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| David Hallam |
If you are in the business of making customers, raising funds or influencing policy at a European or international level you invariably have to attend meetings where the participants speak many languages and you are communicating through interpretors.
Even the most seasoned executive can find it very daunting to move from operating exclusively in English. Few senior people, in any case, have ever had any formal training in public speaking.
Mistakes in constructing, delivering and illustrating, a speech or presentation, in a mother tongue are magnified when delivered through simultaneous interpretation.
All the basic rules of good public speaking apply – only more so.
Speeches should be carefully planned and timed to meet both the needs of the audience, and the allotted time slot. Audiences should be researched as far as is possible. The venue should be carefully reconnoitered. Industry or professional jargon should be avoided and sets of initials always spelt out in full.
The classic “three part sermon” is always a good starting point. You say what you are going to say, say it, then recap what you have said.
