Public speaking is often rated as among the top five fears of most people. In some cases, people actually fear this more than death. Given how much people fear it, you’d be smart to take steps to handle it. Get over your fear of public speaking by learning a few simple tips below.
You must not think that just because you are talking, people are listening. You have to get their attention and hold on to it. Since this is technically a performance, you have to work to get the desired results.
A timer is useful to know exactly how long your speech is. This ensures your speech fills the time you have. Find more information if you need to make your speech longer. In addition, make sure that you don’t speak too quickly when delivering your speech.
Time your speech. This will give you the ability to stay on course. If you find your speech is not long enough, research to find more information. Also remember, you never want to rush through your speech; remember to pace yourself.
Take the time to really know the material in your speech. You should even know facts and jokes about the topic of your speech. Work them in where you think they fit and will engage your current audience. They can also help you when it comes time for the audience to ask questions.
Practice your speech repeatedly. Repeated practice sessions can help you make key adjustments. Be sure to master your pace and breathing. Make sure to allow a little extra time for applause during your speech. If you can, go over your speech where you will be delivering it.
Practice all that you can prior to your speech. Try giving your speech while looking in a mirror, or record it and play it back to find out how to make it better. See if you can get someone to listen to it so that they can advise you of points that could use improving.
The key to a good speech is preparation. Know exactly what you are going to say. You may want to research to make sure your statement are factual. Put your thoughts down on paper. Practice your speech until you have it memorized. Being well-prepared can improve confidence when it’s time for your actual speech.
Always dress to impress. Your appearance contributes greatly to your confidence level. Men should wear ties if possible, as ties help to direct eyes towards your face as you speak.
Try not to drink booze before speaking. This is not the best idea that you can put into practice. There is nothing more frightening than being on stage in front of people and forgetting your words because of alchol intake.
Before you even give your speech, get your audience on your side. If possible, meet some of them prior to your speech. Giving off positive energy to your audience will go a long way in keeping them interested in your speech.
Always look at your audience when speaking. Don’t let yourself become distracted by other activity in the room. You must command the attention of your audience.
Be sure to go out with a bang for a very memorable ending to your speech. While the other portions of your message are important, people are most likely to recall the ending. Ending with something boring is not going to keep your speech on their mind for too long.
Note Cards
Prepare note cards if you need them. Having a copy of your speech is a good idea, even when you have the speech memorized. You need not have the entire speech written down word for word, but having the key points you wish to make written on note cards can help ensure that you do not leave out any important information.
After you have memorized the broad strokes of your speech, practice often. Practice often to tweak your speech as needed. Try to maintain calm breathing during the speech. Be certain your speech timing allows for potential applause or other interruptions. If at all possible, practice delivering your speech utilizing the actual equipment that will be available at the time you make the actual speech.
If your audience will be a large one, make sure your voice is clear and strong. Try to have water available during your speech. Refrain from drinking carbonated beverages just before your speech occurs. These fluids are saliva-thickening and can even encourage mucous production. Hot tea prior to your speech can help relax the vocal chords.
Make sure your visual aids are not so dazzling as to be distracting. They should be there to emphasize the points you are trying to make. Visual aids should not overwhelm the message you are delivering. Visual aids should be of good quality, and used only for specific points where needed. They shouldn’t be distracting, yet they ought to be attractive.
Allow for questions and answers from your audience before your speech is over. If they have to wait, they may forget. The audience likes to interact, so give them the attention they need.
Any time that you need to make a public speech, you must make sure that you thoroughly understand what you will be talking about before giving the speech. Meticulously do your research so that you will have the ability to answer any questions you may be asked. Think through what you want to say, and put those thoughts down on paper so you can follow your own train of thought. When questioned about your topic, you will find your good preparation invaluable.
Never get up and give an impromptu speech if you can help it. This is one of the worst things that you can do. You may be able to give a passing speech. However, your speech as a whole probably won’t be very coherent.
If you want to connect immediately with your audience, start you speech off with an interesting story. It can be something hypothetical, news-related, or a personal story. Instilling some human elements to your speech helps you connect to audience emotion and empathy. When developing your narrative, steer clear of controversial or offensive scenarios.
Do not tell the audience you are nervous. They will regard your speech more highly if you simply deliver it to them without any personal confessions. Oftentimes, a speaker mistakenly feels the audience can sense their nervousness, but this is rarely the case. Just let them believe you’re really confident, and fake it until you make it!
Understand the audience you are speaking to. If at all possible, find out who the people are in the crowd. If you can, greet some of them as they walk in the door and learn their names. This will help you relax and make it more like you are speaking to friends than strangers.
The pace of your speech is very important. If you are nervous, you may be tempted to speak too quickly. Slow it down, but not to the point where it becomes boring to the audience. Practice the speech repeatedly to get the speed just right.
Public Speaking
As previously stated, many individuals have an intense fear of being put in a public speaking situation. However, public speaking is an important skill, and it is important to overcome any fears you might have related to this skill. Use these tips to feel more confident in your public speaking abilities.
If you talk about something that really happened in your speech, it will make it more meaningful. Have your outline fully prepared. Make sure that your story has discernible chapters, like beginning, a middle and an end. Your story should be based upon a real event, as this will help ensure that your words are natural and authentic.