Many people are afraid of public speaking. If you are afraid to speak in public, do not fret. There are plenty of things to do that will help relieve you of these scary feelings. Keep these tips in mind when you next have to give a speech.
Sometimes, people will not follow what you are speaking about. You need to work hard if you want their attention, and you need to work harder if you expect to keep it. To get results, you must work for it.
Make sure to understand what you are saying. Even when you commit your speech to memory, knowing jokes, facts and figures with regard to the topic is always helpful. Use them as needed to help your audience apprehend your points. Be prepared for more questions on the subject.
You should practice your speech numerous times. Speaking it out loud often will allow you to make tweaks as you see the need. You should also practice breathing and the pace of your speaking. Make time for any interruptions that may happen. If you can, try to practice using the podium and other equipment you’ll be using when you make the real speech.
It is important to have your main, broad concept clear in mind before writing your speech. Do broad research and view the topic from different perspectives. Think through what you want to say, and put those thoughts down on paper so you can follow your own train of thought. Being prepared will help when you have to answer questions from the audience.
If you have skipped some of the information in your speech, continue talking rather than getting yourself and the audience confused by an awkward flow of words. Do not pause to go back, it might set you off course. If you don’t mention it, the audience will never know you overlooked something.
If public speaking makes you nervous, use deep breathing techniques. Before speaking, breathe in deeply and exhale fully several times to center and prepare yourself. Inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of five. Repeat this six times and you will soon feel so much calmer.
Practicing is the most important part of speech preparation. Practice before a mirror or even video yourself so that you see where you can improve. Practice for friends and family to get advice.
Try dressing nice, even if it is a casual event. If you feel that you look good, your speaking will reflect that. Ties are great accessories for men to wear, as they help to bring the audience’s attention to a man’s face.
Avoid drinking alcohol before your speech. It’s always a bad idea, no matter how convinced you are that it will loosen you up and calm your nerves. Nothing is worse than getting up on the platform and forgetting what you are going to say because you have imbibed in alcoholic beverages before your speech.
Begin by engaging the audience. Be available to shake some hands and smile as people enter the room. Giving off positive energy to your audience will go a long way in keeping them interested in your speech.
Practice making your speech every day. That way, you will gain greater confidence from your familiarity with your content. While having the speech memorized is ideal, you should carry note cards with you to the podium. This helps you quickly get back on track if you lose your train of thought during the speech.
Practice your speech until you have the most important details memorized. Do it in front of the bathroom mirror and watch yourself. Try getting feedback from family when doing dry runs of speeches for them. They can help you make improvements to the content and delivery of your remarks.
Never apologize for being nervous. Even though you might feel as if the audience thinks you are saying something stupid, chances are they don’t even realize it. If you made an error, quickly fix it and keep going forward without apologizing.
Now that you’ve read this article, you know a thing or two about public speaking. Bookmark this page so that you can come back to it any time you must speak in public. Practicing these tips will make you a great speaker. Try practicing today!