DELIVERY FOR DIFFERENT

SITUATIONS
AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER YOU NEED TO BE READY TO DEAL WITH THE MOST
COMMON DIFFERENT SPEAKING ENVIRONMENTS. BELOW ARE SOME OF
THEM.
1. Speaking to a specific
audience size
Description •Audience size depends on the
venue size.
•You can determine your approach
with your audience: more intimate
Advantages
and personal for smaller size; more
formal for larger size.
•This can be challenging and
Disadvantages
intimidating.
•Ask about the organizers about the
estimated number of the audiences
Tips
so you can adjust your delivery.
•Practice, practice, practice.
2. Speaking in an open- air venue or outside
a building
•Examples are open courts or
Description
grounds, football fields, farms, etc.

•You will feel more relaxed due to

Advantages
the atmosphere of the venue.

•You will encounter a lot of

communication barriers such as
noise, inattentive audiences,
discomfort, challenging weather,
possible absence of technology
Disadvantages such as audio-visual equipment
etc.
•You might be forced to make
adjustments, especially in voice
 •Check the venue prior to your
speaking engagement.
•Ask the organisers about the
availability of equipment.
•Challenge yourself on how you
can get and maintain the attention
Tips of your audience.
•Use the outdoor setting or venue
to your advantage as a way of
jumpstarting your speech or as an
example to support your main
point.
3. Speaking in different •Practice, practice, practice.
venues • Speaking venues that vary
according to size: classroom,
Description meeting or conference room, ball
room, social hall, auditorium,
 •You will be exposed to different
Advantages venues, which will add to your
public speaking experience.

•You will have to make big

adjustments in terms of your
Disadvantages nonverbal cues: voice, body
language e of voice, body
language, facial expression, etc.
•Check the venue days before your
scheduled speech and arrive hours earlier
in the venue.
•For a large venue, speak more slowly,
Tips use pauses frequently to highlight the
most important ideas of your speech, and
make use of facial expressions and
gestures. When you use visual aids, make
 •In a small venue, your audience
will see you up close. Therefore,
manage your notes well when you
use them and adjust your nonverbal
cues as necessary.
•Practice, practice, practice.
4. Speaking with a
microphone •Its main function is to increase the
volume of your voice l, not to clarify
Description
the pronunciation and enunciation
of words.
•With a microphone, you can easily
get the attention of your audience
Advantages
because of the loudness of your
voice.
•Using a microphone can be
 •Check the microphone if it
functions well.
•Check your voice in the
microphone to see whether you are
Tips audible enough.
•In a small venue, you may not use
a microphone, but you need to
manage your voice’s volume well.
5. Speaking with a podium •Practice, practice, practice.
or lectern •A podium or lectern is a desk with
Description a stand and a slanted top.

•Notes can be placed on the

slanted top, and will work best for
extemporaneous and manuscript
Advantages speeches.
•The lectern can be used as a
means to hide stage fright.
 •Some may have tendency to hide
their hands behind the podium,
Disadvantages which will not help them enhance
their message.
•Stand straight
•Avoid gripping the edges of the
podium with both hands, also avoid
hiding them behind the podium.
•Fir extemporaneous and
impromptu speakers, step to the
Tips
side occasionally once you have
composed yourself, so you can
effectively use your gestures, make
eye contact, and connect more with
your audience.
•Practice, practice, practice.
Tools for Effective
Speech Delivery
•How the approach their audience (formal, informal, personal,
conversational, intimate, among others)
•How they connect with their audience (using eye contact,
body movements, and facial expressions)
•How they present themselves (stage presence: how they
look, stand, walk, use nonverbal cues, act on and off the
stage)
•How they use their voice in terms of volume (loudness or
softenss), pitch (highness or lowness), rate or speed, pauses
to show emphasis and strengthen the clarity of the message,
vocal variety (effective changes in volume, pitch, rate and
pauses), and pronunciation
More Tips for Effective Speech
Delivery
1. Use a conversational style more often. Audience members do not like the
speaker to sound unnatural or exaggerated.
2. Look your audience members in the eye so they will feel that they are part of
your speech.
3. Remember to adjust your voice in such a way that you speak loudly without
sounding like shouting or yelling.
4. Vary your rate or speed to keep your audience interested and to avoid a
monotype pattern.
5. Master your voice and find your pitch level (high or low). If you have a high
pitch level, modulate or slightly move it down. If you have a low pitch level,
modulate or slightly move it up. Your performance will definitely be affected
if you do not modulate.
6. Use pauses when you emphasize the most important words, phrases, or
sentences. Your pauses should not last for three seconds. Otherwise, it will
result in dead air or moment of awkward silence.
7. Pronounce and enunciate words correctly.
8. Avoid fillers or expressions that substitute actual words in your speech
because these words are distracting. Instead of using them the next time
you deliver a speech, simply stop and pause.
9. Start your speech by standing straight and balancing your weight.
This will give a positive first impression.
10. Use precise movements. Avoid distracting mannerisms like swaying
back and forth, leaning on the podium, licking or biting your lips and
others. Observe your mannerisms and learn how to avoid them when
speaking in public.
11. Avoid having a poker face or a highly animated face.
12. Dress properly and appropriately. Make sure not to overdress, as this
may distract your audience
13. Observe ethics by coming prepared, being honest with your words,
being polite, avoiding offensive words and back-biting or talking
negative things about other people or copying someone’s work without
proper documentation
14. Breath in and out to relax before your speech. Most importantly,
have fun.