You likely love or hate speaking publicly. For those who truly hate it, there’s still a chance to turn things around. Read on for some great public speaking tips to become a better speaker.
Utilize a timer so that you know the true length of the speech. This can help you edit it and retrain its length. If your speech needs to be longer, research the subject for more information to add. Also, never rush through your speech.
When you speak in public, preparation is critical. Know what you want to say. Research if you need support for your statements. Have an outline of your speech on paper so you can refer to it while giving your speech. Repeat your words so that you know what you need to say. Being well-prepared can improve confidence when it’s time for your actual speech.
You cannot give a speech and automatically assume that everyone will follow what you say. You need to work at keeping the audience focused on what you’re saying throughout the entire speech. This is a performance, which means that you will have to work hard in order to get the results you want.
Always make sure to look at your audience. Don’t turn your attention elsewhere. Remember that you need to get your point across, and you won’t do this unless you let your audience know your attention is on them.
As you prepare your speech, ascertain you know your topic well. Meticulously do your research so that you will have the ability to answer any questions you may be asked. Then pare this down to a few carefully crafted main points that are easy to follow. This kind of preparation is bound to pay off handsomely as your audience asks questions.
Know your audience when giving a speech. If you won’t be using a microphone, make sure you find out how far and how well your voice will carry. Use any equipment to get a feel for it. Visual aids can be very important in your speech. Make eye contact with the audience as much as you can.
If you are prepping, practice a lot and memorize what you need to prior to speech day. After you can say it from memory, figure out how you want the delivery to go. Having it memorized ahead of time can help you learn how to comfortably ad lib when in public.
Deep Breathing
Try some deep breathing exercises to get over nerves when speaking in public. Prior to getting up on stage, engage in some deep breathing. Breathe through your nose and count to four, then exhale counting to five. Do this several times to ease your nerves.
Practice makes perfect, and helps you master what you plan to convey. A good way to practice your speech and critique your mannerisms is by looking into a mirror as you’re talking. The best way to improve your speech is to practice with family members and friends. They are capable of providing you with constructive criticism.
Know as much about your material as possible. It is useful to know all the facts, figures and a few jokes or stories relating to your topic, whether your speech is memorized or not. Use them as needed to help your audience apprehend your points. In addition, you can rely on them during the question and answer period or during follow-up conversations.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages prior to giving a speech. While it might help to loosen you up and boost your confidence level, it’s still not a good idea. You do not want your speech to fall flat because you are too intoxicated to remember what you wanted to convey in your speech.
It is important to know your material if you want to feel confident about speaking in public. Pick an interesting topic that you’re experienced with. Keep a conversational tone to keep the attention of your audience.
Get the audience in your corner prior to giving your speech. Give them a big grin. You will be more effective if you have already made a positive impact on them.
When delivering a speech, always face your audience. This will limit the amount of distractions that you have. If you are distracted, your audience will be also.
Use note cards if necessary. Having a copy of your speech is a good idea, even when you have the speech memorized. You don’t need all of it, but having the main points will help make sure you don’t leave anything out.
Never apologize, even if you feel you’re failing. Sometimes, the audience may not see that you are nervous. If you happen to commit an error, just make a quick correction and keep moving without saying you’re sorry.
Speak with a clear, strong voice when speaking to a group. If possible, keep a glass of water within reach during your engagement. Refrain from drinking carbonated beverages just before your speech occurs. Such drinks thicken the saliva and can cause excessive mucous. A nice cup of warm tea just before a speech can help relax tense vocal chords.
Know your audience when giving a speech. If the room doesn’t have a microphone, figure out how far you can expect your voice to carry. Try out the equipment to see how it works. Make sure you know the right way to use visual aids or any relevant equipment. Make eye contact with the audience as much as you can.
Visual Aids
You want your visual aids to be attractive, but not distracting. You only want them to help enhance your speech. You don’t want them to become the main attraction. Use visual aids of a high quality when you want to illustrate a key point. They need to be attractive and colorful without distracting from the rest of the speech.
Don’t make people hold their questions until the conclusion of the speech. In fact, waiting until the end may be counterproductive, as some individuals will forget what they wanted to say. Your audience will appreciate it if you let them speak out when a thought strikes them.
No matter what kind of mistake you make, simply forge ahead. Stopping somewhere in the middle to re-add it can ruin the entire speech. Plus, if you don’t draw attention to something that was omitted, then your audience probably won’t even realize anything was missing.
To better connect with the audience, try inserting a story into your speech. Use a hypothetical situation, a topical news event or even a personal experience. Starting with a story will give your speech a human element. When coming up with a narrative, do not include any anecdote that people might find inappropriate or offensive.
Many people curl up when they have to speak publicly. You don’t have to be if you use the advice shared here. It is hoped that the information contained herein has provided help to simplify the process for people everywhere who must speak in public.