Lots of people hate the idea of speaking in public. For some, this even outranks death. While it is scary, many people find that they can’t avoid it. Advance preparation is key. Use the ideas from the following paragraphs to deconstruct the stress and fear that public speaking is to you.
Time your speech. You can then edit your speech so it does not extend past the time allowed. If it is short, get more information through research to fill your time slot. Finally, don’t rush when speaking.
Prepare in advance the best that you can before a speech. Know what you’re going to say. You should do some research so you can do a better job supporting your statements. Write down the ideas you wish to convey. Practice your remarks over and over until you know them by heart. Preparation allows you to be more at ease.
You cannot give a speech and automatically assume that everyone will follow what you say. You need to fight for their attention and respect. Your speech is a performance, you have to make people want to listen.
Make sure you know your material completely. Even if you memorize your material, it’s helpful to know other aspects of your topic that are not included in your speech. Use them judiciously when you feel your audience is receptive. They can also help you when it comes time for the audience to ask questions.
Once you’ve memorized your speech, make sure to practice it repeatedly. This will allow you time to tweak the speech if needed. Work on your pace and your breathing. Leave time for any interruptions, such as applause or laughter. It is also advisable that your speech is practiced in the place you plan on giving it.
Try telling true stories to better your public speaking. Make yourself a solid outline of the facts to base your speech on. Your story should have a clear beginning middle and end for better communication of your ideas. If you stick to the truth, it will be easier to make your story flow well.
Time your speech. You can then edit your speech so it does not extend past the time allowed. If the speech is not long enough, add more time by finding more information. Finally, don’t rush when speaking.
Become familiar with the environment before giving a public speech. Test the acoustics and the mic to see how much you have to project. If there is equipment you’ll be using, learn about it before the speech. Learn the proper use of visual aids that you are incorporating. Also, figure out how much eye contact you should make.
Dress to impress, even for events that require casual attire. Dressing up a little will help to give you confidence. When possible, men should wear a tie since it leads an audience to look at their face and head making them focus on your speech.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages prior to giving a speech. Although it may seem like a good idea to help bolster your confidence, it is a bad idea. You’ll regret it when you’re standing there and forget your speech because your brain is too fuzzy.
Know your speech through and through. When you can recite it at any point in point in time, work on delivering it. You will be more comfortable on stage when you have memorized your speech.
Note Cards
Use note cards if necessary. Though memorizing your speech is always wise, keeping a written copy on hand is also smart. 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.
Make sure the visual aids you use are not distracting. Visual aids should enhance the information you are giving. If you’re offering up too much as far as visual aids, they will be distracting and overwhelming. When making key points, try using high-quality visual aids. They shouldn’t be distracting, yet they ought to be attractive.
Know your topic. Do a lot of research so you have not only your point of view, but others as well. Carefully hone in on your own points and prepare your remarks carefully in clear notes that you will be able to follow easily. You will be better prepared when you have questions to answer.
If a public speaking even is looming on your calendar, then attempt a mental visualization of your speech. Visualize yourself speaking to your audience, and anticipate their reactions. You’ll be more confident if you think the audience will respond well.
Never get up and give an impromptu speech if you can help it. This idea can seriously backfire on you, no matter how extensive your knowledge on the subject is or how much passion you have for it. You might get away with something passable. Once you’ve done it, you’ll most likely regret the critical points you forgot to talk about.
Make sure your head is in the right place. Feeling a bit nervous is perfectly ok. Almost everyone feels this way. If you are being negative, that’s not okay. If you start thinking about failing, chances are you will fail. Believe you will succeed, and you shall.
You may want to consider using a story to engage your audience. Make an outline of the story before the date of the speech. There should be a beginning, middle and an end to communicate your ideas. Your story will seem natural if it’s a real one.
Start your speech by telling a story. Do this by thinking of something others can relate to such as something personal in your own life or a current event. Putting a human touch on the story will have the audience members relate to what your saying, and have their attention. When telling your story, do not use offensive anecdotes.
If you’re nervous, envision yourself sitting among the audience. Would you laugh or point at the speaker if they were to make a mistake? Would you lambaste the speaker? A gaffe is not the end of the world. You are likely to be more critical of yourself than others will be.
Don’t talk about your nerves with the audience. Your speech will be more meaningful without the audience knowing that. In most cases, nobody will have a clue about how nervous you are. Show them your confidence even if that’s not how you’re feeling.
If you accidentally skip part of your speech, roll with it. If you stop abruptly to backtrack to the missing section, the whole speech might be compromised. This will make it very difficult for you to keep going.
Public Speaking
As you can now see, public speaking is a huge fear that most people share. However, you need not let your own fear of speaking in public grip you. Take these tips to heart and your public speaking skills will increase.