Public speaking is a big fear that people have today. It even outranks death for some. Therefore, it is important to practice in advance in order to boost your confidence. Keep reading and learn how you can conquer the fear of speaking in public.
Try using a timer to time the length of your speech. This can help you edit it and retrain its length. If you need to fill in more time, look for more pertinent information on the topic. Pace your speech so that the audience can keep up with what you are saying.
While speaking in public, you cannot assume that people are going to understand what you are talking about. You need to work at keeping the audience focused on what you’re saying throughout the entire speech. Your speech is a performance, you have to make people want to listen.
Preparation is key when it comes to making a good impression when speaking in public. Get everything you want to share in your speech down well. Support your statements with facts, when necessary. Jot down notes on what you would like to say. Take time to rehearse your speech until you have it memorized. Being prepared will boost your confidence while delivering your speech.
Practice your speech as much as you can. This will allow you time to tweak the speech if needed. Work on your pace and your breathing. Be sure to allow time in your speaking for pauses or interruptions, which you hope to be audience applause. Practice your speaking in the environment where you will give your speech.
Practice your speech repeatedly. Speaking it out loud often will allow you to make tweaks as you see the need. Also, practice your breathing and pace. You will need to leave pauses for interruptions by the audience. When you can, practice using your speech equipment.
Know what you are talking about, inside and out. Do research that comes at your main topic from many different points of view. Make sure that you understand each of the key points. You’ll be glad you prepared when you can adequately answer questions.
When making a public speech, become acquainted with the room. See if your voice can reach the back of the room if there is no microphone. Practice using the equipment before the event. Take advantage of the visual aids that are there, if any. Find out what eye contact range you should have.
Know the audience that you are speaking to. If you can, learn more about audience members. If you have the opportunity, greet as many as you can and ask their names as they enter the room. The crowd will feel more friendly if you have a level of familiarity with at least some of the people.
Practice is the single best way to make sure you know exactly what to say. Practice the speech in a mirror to see what you can do better. However, it is always best to prepare your speech in front of family and friends, since instant feedback is the best.
If you know you forgot a sentence when speaking, just keep going. If you stop while speaking to correct the part you missed, it might throw off the rest of the speech. Additionally, backing up will just make it abundantly clear to your audience that you messed up.
Bring the audience to your side, and then begin speaking. Greet the audience members as they enter. Doing this will help you feel confident.
Deep Breathing
It is important to speak with confidence in a clear voice when addressing large groups. You can use a cup of water, kept nearby, to help with this. Try to steer clear of soda or milk prior to your speaking engagement. Such drinks thicken the saliva and can cause excessive mucous. Help your vocal cords relax by drinking hot tea prior to your speech.
Practice some deep breathing to help you through your speech. Deep breathing can be tremendously helpful at controlling nerves. Inhale through your nose for a four-count, and exhale through your mouth for a five-count. Do this approximately five times to feel a difference in how calm you feel.
Picture the speech when you have a speech scheduled. Visualize it and how the audience reacts to it. Picture happy faces, clapping audience members and a successful speech. By seeing it, you can make it happen.
Practicing your speech is a great way to become confident. Practice before a mirror or even video yourself so that you see where you can improve. The best way is to practice giving the speech for friends or family, and have them give constructive criticism.
After your speech is completed, be ready to answer any questions the audience may have. To make sure that your audience has plenty of time for questions, try to keep your speech within 75 percent of the allocated time you are given. Be as brief and direct as possible when answering so that multiple questions may be addressed.
As previously stated, some people have an intense fear of addressing an audience. However, don’t let fear rob you of the opportunity of becoming a dynamic public speaker. These tips can help you get a handle on your situation.
Don’t go overboard with jokes when making a public speech. A couple jokes can enhance your speech. However, be sure the speech contains helpful information, too. Include a good joke that will be appreciated.