Speaking in public often falls at the top of the list of things that people fear the most. Some find it more frightening than the prospect of death. While it is scary, many people find that they can’t avoid it. Advance preparation is key. Keep reading and learn how you can conquer the fear of speaking in public.
You cannot give a speech and automatically assume that everyone will follow what you say. You need to work hard to attract their attention and harder to maintain it. You will actually be performing, and that results in needing to do the work necessary to get people to care about what you want them to care about.
Make sure to understand what you are saying. While memorizing your speech is important, it’s just as important to know other facts and figures or even stories and jokes as they relate to your subject matter If you have time, you can add in some of these things throughout your speech as needed. Be prepared for more questions on the subject.
Preparation is important when you give a speech. Have an idea of the message you are trying to get across. Support your statements with facts, when necessary. Take notes on the topic. Practice your speech until you know it by heart. Sound preparation lets you feel comfortable when the time happens that you must speak.
Know who you’re speaking to. Try to find out the names of individuals who will be listening. Greet them at the door and ask their names. This will help you relax and make it more like you are speaking to friends than strangers.
Take the time to really know the material in your speech. Don’t just memorize words, understand facts and even have a relevant story or joke on hand. Use them judiciously when you feel your audience is receptive. In addition, you can rely on them during the question and answer period or during follow-up conversations.
Deep breathing can really help to calm your fears before a public speaking engagement. Controlling your breathing will reduce your level of stress. Inhale through the nose for four seconds, and then exhale through the mouth for five. Do this approximately five times to feel a difference in how calm you feel.
Tell a true story to practice speaking publicly. Make an outline of the story before the date of the speech. Make sure that your story has discernible chapters, like beginning, a middle and an end. Your story will seem natural if it’s a real one.
Practice all that you can prior to your speech. Practice the speech in a mirror to see what you can do better. Practice for friends and family to get advice.
If you inadvertently skipped a sentence, keep going. By stopping in the middle of your speech to go back to the missed sentence, you may blow the whole thing. Additionally, backing up will just make it abundantly clear to your audience that you messed up.
Dress nice, even if the public speaking is to be at a casual event. Proper attire is sure to make you feel more confident. For guys, a neck tie can be vital. A tie helps audience members’ focus to the speaker’s face. That helps keep people tuned in for the entire talk.
Never take a drink of alcohol prior to making a public speech. While it might help to loosen you up and boost your confidence level, it’s still not a good idea. Nothing is more awful than reaching the podium and drawing a blank on what to say, simply because you are drunk.
Public Speaking
Know your material inside and out, and confidence will follow. Pick a topic that really interests you and that you have a personal connection with. Do not focus on fancy wording or technical language, instead speak in a way that you connect with your audience.
Some people rate public speaking as more terrifying to them than anything, including dying. Don’t let your fear of public speaking control you, however. Put this advice to use and start speaking publicly like a pro.
The conclusion of your speech should really pack a punch. The end of the speech will set the tone for the entire speech. A boring ending isn’t going to help your speech get remembered that long.
