The fear of public speaking is very common. Some people even fear it more than death. Given how scary public speaking can be, it is wise to prepare for it in advance with a few ideas. Get to the root of your speaking issues with this advice.
Be as familiar as possible with your material. It is useful to know all the facts, figures and a few jokes or stories relating to your topic, whether your speech is memorized or not. Insert them and gauge how your audience reacts to them. You might also find this information comes in handy when it’s time to answer questions.
When preparing to make a speech, be sure to understand the concept of your topic first. This will help you to become more comfortable. Develop your points carefully and prepare yourself with notes you can follow. Your thorough preparation will pay off when your audience asks you questions.
If possible, meet some of the audience members before your speech. If you can, it would be good if you could find out who will be attending. If possible, greet them as they enter and ask their name. Practice their names in your mind. You will feel more comfortable, and so will your audience if you are engaging them on a personal level.
Try telling true stories to better your public speaking. Outline the story before the speech. Make sure the story is complete from beginning to end. If you stick to the truth, it will be easier to make your story flow well.
5 Seconds
Practice deep breathing if you’re nervous. Inhaling deeply and exhaling completely helps to calm your nerves before starting your speech. First, inhale and hold it for 5 seconds. Then slowly exhale for about 5 seconds. Repeat this set six times to enhance your calm.
Practicing your speech is a great way to become confident. You can practice before your mirror or make a recording you can play back. Also, get feedback from friends by practicing your speech for them.
Dress appropriately for any speech you’re giving. You will speak more confidently, if you are dressed nicely. Wear a necktie if you want to draw the audience’s attention towards your face.
You must know your material in order to feel comfortable while delivering your speech. Pick an interesting topic that engages you, and you can be sure it will engage your audience. Do not focus on fancy wording or technical language, instead speak in a way that you connect with your audience.
Make sure to focus on getting your audience’s attention early on. Greet them and shake their hands or smile at them. Giving off positive energy to your audience will go a long way in keeping them interested in your speech.
After your speech has been prepared, practice it until it is committed to memory. Use a mirror to view how your body language comes across. Make your speech for friends or family members, and listen to their feedback. They can help you make improvements to the content and delivery of your remarks.
Keep your voice clear and bold when delivering your speech. Have a cup of water with you while delivering your speech. 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. Some hot tea before a speech can soothe your vocal cords.
Visual Aids
Make sure the visual aids you use are not distracting. It should enhance your statements. You don’t want them to take over and cause others to stop listening to what you personally have to say so that your message is lost. Get your point across with reliable visual aids. They shouldn’t take away from your message.
Don’t wait until your speech is over to answer questions. This will prevent people from forgetting what they wanted to ask you. People will appreciate having a chance to get answers to their questions as they arise; so let them do just that.
As previously stated, the fear of speaking in public is one of the top five fears; some even fear it more than death, itself. This doesn’t mean that fear of speaking in public should overwhelm you, however. You’ll be able to speak confidently publicly after applying what you’ve learned here.