Introduction
It’s important to be able to tell people about your campaigns. We all have to spread the word at some time - behind a stall, to your friends, in front of an audience of hundreds, or meeting a Head of Sixth Form.
Why Me?
Top Tips
- Check you’re the best person for the job
- Don’t argue when you’re unsure of the facts
- Keep emphasising a few key points
Trying to win an argument or give a talk that doesn’t need to happen can be very demotivating, so ask yourself a few questions:
- Why do you want to talk to this person? What will it achieve?
- Have you got a clear message?
- Is this the best way to get the message across? Giving them a briefing, directing them to a website, or giving them somoene else’s email might be a far better solution.
- Are you the best person to have this discussion or give this talk? Pick the role you’re most comfortable with, but don’t be afraid to stretch yourself.
How to sound convincing
Whether you’re speaking to one or a hundred people, sounding convincing and countering hostile opinions can be a tricky business…
People compare the different messages to see if they are consistent. If the words you are saying don’t match the way you are saying them, and most importantly the way you look, your message is undermined. So the most important thing is to be consistent and aware of your body language and the tone of your voice. Don’t worry if the words you say aren’t perfect - said with conviction and body language to match, they can be convincing. Equally, no matter how articulate you are, if your tone of voice or body language are not, you won’t win people over.
It is impossible to collect all the facts on a issue. What you can do is to identify a clear problem which isn’t being met and some facts to back it up. If you can’t answer a question, don’t try to get out of it: admit that you do not know, suggest where the answer could be found, and explain why it does not weaken your point. Always come back to the clear problem.
More on how to sound convincing
Public speaking
Public speaking is often seen as terrifying, but it can also be an amazing experience if you’re well prepared and practiced!
- Work out your 3 or 4 key points. Introduce them early, then move on to reiterate them with facts, anecdotes, humour etc.
- Give the talk a clear structure.
- Practice makes perfect - get someone to listen in.
- Stand or sit - whatever makes you feel comfortable and looks authoritative.
- Speak slowly and expressively.
- Take questions, but don’t be drawn into arguments.
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