Instant Alert: 7 quick exercises that will make you a better public speaker

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   7 quick exercises that will make you a better public speaker by Larry Alton on Sep 6, 2016, 10:56 AM Advertisement Your pitch serves as a gateway between every new person you meet and their contribution to your enterprise. Land the pitch, and you'll open the door to a bigger conversation that could lead to a new client, a new adviser, or maybe even new funding. Slip up, and you might not get an opportunity for further discussion. Of course, stronger business ideas naturally lend themselves to more convincing pitches than their weaker counterparts, but there's only so much you can do to perfect your business plan. The real key to a successful pitch is delivering it in a personable, compelling, and effective way, and that requires strong public speaking skills. If you're trying to perfect your pitch, try these seven public speaking exercises to help you get there. SEE ALSO: The 5 most common public speaking myths 1. Explain your idea to a child. This exercise is all about conveying your business idea in as few terms and as simply as possible. Children have far less experience in the real world than adults, and need ideas simplified for them — meaning you have to remove all those fancy-sounding buzzwords and fluff sentences. The twist is that even though you'll simplify your pitch, you'll actually end up with one that carries more meaning. Use this to get used to using simple, concise phrases. 2. Practice small talk. Small talk is your reliable segue into your pitch. Never walk up to a stranger and immediately pitch to him — instead, start up a short conversation about the weather, about the venue, or about a piece of clothing he's wearing. To get a better feel for the rhythms and niceties of small talk, practice it on a daily basis. Find someone new to talk to every day — gradually, you'll become more comfortable with it. 3. Write out your main points. Written exercises help your mind visualize and absorb information better than speaking exercises. Your pitch might sound great in your head when you speak it audibly, but when you write it out, you might find that you're forgetting a major point, or that one of your points isn't necessary to include. Chart out your pitch's main points on paper, and use that as a platform to improve. See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network: Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011