Nobody would dispute the proposition that public speaking can be very intimidating, if not crippling to some. The fact remains, though, that with a bit of coaching and solid technique, everyone has the power to get better at it. The article below is intended to help that process go more smoothly.
Make sure you wear a supportive pair of shoes when you do public speaking. You want your posture to be tall and confident, with open and relaxed shoulders so you portray confidence. If you get tense on stage from feet, knee or low back pain, it will affect your speech greatly.
Know your surroundings. Take a few moments when you arrive to acquaint yourself with your surroundings. If you can arrive early, go to the podium and do a soundcheck before your audience arrives. If you have visual aids, practice using them while you are orientating yourself with your surroundings.
Use your most powerful voice when you are delivering your message and it will be received much better. People listen harder to people that have confidence, and speaking loud will convey that message. Even if you are not 100% confident, no one will know that if you seem to be while you speak.
Get to know the room in which you are going to speak publicly. Find out how far your voice goes in the room without amplification. Use whatever equipment is available and get familiar with it. Utilize any visual aids around. Figure out how much eye contact you must make.
Project your voice when you speak in front of an audience. This is particularly true if you do not have the benefit of a microphone. You want everyone in the room to be able to hear you, so do not be afraid to speak as loudly as necessary to accomplish that. There is no point in making a speech that most of the audience cannot hear.
Take the time to practice your important speech. If you can give your speech “in your sleep,” you’ll feel much more confident when you get on stage. You should have notes with you, even if you have it memorized. You may draw a blank and the notes can help jog your memory.
After your speech is written, practice it often. You want to know the speech inside and out. Deliver your speech while looking in a mirror to help you see the effects of various facial expressions and hand gestures that you use to bring points home. Get feedback from family members or friends by doing a dry run for them. They can assist you in figuring out parts of the speech that you may need to alter.
It is impossible to deny the fact that public speaking makes many folks run away in fear. While it can certainly be nerve-wracking to speak in front of others, this is not a fear that is impossible to overcome. Use the advice in this article as necessary and get control of the situation today.
