We are all called upon to make a speech sometime in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. We may get nervous, forget what we want to say, or talk too long and bore our audience. Later we may think, "Thank goodness, it’s over. I’m not good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again."
It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech-making, First of all, it is important to plan. Find out everything you can about your subject. And, at the same time, find out as much as you can about your audience. Who are they Why are they coming to hear you speak Put yourself in their shoes as you prepare your speech.
Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion Why are you speaking There are many possible speaking roles, and each one has its own special characteristics. Don’t spoil your speech by confusing one speaking role with another.
When you are making your speech, try to relax. Speak slowly and clearly and look at people in your audience. Use simple vocabulary and expressions whenever possible. Pause for a few seconds now and then to give your audience a chance to think about what you have said.
If you follow these steps, you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking.
What does "put yourself in their shoes" (Line 4, Para. 2) mean