Years ago one of the most helpful organizations I was a part of, at least for my professional development, was the years I spent with Toastmasters International. If you do any public speaking at all, I highly recommend participation.
Obviously there is far more than what I will share here to learn about public speaking, preaching is not necessarily the same thing, and I’m certainly not an expert, but a few of the things I learned I have tried to incorporate into my public speaking and preaching.
Here are 7 basic reminders for public speaking:
- Count your uhs and ums as you practice and make them purposeful; allow pauses to work for you not against you. (Also, always practice)
- Know your audience; you’ll relate to them better if you do.
- Respect people’s time…people don’t want you to ramble. They have better things to do with their time.
- Remember you’ll have multiple listening types…some will need colorful word pictures (illustrations) and some need a plainly spoken bottom line…
- The beginning and the ending are crucial…
- Be natural…be yourself…the closer you can get to the real you the better.
- Humor works and so do tears…
Have you ever heard of or participated in Toastmasters?
What tips do you have for public speaking?
Also curious, what differences do you see, if any, in public speaking and preaching?
Twitter: bryankr
says:
Relax!
Pick your topics; don’t try to solve the worlds roblems in one take!
Try to stay on topic, do “chase rabbits” too much. Lose them for sure!
Thanks. That's good
Twitter: drplexico
says:
Another great post, Ron.
I'm a proud member of Naval Support Activity Mid-South Toastmasters in Millington, TN, and I agree that Toastmasters is a great group for those wishing to improve their public speaking.
Thanks for all you do through this blog!
God bless,
Alvin
Thanks. My brother was Navy stationed at Millington
Twitter: drplexico
says:
If you or your brother are ever in the Memphis area, I'd be happy to host you for lunch on the base.
God bless,
Alvin
Thanks. I may take you up on that!
I went to toastmasters for 3 years! Competed in competition (and won some) and really learned so much from the process.
I agree with your top tips.
I preach as well as give presentations to lawyers about risk management. The cynacism
of lawyers is the main difference in how I present.
But both need good stories to back up the point, points that can be applied immediately and a vision for the future (or probably the other way around).
I have 3 aims when I speak:
a) did I educate them intellectually
b) did I inspire them to change (usually touching their emotions)
c) have I been practical and left them with tips they can do to implement the change.
Wow! You've got some great points. I agree with each of them.
I most often find that when the same message comes twice in a short period of time then God is trying to say something to me. God wants me to focus on my preaching & grow in it’s strengths & work on it’s weaknesses & yet in it all put ego aside & allow the Holy Spirit the whole of what I do. I’ve heard of Toastmasters so I’ll be looking up their website. Thanks for being part of my journey.
Great thought. I agree. Thanks!
I was in a toastmaster chapter at Oregon State Prison in the seventies. I was converted in a jail cell enroute to prison, and basically signed up to get out of the cell. It was an interesting start for me…and for the last three decades I've been serving as a full time Christian youth worker; speaking at youth camps, churches, prisons, school assemblies etc…and those early toastmaster days were instrumental. Maybe I'll look around for a chapter here…
That's a great story Jack! Glad someone can confirm there really is a Toastmaster organization!
Good answer. I answered quickly before. You explained it well.
Rob,
The biggest difference I see between simple public speaking and preaching is content and purpose.
A public speaker may present on any number of topics for a variety of reasons. Information, education, amusement and motivation are a few of the reasons one might speak in public. Preaching is the public presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the purpose of seeing lives changed and directed to Him. Preaching should be public speaking magnified to its highest potential.
Tom
I have heard of the Toastmasters before–thanks for reminding me about them. If there is one area that is a weakness in my life, it is public speaking. So, since I am working on a book that I would like to see published, I need to learn some skills. Thanks for giving me a little push and please pray for me that I will be open to the Lord's direction. I tend to want to shy away from public speaking. 🙂
That's awesome. I love it! I'll be praying!
I haven't heard of Toastmasters, but I'm glad I have now. As I get older and wiser (some will debate you on that last one) I'm finding that at some point in my life I'm destined to speak. Whether that be about my past and how I overcame and using that to help others, preaching, or having to speak to potential clients and give them the sales pitch. I've only looked over the Toastmasters site and I think I'll be spending more time there.
I haven't done enough speaking in any of those areas, or any area for that matter, to offer many hints or tips on public speaking. I will say that the one mistake I often catch myself (after the fact) doing is not appearing to give the potential client full attention, eye contact, etc., and I think an audience and clients like to feel that connection when speaking. It's something that I'm working on and is a huge weakness of mine.
Ron, I do feel there is a difference in public speaking and preaching. It's something internal for me I think. I can't put it into words what it is at this point. Maybe I have more of me into what I'm doing when I'm preaching or teaching a Sunday morning Bible study. What about you? Do you feel or think there is a difference?
Thanks Scott for sharing and I hope you will consider speaking in order to share your story. Those are usually the best things we can talk about.
I agree, there is a difference in preaching and public speaking. Some of the principles used are the same, but preaching should always involve the Holy Spirit as the teacher, but not sure public speaking would need to.