are waiting to speak:

Physical	Psychological
-Arrive early so you can check out the space and catch your breath -Remove possible distractions like change in your pocket -Get rid of chewing gum -Avoid sweets and milk, which coat your mouth -Drink room temperature water to protect your vocal cords -Release the tension in your hands, shoulders, etc. -Breath deeply and smile	-Look around at your audience and realize they are only human -Think positively -Review your speaking outline -Review the opening of your speech

Finally, when you speak:

Physical	Psychological
-Approach your speaking space with confidence -Smile at your audience -Breathe deeply before beginning -Breath naturally throughout speech -Don’t broadcast your nervousness (i.e. “never let them see you sweat”)	-Try not to focus on yourself -Focus on your material -Focus on your audience

Remember the words of Stuart Smalley: “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me.”

More importantly, remember all of the work that you put into this speech. You have:

· Analyzed the event, audience and occasion (Week 1)

· Strategized the best topic, purpose and persuasive tools (Week 2)

· Researched the most credible evidence (Week 3)

· Organized a logical, concise, speaker-friendly outline (Week 4)

· Practiced your delivery (this week)

You are the expert in your topic. Trust what you know. Trust yourself. Let your light shine!

Now that you’ve read about practicing your speech, enhancing your nonverbal delivery and overcoming your anxiety, review Week 5’s activity. This week you are asked to post your stress stories, and you are invited to deliver your speech at an OPN Speakers Bureau gathering.

Congratulations! You have made it to the end of our lessons. We have gone through these speech-building steps in five weeks. However, now that you are familiar with the process, you can complete all the steps and build an entire speech in a week or less.

May you enjoy many successful speeches!

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