If you are frightened by the thought of speaking in public, you are not the only one. Getting in front of other people and speaking is actually a fear that most people share. Fortunately, what follows is a compilation of tips that can help just about anyone rid themselves of this paralyzing fear.
Your audience will not remain attentive unless you work to keep them listening. You have to capture and retain their attention. This performance requires working hard for your desired results.
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.
You should know your speech by heart. 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.
Make sure you know your material completely. Even when memorizing a speech, you should know the figures, facts, stories, and jokes that relate to your topic. You can work these things into your speech to add time, engage the audience, and make yourself sound like a real professional. Draw on your general knowledge in the Q&A session following your presentation.
It’s important to be prepared for your speech. Identify what points you wish to make. Take time to research, if needed. Write down anything you need to include. Practice until you know the speech by heart. Solid preparation gives you confidence for the speech itself.
Know what you are talking about, inside and out. Do careful research that enables you to view the topic from various angles. Then you can hone in and discover your personal point of view in order to prepare an effective speech. You will be better prepared when you have questions to answer.
Be as familiar as possible with your material. If you have your speech committed to memory, it is still very important to understand the topic completely so you can tell stories or jokes related to it. Use them as needed to help your audience apprehend your points. You might also find this information comes in handy when it’s time to answer questions.
Use deep breathing techniques to assuage your anxiety with regard to public speaking. You can gain control of your nerves by taking several deep breaths before you go onstage. Inhale through the nose for four seconds, and then exhale through the mouth for five. You’ll feel yourself relaxing after you do this five or six times.
Practice your speech frequently once you have it memorized. Practice often to tweak your speech as needed. Also, practice your breathing and pace. You will need to leave pauses for interruptions by the audience. When you can, try out your speech using the exact equipment used in the public event.
Even if the event you’re speaking at is casual, dress nice. Looking sharp can give off a confident image. Men should want the focus to be on their face as they speak, so think about wearing a necktie.
Be aware of who your audience really is. If you can, learn who is going to be in attendance. Greet people as they enter and chit chat with the crowd before your speech. By knowing who you are speaking to you, you can gain confidence.
Did you participate less in class because of how much you hated public speaking? Have you let fear guide your interactions with others? You should feel more confident after reading the advice in this article.
Concentrating on story telling is an effective path towards better public speaking. Outline your overall story prior to speaking in public. It should have a beginning, middle, and ending that is clear so that you get your ideas out better. If the story you tell is based in reality, it will sound natural.
