4X3 Equation to Get your Message Through
The most challenging encounter that any speaker faces is to ensure that their message gets through to the audience. This simple 4X3 equation will help you to prepare and deliver a presentation that can get through to your audience. The 4X3 equation comprises of 4 steps with 3 ideas in each step to make that difference.
The 1st of the 4:
1) Know your topic inside out. If you are going to convey a message to the audience you should be an authority in the subject that you speak. When you know the subject well your level of self confidence is high. The audience too can feel that the speaker is a master of the subject. Therefore never speak about a topic that you are not familiar with.
2) A good speaker makes sure that the entire message is conveyed clearly within the time allocation given. Therefore make sure that you are aware of the duration of your presentation and that you can convey the complete message crisply during the time limit.
Make sure you time your presentation when rehearsing. It may take slightly longer when you present to your actual audience.
3) Know your audience well. The speech should be prepared keeping the profile of the audience in mind. It is very difficult to deliver one speech to many audiences. Every speech should be tailor made to that particular audience.
The 2nd of the 4:
1) Start preparing your speech after getting the 1st of the 4 clarified clearly. Different people prepare their speeches in different ways. It does not matter how you prepare as long as you prepare. If you write the entire speech you have the ability to edit it. That is the advantage of writing a speech. Mental editing is not easy.
2) After preparing start practicing. There is a difference between preparing and Practicing. Preparing is putting the thoughts together. Practicing is getting these thoughts out by speaking. You can practice while driving, jogging or even bathing but make sure you practice.
3) The final part of the practicing is rehearsing. This is where you will get a mock audience and deliver your speech to get feedback. We do not see our problems. However a person observing you can spot it so that you could improve if you think the feedback received is valid.
3rd of the 4
1) Have an attention grabbing opening for your speech. The first impressions are made within the first 15 seconds. Therefore make sure you make a good first impression because you will never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
2) Have a smooth flow to your speech. Do not confuse the audience. Have a clear structure and move from one idea to the next. Using stories are very effective to get your point through.
3) Have a memorable close. The close is as important as the opening. The opening gets the audience attention. The close gives the message that you want the audience to take away with them. It could be either something to think about, feel about or call for action. Make sure that the close is powerful and clear. Let the audience remember you for a long time!
4th of the 4
1) Have eyeball to eyeball eye contact with everyone in the audience. When you have eye contact the audience feels happy that the speaker is speaking to them individually. Furthermore you can assess whether your message is getting through well to the audience by the audience response.
2) Use coordinated gestures to add value to what you are saying. The audience will remember what they see and hear more than what they only hear. So make the most of your body. Always speak from the heart. When you speak from the heart your natural gestures come out. Avoid offensive gesture and for men never put you hand into the pocket while speaking it distracts the audience!
3) Your voice is a very powerful tool. You can vary it in many ways. You can vary the volume, the pitch and pace. Use vocal variety to keep the audience a live. A monotonous voice can loose the audience after a few minutes. However with appropriate vocal variety you can add spice to your speech.
Use this 4X3 equation to make a better presentation next time. Good Luck!
-Compiled by Mr. Niranjan De Silva
For the presentation on effective business presentation and body language
session which was conducted in last semester by The reMARK Team.
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