Here's how you can excel at public speaking in temporary and contract work.

Being organized with a solid plan ahead of time is obviously essential. However, being too rigid or feeling a need to cover all the content at the expense of the audience's needs can be detrimental. The audience comes first. Their engagement is the priority. If you loose them and their interest, then it doesn't matter what you still have by the end of the presentation. Have a few questions ready to allow the audience to interact with you, with each other, or with themselves regarding your content. Also, be present and mobile. Being locked to a desk/podium/barrier limits your ability to engage. Your natural movement will ease your tension and help engage their interest.

It’s helpful also to know if there are any “hot topics” or controversies — either in the content you are about to present, or within the constituencies represented in your audience.

Knowing your audience is key 🔑 to so many things in communications. Before giving a speech, ask yourself (or someone else) these questions : who am I speaking to? Why are they here at this event? What’s in it for them— why would they care about the speech that I’m about to give them? What should I be talking about so they get something out of it ? This way they bring a little piece of what you spoke about home with them. So many times, we make the speech about us. Ultimately, it’s about the audience and the things they care about.

Every new audience is an audition. Flexibility and grounding your message specifically to your audience as if it’s the first time can make a larger impact and the audience will feel more connect to your message and your story!

In my view, knowing your audience is key - understanding your audience and tailoring your message to resonate with your audience's interests, values, and level of understanding.

Develop a clear and concise message that aligns with the goals and objectives of the project or assignment. Personal experience: During a contract assignment, I spent time refining my message to ensure it addressed the specific needs and challenges of the project.

As a grade 11 student, crafting a compelling message is vital for making a lasting impact in debates, presentations, and conversations. Think of your message like a powerful African drumbeat - strong, rhythmic, and memorable. Just like preparing for an exam, make sure your message is clear, concise, and delivered with confidence. Structure your speech like a well-crafted drumming sequence, starting boldly, building with evidence, and concluding memorably. Clarity is key, making it easy for your audience to understand and remember your message. Take a deep breath, be confident, and let your message resonate like a drumbeat across the savannah, connecting with others through the universal rhythm of impactful communication.

I will add a number 8 which I think is key SPEAK THE TRUTH People have a way of connecting with you when you speak the truth, when you speak from your heart without waffling. When you are vulnerable without knowing that you are. Speaking truth connects the dots from your audience to crafting your message, you will practise however the practices comes naturally and you would not need to stage it. Answering Q and A will come easy and flow timelessly.

Develop clear and concise messages that convey your expertise, value proposition, and key points. Structure your presentations logically, with a compelling introduction, informative body, and memorable conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

As a temporary or contract worker, you've got to make every second count. Keep it crisp, keep it clear. Start strong, dive into your points with gusto, and wrap it up with a bang. Think of your speech like a well-crafted story: it needs a captivating beginning, a meaty middle, and a satisfying end. No room for fluff here – every word should pack a punch. When you're crystal clear, your audience won't just hear you; they'll remember you. So, let's craft that message and make it stick!

In the world of public speaking, there's no shortcut to success – it's all about putting in the reps. Sure, time might be tight in temporary or contract gigs, but don't let that stop you. Get creative with your prep: mirror sessions, recording yourself, or roping in a buddy for feedback – whatever floats your boat. The more familiar you are with your material, the more you'll own that stage. So, roll up those sleeves, get practicing, and let's knock that presentation out of the park!

Practice is important, but you need to be careful not to sound too rehearsed or robotic. If you only practice in front of a mirror, or by recording yourself, you are missing a crucial component. Your audience. If you focus too much on exactly what to say, you're missing the point. Real conversations, and meaningful communication, require more than one person. Our skills in public speaking will improve as we focus on our ability to listen and respond to others. Keep your main points in mind, but if you see it's not connecting with your audience, be prepared to deliver what you're saying in a different way. One approach will not work for everyone; you must adapt to your audience.

Record yourself on video and watch back. Try doing live videos on social media for practice. Volunteer to give free talks or workshops when you start for practice and then build up to doing paid ones.

One way to ensure that you have a good engagement with your audience is by understanding and researching about them. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what you'd really need to hear as an audience at this very time. Be relatable in your speaking cause that's the essence anyway.

Use interactive techniques such as storytelling, humor, and audience participation to capture and maintain the attention of your audience. Personal experience: I incorporated relevant anecdotes and interactive elements into my presentations to keep the audience engaged and interested.

When it comes to public speaking, it's not just about talking – it's about connecting. Get your audience involved with some rhetorical flair, sprinkle in anecdotes and examples that hit close to home, and watch those eyes light up. But hey, it's not just about what you say – it's how you say it. Nail that eye contact, own that stage with your body language, and let your voice dance with variety. As a temporary or contract worker, your ability to charm and captivate can set you apart. So, let's dive in, connect, and make magic happen!

Creating and bridging communication gaps makes it easier and comfortable for the audience to not only understand, but contribute and make an interaction session lively. Powerful engagement can be said to be proportional to good rapport.

Remember that engagement is just as much about listening as it is about talking. Active listening includes observation and non-verbal cues, but it can also require you to verbally re-affirm in some way that you're still in the moment with your audience. Try finding natural ways to reference small anecdotes from earlier in the conversation. We remember those who remember us. Communication is a two way street. You need to make the most of your time and opportunity with others, by showing you're invested not only in the topic at hand, but who you're having that conversation with. Remember that you are not just rehearsing a pitch, you are communicating, and you can't do that alone.

In my experience, this is the most important part of any speaking contract because whatever the speaker provides has to be valuable. During the Q&A session, the speaker's expertise is showcased through their responses, which can only be gained through experience and sets them apart. Therefore, the key is to prioritize content and not popularity when speaking.

As a temporary or contract worker, this is your chance to show off your expertise and quick thinking. Listen up, stay sharp, and tackle those questions head-on. Keep your answers on point, but don't sweat it if you're stumped – honesty goes a long way. Offer to circle back with the info later if needed. A smooth Q&A isn't just about wrapping things up; it's about driving your message home and leaving a lasting mark. So, let's dive in, handle those questions like a pro, and seal the deal!

Prepare for potential questions and objections from your audience in advance. Stay composed and confident during the Q&A session, addressing inquiries with clarity, honesty, and professionalism to demonstrate your expertise and credibility.

This is where you show them 'This is what makes me different'. Here is where you can really highlight your approach to problem solving and speak in more detail about your experience. Show, don't tell. What difficulties in projects have you overcome before? How can you approach a task or project with your unique set of skills? Are you able to admit what you don't know? More importantly, how are you going to address a problem and proceed when you're met with something you don't know. Being able to think on your feet, make relevant connections, and showing your flexibility when met with the unexpected, are all ways of providing value. Be yourself, showcase what you know, trust in your knowledge and experience. Confidence is sure to follow.

Always do Your homework & “know” the facts/truths !! Be confident with Your answers without hesitation. Don’t be afraid of challenging “myths” Confidence breeds Professionalism !!

After each speaking gig, take a breather and reflect. What hit the mark? Where could you level up? Did your message sing, or did it fall flat? This self-check is gold for honing your skills. Keep an eye on what works and what needs a tweak. It's a journey, not a destination, so embrace the process. As you navigate through different gigs, this habit of reflection and refinement will mold you into a powerhouse speaker. So, let's learn, grow, and keep on shining!

After each speaking engagement, take time to reflect on your performance, identify areas for improvement, and incorporate feedback into future presentations. Personal experience: I regularly solicited feedback from colleagues and supervisors to identify areas for growth and refinement in my public speaking skills.

A côté d'etudier le public cible, de préparer un message engageant de pouvoir répondre aux questions de façons claire et concise, la nécessité d'avoir un fil conducteur serait un atout fort pour se contrôler et avoir en mémoire les différents points à aborder durant son speech.

After each speaking engagement, take time to reflect on your performance and gather feedback from colleagues or mentors. Identify areas for improvement and set goals for enhancing your public speaking skills in future assignments.

Stay adaptable and flexible in your approach to public speaking, especially in temporary and contract work where environments and audiences may vary widely. Embrace each opportunity as a chance to learn and grow, building a diverse portfolio of speaking experiences along the way.

Network strategically: Use temporary and contract work opportunities to expand your professional network and create future speaking opportunities. Stay adaptable: Be prepared to adjust your approach based on the unique requirements and dynamics of each assignment. Invest in professional development: Continuously seek opportunities to enhance your public speaking skills through workshops, courses, and networking events.

When speaking to an audience in this role, you have an opportunity to be seen as a thought leader. Do this by blending. Start with a topic or concern of your audience that you know from your interactions with them. Blend that topic with lessons learned from your experiences outside or apart from this particular audience, that are tangentially related. For example, if you're contracting with a shoe manufacturer and they are currently worried about rubber sole prices. You could speak to that concern but sharing the lessons you learned when working with a jacket manufacturer last year. The challenges of two seemingly unrelated scenarios of which you were a part, are woven together in your speech with actionable thought processes or solutions.

Relax relax RELAX. So often times, especially when you first begin public speaking, people let their nerves and anxieties defeat them. Don't be afraid to mess up...you're going to. Don't be afraid of missing something...you're going to. Take each speech and learn, grow, and evolve from it. Go back over it in your mind and take away at least one way to improve.