Joel Heffner

1. Although many fear public speaking, it doesn’t kill you. Have fun.

2. Do your homework. Know you’re stuff before you open your mouth.

3. Practice. Really, you should practice before you get up in public. And practice doesn’t mean just once.

4. Record yourself on video. The best way to improve is to see what you are doing.

5. Check out the room before you get up to speak. Rooms are different.

6. If you use PowerPoint, use as few words on each slide as possible. Don’t read the words. Let the audience read them.

7. Take pictures. Your iPhone or similar smartphone is great for picture taking. You never know when you’ll take a picture that’s perfect for your next presentation.

8. Tell stories to get your point across. People love to hear stories.

9. Speak for less time than you are given. No one ever objected to a speaker who speaks for less time. They DO object if you go over your time limit.

10. Know your audience. If you are speaking to dog lovers, don’t use cat examples.

BONUS #11: Handouts make you remember-able. More on the importance of handouts here.

Relax. Seek speaking opportunities. Enjoy the experiences.