'Holding' the audience - the art of communication

I am not a very confident public speaker. I often feel trembling when asked to give a presentation or speech to large group of people. In the past few weeks I evaluated and improved this area in my work place and caregroup. I attend my company's weekly meeting with seniors and managers. I participate in the meeting to report the KPI of my function, review other function's KPI and discuss ideas to solve problem. In the church, I led discussion and chaired caregroup program. Though the group size is smaller, I consider it as good training ground before I speak to a larger group of people.

I learned something about 'holding' the audiences when we speak to them. Holding them means we are fully engaged with them during the delivery. Here are some tips I discoverd:

• We have to be very clear of what we want to deliver and what we want the audience to receive. Planning is required most of the time.
• We have to connect with the audience by being relax, friendly, be ourselves, humorous and personal if possible.
• Observe and pay attention to the audience at all times!
• Be self-confident!
• Finally, it is not about ourselves; it is about others. No matter what happened, take it easy and see the bright side of life!