You need to practice giving your speech aloud, marking tests for pauses in your presentation and underlining those phrases that need emphasis.
The very best way to critique your presentation is to videotape yourself giving your speech. The camera can be cruel, but truthful. It will show you exactly what your potential voters are seeing. Another way, if you don't have a video camera, is to take pictures and tape record the presentation. While you are doing this, be sure you have and are using a stop watch to time length of your speech. Practice in front of a mirror with the stop watch and pay particular attention this time to eye contact. You are trying for a 90 per cent eye contact with your audience.
Now put your speech on 3"x5" cards and practice in front of the mirror more. Then memorize at least your opening and closing statements, which will enable you to have maximum eye contact with your voting public.
Now give your speech on video and allow yourself to be critiqued by your campaign manager and/or committee.
And finally, Never Be Boring and NEVER READ YOUR LINES!!!
Ninety-three percent of communication is presentation. You should dress conservatively, so that nothing will distract attention from what you are trying to say.
At the end of you speech, you will want to leave 10 to 15 minutes for questions and answers from the audience. Always take questions from the whole audience and treat each question with equal deference.
Stand tall and pay close attention to everything that is being said.
Try to stay calm and don't every get into a shouting match with a member of the audience.
A good practice is to repeat all the good questions and then answer simply and directly.
Don't ask if there are any more questions as you will appear weak. Don't ask if you have answered their questions.
A few additional tips may be to consider using handouts or visuals. They are often very effective tools.
On the day of your speech, get there early so you can meet as many of the audience as possible.
When giving your speech, involve as many of the audience members as possible. If you can, walk from behind the podium and out before the audience.
If you find that you are frightened, you better believe that even the most experienced of speakers get nervous. To help alleviate this problem, walk up and down stairs or take deep breaths.
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