If you get hives just thinking about speaking in public, fret not. Once you learn some helpful tips that make the process less intimidating, you may find that public speaking is rather empowering. Read on to learn all about this.
Sometimes, people will not follow what you are speaking about. You need to make an effort to get and keep their attention. This is a performance, which means that you will have to work hard in order to get the results you want.
When preparing to speak in public, make sure to memorize your words well in advance. After you can say it from memory, figure out how you want the delivery to go. If you have the speech down pat, it gives you an opportunity to add lib as you go through it in front of a crowd.
You should know the speech you are giving. Regardless of whether you have the words memorized, it is still important to know random facts about the material. Use them judiciously when you feel your audience is receptive. They can also be used to make the speech stronger or to answer audience questions.
After committing your speech to memory, practice it over and over. Try to get in at least one practice session a day for the entire week before giving your speech. Practice your pace and breathing. Leave time for interruptions like laughter and applause. Try to practice using the equipment at the location where you will be delivering your speech.
Make sure you understand your topic before preparing your speech. Research broadly to get a full understanding of the topic at hand. Carefully hone in on your own points and prepare your remarks carefully in clear notes that you will be able to follow easily. The work you put into your speech will pay off in big ways if your audience has questions or you need to in any way reflect back on your work for a summary.
Know your audience. Try to find out the names of individuals who will be listening. Stand by the door as they come into the room, and try to get to quickly know them. Your speech will be much more relaxed if you feel friendly with the audience.
Where will you be speaking? Know the room well. Test your voice in it to see how far it projects if you aren’t using a microphone. Practice with the equipment to learn how it operates. Learn how to use any visual aids that might be present. Determine how much eye contact you’ll be able to make.
If you inadvertently skipped a sentence, keep going. Stopping and returning to the sentence may ruin the entire speech. If you just keep going, your audience will never know you made a mistake.
Practice deep breathing if you’re nervous. Inhaling deeply and exhaling completely helps to calm your nerves before starting your speech. Inhale through your nose for a four-count, and exhale through your mouth for a five-count. Do this approximately five times to feel a difference in how calm you feel.
Practice your speech as much as you possibly can. You can practice before your mirror or make a recording you can play back. See if you can get someone to listen to it so that they can advise you of points that could use improving.
Dress to impress, even for events that require casual attire. The way you looks reflects on your speech. Ties are great accessories for men to wear, as they help to bring the audience’s attention to a man’s face.
For many people, they would rather do anything else than get in front of an audience to speak. However, there are many easy ways to make your speech go well. Take what you learned here, study it, and you may find that public speaking isn’t really that difficult after all.