Many people avoid public speaking due to fear. The fact is that countless folks truly hate the idea of speaking in public. These suggestions will assist you in working through your fears and help you to become a great public speaker.
When you speak in public, remember that people will not automatically follow what you say. It’s your job to make your speech appealing so that you can earn and keep their attention. Think of this as a performance, and that means you need to work harder to get the reactions you are looking for.
You cannot give a speech and automatically assume that everyone will follow what you say. It is up to you to grab their attention and hold on to it. You are performing for them, and speaking confidently to win them over is key to achieving the desired results.
It’s vital to know about everything that you will be talking about during a speech. Keep to facts and other information that is directly related to your speech. It is possible to work them into your speech as you get a feel for your audience. You might also find this information comes in handy when it’s time to answer questions.
When practicing to give a public speech, it is a great idea to commit it to memory. After you are able to do the speech from memory, you will be able to refine your delivery. You will be more comfortable on stage when you have memorized your speech.
Make eye contact with your audience as much as you can. Don’t allow anything to distract you, no matter what may be going on around the room or auditorium. It is important to pay attention to the audience if you expect their attention in return.
Being prepared – understanding your topic is key. 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 when needed to bolster your persuasiveness. They can also be used to make the speech stronger or to answer audience questions.
After committing your speech to memory, practice it over and over. Repeated practice sessions can help you make key adjustments. Practice your pace and master breathing. You will need to leave pauses for interruptions by the audience. Use the equipment you are going to use for the speech to practice if you can.
Practice your speech more than once after you memorize it. Work on issues where you lose your flow. Learn to breath with ease and pace your delivery. Make sure there are pauses between key points so that people can react with applause. If you can, try to practice using the podium and other equipment you’ll be using when you make the real speech.
Know who your audience is. If you can, learn who is going to be in attendance. If you can, greet some of them as they walk in the door and learn their names. Include some of the people in your speech, and this will give it a much more friendly tone.
Know the crowd makeup before you give the speech. If it’s possible to know, learn about some of the specific people that will be there. Greet them at the door and ask their names. A great personality is the first step towards becoming a great orator.
If public speaking makes you anxious, practice doing deep breathing. Before speaking, breathe in deeply and exhale fully several times to center and prepare yourself. First, inhale and hold it for 5 seconds. Then slowly exhale for about 5 seconds. Do this six times, and you’ll start to become very calm.
Are you scared of speaking in public? Have you kept all your great ideas to yourself because of your nervousness? Now that you have reviewed the advice contained in this article, there is no longer a reason for your voice to be silent any longer.
Practicing is the most important part of speech preparation. Try giving your speech while looking in a mirror, or record it and play it back to find out how to make it better. The best way is to practice giving the speech for friends or family, and have them give constructive criticism.