The benefits of using a microphone for public speaking

I was working with a one-to-one client recently in Bournemouth who had been feeling nervous about a public speaking event and had then unexpectedly been handed a microphone to use. As you may imagine, this did nothing to help his confidence!

Why should you use a microphone? It will mean less strain for you; it allows for more expression to come across when you speak, and it is easier for your audience.

A microphone won’t make a bad presentation good, just louder! All the things we teach clients about ‘Taming Their Public Speaking Monkeys’ – overcoming those annoying voices in your head saying things like ‘your presentation isn’t good enough’, still apply.

So, when you have tamed those monkeys, our top tips for using a microphone are:

• Stand correctly (we call this Presenter Stance) enabling you to project your voice into the mic.
• Breathe properly – deep, slow and measured breathing makes it easier to produce your voice and then include expression and emotion that adds to your message.
• Do a proper sound check (and I don’t mean tap the top and say ‘testing, testing’!) before the audience arrives. Check:
  • Is the volume set correctly for the room and audience size? Enlist the help of someone to walk all around the room to check from every vantage point.
  • Talk through several sentences so you are used to the acoustics of the room and the sound of your voice within it.
  • Check where the speakers are located, not just so they are in the best place for the audience so you avoid any feedback noise if you get too close.
  • Do you know how to turn it on / off and mute it?!
• If you are going to encourage audience members to participate and contribute, have an additional roving microphone that has also been tested, along with a willing volunteer to take it around.

Remember, when planning the content of a presentation, as we teach in our Simply Amazing Structure (SAS) it is always all about the audience. This includes making it easy for them to hear you.

Oh…and the client I mentioned, is now confident with a microphone after our time working together, using it like a pro!

I would love to work with you to Tame Your Public Speaking Monkeys in Bournemouth or elsewhere. Please get in touch with us today at 0330 223 4392 for an informal chat about how we can work together to help you become a calm and confident presenter.