You’re probably afraid of public speaking just like most non-professionals. Don’t worry, there are many people in the same situation as you. Most people are not comfortable speaking before an audience. There are, however, things that can be done to help make the whole experience easier for you. Continue reading to find the keys to success in public speaking.
You cannot speak in public and believe that people will automatically follow what you are saying. You need to make an effort to get and keep their attention. To get results, you must work for it.
Once you have your speech memorized, repeat it often. This is the time where you can perfect the speech with effective changes. Practice your pace and breathing. Ensure your speech allows for interruptions, such as applause. If you can, do a trial run of the speech in the same room that you will be delivering it to an audience.
Understand the audience you are speaking to. If you can, find out who is attending the event. If possible, greet them as they enter and ask their name. Practice their names in your mind. When you do these things, you’ll feel a lot more familiar with the people and the room.
Familiarize yourself with the room you will be speaking in. Test the acoustics and the mic to see how much you have to project. Use the equipment to get used to it. Utilize any visual aids around. Find out what eye contact range you should have.
If you accidentally skipped over a sentence, forget it and keep going. The whole speech might be messed up if you feel like you have to go back and correct something. Also, people will notice it more if you backtrack.
Practicing happens to be the best method to learn what you’re going to say. Practice giving your speech on your own so you are able to make improvements where needed. You can also practice in front of your friends or family for constructive criticism.
Never take a drink of alcohol prior to making a public speech. Although you may think that a bit of alcohol will boost your confidence, the results could be disastrous. You don’t want to stand behind the podium feeling tipsy because you may forget what you want to say or your speech may be slurred.
Know the ins and outs of what your speech will be about. Select a topic of real interest to you in which you have deep knowledge. Keep your tone conversational and you’ll impress your audience with your knowledge instead of confusing them with complicated jargon.
Try practicing your speech every day. If you can give your speech “in your sleep,” you’ll feel much more confident when you get on stage. You should have notes with you, even if you have it memorized. This helps you quickly get back on track if you lose your train of thought during the speech.
Practice your speech as much as you possibly can. Watch yourself in a mirror during practice sessions to feel confident about hand gestures, facial expressions or other body language. This is the best way for you to feel comfortable. They will help with your weak spots.
Note Cards
Make use of note cards. Though you should try to memorize your speech, a hard copy will help ease your stresses. While you don’t necessarily need the entire speech, having key points of it that you want to emphasize should at least be written down on note cards to ensure that you don’t forget to cover the important stuff.
Never apologize for being nervous. Even if you believe you are making many mistakes, the audience might not even notice. Should you make an error, simply correct it and continue on without apologizing.
Your voice must be strong and clear when you speak. Have some water on hand so that you can refresh yourself if necessary. When you know you have to give a public speech, stay away from dairy drinks and sodas on that day. These fluids could thicken your saliva when delivering the speech. Hot tea may be just the trick to get your voice in shape before speaking.
Your new knowledge of the above tips should leave you feeling ready to speak before groups of all sizes and types. The suggestions offered above will help you on that path. You can now craft a speech that will resonate with others. Thinking about public speaking should not be something you fear any longer.