If public speaking is something you have always avoided at all costs, you are not alone. In fact, public speaking is feared by the majority of the population. Luckily, the advice in this article can really help.
When you give a speech to a crowd it is important that they can see your face. Never allow yourself to be distracted by anything else that is going on in the room. You are attempting to convince the audience of something, so they need your full attention.
Know what type of audience you will be talking to. If at all possible, find out who the people are in the crowd. If possible, greet them when they arrive. By knowing who you are speaking to you, you can gain confidence.
Utilize a timer so that you know the true length of the speech. You can then edit your speech so it does not extend past the time allowed. Do more research to add some more material if you’re short. Finally, never rush during a speech.
Know the room before you speak in public. See the distance that your voice will carry without a microphone. Practice using any equipment you need so that you know how it works. Visual aids can be very important in your speech. Practice making eye contact as well.
Practice deep breathing exercises if you are the type who is anxious when you speak in public. Take several breaths and exhale before you start to calm your nerves. Inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of five. Do this approximately five times to feel a difference in how calm you feel.
The most effective way to refine the message of a speech is to practice it. Speak to a mirror or make a recording of your speech in order to make refinements. Practice for friends and family to get advice.
Being prepared is key to making good public speaking impressions. Have a good understanding of what you are trying to say. Research your topic fully. Have an outline of your speech on paper so you can refer to it while giving your speech. Rehearse your comments until you master them. Being well-prepared can improve confidence when it’s time for your actual speech.
Avoid alcohol before you deliver your speech. You may think that it will help you loosen up and be more confident, but it can have quite the opposite effect you want. You don’t want to start speaking and suddenly forget your lines or say them in a way that others don’t understand thanks to the alcohol.
You need to master your material in order to gain true confidence. Choose a subject that is close to your heart. Keep a conversational tone, you are are sure to impress the audience with what you know.
Prior to getting up and speaking, try and connect with the audience. As they come into the area, smile at them and perhaps greet them personally. Doing this will help you feel confident.
Be as familiar as possible with your material. You should even know facts and jokes about the topic of your speech. Gauge how your audience is reacting to your speech and use these things in a good way. These will help to give your speech more credibility with your audience.
Rehearse your speech every day. If you can give your speech “in your sleep,” you’ll feel much more confident when you get on stage. While having your speech memorized is positive, also make sure to keep your notes nearby at the podium. That way if you forget what you are to say, you can glance down at your notes and refresh your memory.
Practice your speech as much as possible so that it becomes second-nature. Try practicing in front of mirrors, using hand gestures, and facial expressions for making points. Do a few practice presentations in front of friends to get some feedback. Good preparation ensures that you will make the best presentation possible.
Give a great ending to your speech. Even though the entire speech is very important, a quality ending is usually what people remember the most. If the finish is boring, you speech will soon be forgotten.
Learn your audience. Connect with them before you begin your speech. Greet your audience when they walk through the door. Your speech will be much more relaxed if you feel friendly with the audience.
Note Cards
Prepare with note cards if you need to. While you should have your speech memorized, you should carry a set of note cards with you to the podium. It is not necessary to write down the whole speech, but having important points jotted down on note cards makes it less likely that you will omit important facts that you wish to convey.
Speak with a clear, strong voice when speaking to a group. If you can, try to have some water nearby when you speak. Also consider avoiding dairy and carbonated beverages the day you’ll be giving your speech. This can make your saliva thick and can also make you produce more mucous. Drinking hot tea before a speech will help to relax the vocal cords.
Focus on telling true stories to help improve your public speaking. Before speaking to the audience it is important that your speech is outlined. Make sure you have an intro, body, and conclusion. If the story touches on something that actually happened to you, the audience will connect with it more.
Get your head in the right zone. It is common to find yourself feeling anxious. Everyone feels nervous before a speech. If you are being negative, that’s not okay. Negative thinking can ruin your speech. Think positively and you will do great.
Start your speech off with a good story to establish audience connection. This can be something from your past. A story should immediately draw in the audience, playing on their empathy. Do not include any inappropriate references in your speech.
Put yourself in the shoes of your audience. How would you handle the situation when a speaker loses track of their speech? Would you suddenly assume they were a horrible speaker because of a simple mistake? Probably not, and your audience should be just as forgiving.
Know your audience when giving a speech. Find out how far your voice goes in the room without amplification. Use the equipment to get used to it. Learn the proper use of visual aids that you are incorporating. Get a good handle on the eye-contact range you will need to make.
Never let the audience know that you are fearful about your speech. This will reduce the credibility of your speech. In most cases, nobody will have a clue about how nervous you are. It is best to allow the audience to believe that you are fully in command and confident, even if you feel like butterflies are battling it out in your stomach.
Was speaking in class something that you never did, just because of fear? Are your thoughts something that never get conveyed to the public because it makes you scared to speak up? You don’t have to be quiet anymore, now that you have read the above article.