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Public speaking is a skill like any other—to become great at it, you need
to practice. But if you’re like most, then you probably don’t have a room
full of people at the ready that you can speak in front of every day. Don’t
let that stop you from practicing, though.
There are actually a ton of games and activities you can take advantage
of that’ll help you hone your chops and become the best presenter you
can be without the need for a formal audience.
Speak Nonsense
According to research, an excellent presentation is 38% your voice, 55%
non-verbal communication and just 7% your content. In other words,
your delivery matters even more than what you say, and this exercise
helps you refine it. Find a paragraph online in a language you don’t
understand or simply write down a few lines of jibberish, and practice
saying it aloud as though you’re giving a speech. Pay mind to your tone,
inflections, and generally how you can use your voice to create more
interest.
30 Seconds Filler-Free
Filler words like “uh” “um” and “y’know” not only make your talk more
difficult to listen to, but they also make you seem less prepared and
authoritative. For this exercise, record yourself giving a talk on any topic
for 30 seconds, taking care to omit all filler words. Whenever you use a
filler word, start over and try again. Do this exercise ten times, filler-free.
Make Up a Definition
No matter what your presentation is about, you should always seem like
you have authority over the topic. For this exercise, choose a word you
don’t know the definition of and record yourself saying, with authority,
what you think it means. Pay attention to how you can use your voice
and intonations to have more command and seem more authoritative.
Make a Commercial
Presentations are all about selling an idea, so you should practice the art
of sales and persuasion to be the best you can be. Choose an item in your
home and create a one-minute commercial about it. Record yourself
saying what makes it special, how it can enhance lives, and why
everyone needs that item in their corner.