8 myths about public speaking

In public appearances, seems to understand everything, every second can give a recommendation to the Speaker. But experts in the industry much less. That is why there was the practice of useless advice since high school about how to behave on stage. And sometimes these recommendations wishers cause significant harm to the speaker, and the performances are getting worse.

Myth № 1. use gestures

This advice is often found in semi-professional coaches or well-wishers. In fact, during the performance does not need to think about gestures - it is important to focus on the goal. And depending on what your goal is, gestures will be born themselves. Unable to inspire, for example, with closed behind her hands. Or prove, to convince a hunched back.

As soon as one focuses on the purpose and is no longer think of the hands and other parts of the body, at this moment born organic gestures, it is then there is the very credibility of who crave all those who speak of gestures. Only it is not in them.

Myth № 2. Rehearse in front of a mirror

Every other teacher at the school encourages students to practice in the mirror. But artists in the first year it is strictly forbidden to do. And why? When you think about how to stand and how to talk, you completely forget what they wanted to say, and vice versa. Taking beautiful pose in front of the mirror, trying to repeat it on the stage, you shift attention to the object itself, and at this moment is born maximum excitement.

Rehearse in front of the audience you need. Any, but better well-intentioned that it was he and not the mirror giving you feedback.

Myth № 3. learn lyrics

Memorizing text is harmful: as soon catches up with excitement, you immediately forget it. And because often we write texts themselves smart beautiful words, afraid to look stupid, then it is hard to switch to a familiar question. From this born tightened pause "um," "like," sits temporitme performances and there is awkwardness.

Many take a text from him, watching him as confused and lost even more, because they can not immediately find the desired phrase. In general, the text more problems than good.

The best option would be to say in his own words, because you are much smarter than plain text, and can safely express it. I recommend to allocate theses formulate them in a sentence, make yourself tips, theses large print and tell in their own words.

Myth № 4. Rate speech video

You can often find the recommendation to watch your videos, and evaluate performance. That's only after watching the recording can not evaluate anything. And the act is no longer desirable. Even professionals.

The video is lost the most precious thing - the interaction with the audience. You know, it is like a rock concert assessed by recording: drive is not present, and all wheezes and gasps could be heard. Or performance: what they are there in the audience cry or laugh - on TV is unclear. And, you see, on the video, we can not assess the performance or concert. He was good or bad, we can appreciate only if present, or reviews. So it is with performance.

We will see all the rough edges and a bunch of their own shortcomings, but to understand the performance was good or not, without the spectator reaction can not.

Much more important to evaluate the faces and eyes of the viewer (currently they do not stand on ceremony, if bored, just go to sleep or take out gadgets), as well as a few basic criteria of performances, in which you can help friends.

Myth № 5. Does not act on the alien theme

"Well, if the theme of love, but if you just need to make a report?" - a question often heard from managers of large corporations. In this case you need to, as they say artists "try on" the topic of the report to understand where exactly to what part of it resonates in your soul, and that is how matters develop, so it was interesting in the first place you.

The artistic environment has a secret: he feels actor on the stage, he sees his inner eye, he will see and the viewer. And if you yourself do not like your report, then the public will not accept it. So look for common ground, such a turn of the topic, it was interesting in the first place to you. The author of your talk is you.

Myth № 6. "What" is more important than the "how"

Often in our practice performances, developed in the Soviet era, there is no place where its opinion and all accustomed to reading smart text on a piece of paper, you can see the focus on content presentations. It suffers visual part: report graphs and tables crowded. This is considered to be a certain standard of good performances. And pay attention to the fact, as will be shown, this information is not accepted.

The debate about the importance of form and content of finished yet when Aristotle, one does not make sense without the other.

If you do not worry about the form of presentation, the content still does not reach the audience. It is important to combine sophisticated graphics easier and imaginative visuals, then the viewer will be easier to perceive information and your report will be a success.

Myth № 7. Pause - it's bad

It is very difficult to convince reporters that the pause before the speech is necessary. It helps to focus the attention of the Speaker and switch rooms.

"Thirty seconds - that's a lot!" - say the experimenters. But Hitler kept pausing before speech, an average of 1 minute 15 seconds. So he sought to have listened to him all without exception, and add weight to his words, after a pause.

The longer the delay before the important information, the greater the event, says the director. Good speakers are not shy on stage to reflect, to remember something and paused for a moment, and then start talking again. It looks more organic than when people mindlessly chattering text and runs away from the scene. Therefore, train yourself to hold a pause, it is very useful.

Myth № 8. Use proven techniques

A lot of strange people give advice to each other, saying that this technique will work for sure. "How much would I have imagined the audience sitting on the pots - does not go" - complaining about people. It turns out that a well-wisher advised technique as a way to getting rid of the excitement.

In fact, get rid of the excitement will help goal-setting, and most important task of Stanislavsky, and the transfer of the object of attention from himself to the audience. Armed with an effective verb, you can do so much more than a sick imagination.

Put target. It should be cherished, heating, emotional. And forward. Excitement will be only a background.

I also met tips to make, for example, 10 sit-ups. Or push-ups. They do not bring harm, but also to the obvious benefits, too.