Effective speaking

SGLA Speaking guidelines for teachers – The 30 min presentation

We are all gifted, Divine beings with our own messages that need to come forth.
We’re thrilled to provide the outlet for your genius! Remember that having a structured outline creates the space – the container – for your inner genius to flow through you.

Nuts and bolts:
Know your topic. Have a passion for bringing your topic forward.

Crafting your talk:
Share a Personal story. Why is this topic important to you?
• Sharing a personal fact about yourself forms an emotional attachment with your audience.
• Avoid uncomfortable overshare’s that are going to distract from your message. If you are talking about ‘how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich’, the audience doesn’t need to know you were in a car accident on the way to the store to buy bread. People’s minds will stay on the accident, and they will miss key points in your talk.

Make an outline:
Write down the pieces you want to share as they come to you and organize them later.
(I make a note on my phone)
Practice! To remove speech fillers.
• remove “ah” and “um”
• Resist the temptation to fill empty space with babble. (Ok, let’s see here, where is that slide?). Either say nothing or introduce the slide: “What I’m about to show you is…”
• Those extra words are your subconscious mind talking to you. They are not meant for us. They will distract your audience from your topic and you will have to work harder to re-engage them every time you come back to your speech.
• As you practice, pay attention to your tone. Is it engaging or monotonous? Emphasize points with vocal ups and downs. “I have SEEN this work!” and “When it happened to me, I couldn’t BELIEVE it!”
Slides:
Slides are great! Some people are visual learners and your images will help them connect to your topic. But practice working with them so sharing is smooth.
Speak between your slides or before and after your slides. Your audience wants to connect to you personally.
Overcoming Nerves:
It’s ok to be nervous – it’s an authentic emotional state! – It can endear you to your audience.
My trick: because nervous and excited feel the same in the body, when I feel those butterflies, I tell myself, “I’m so excited!” and that helps me to settle down.

Wear your CAPE!
• Certainty – You know your topic!
• Authenticity – Connect to your heart and your mission.
• Positivity – Bring your joy! Even if it’s a heavy topic, you have a solution.
• Enthusiasm – Energy is everything. Let your audience feel your heart.
You have massive value to bring!

Meditation
Beautiful organized office.
• Door – ornate, plain, made of anything you like
• Notes: see your outline
• Textbooks and files surround you
• Calendar. Make time for practicing your talk
• Put the final touches
• Imagine it’s time to teach. You’re wearing your cape. You’re confident and couldn’t be more ready.
• See yourself speaking.
• See the faces on the screen as they relate to your words. As understanding dawns on their faces.
• See the presentation as over. You did it!
• Step away from your screen and open the back door to your office.
• Step outside, and starfish triumphantly!

You’ve got this!
Your message is important and it needs to be heard.
Your attention to these details will ensure it will be heard and understood.