Many people, when asked to give a speech, find themselves feeling very nervous. They may feel tongue-tied and have no idea what to say. Other people are able to address any crowd with confidence. Whether you love or hate public speaking, the following tips will be very helpful to you.
Feeling nervous before speaking in public is very common. To help overcome the fear of speaking in front of others practice the speech you will be giving several times in front of your family. This will allow you to work out any kinks in your speech. Additionally, this will give you the chance to speak in front of others.
If you’re preparing your speech ahead of time, memorize it before doing anything else. Once you have your speech memorized, then the delivery method you choose can be worked on. 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.
Take the time to really know the material in your speech. 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. It is possible to work them into your speech as you get a feel for your audience. Your thorough knowledge about the subject is also great in the Q and A that follows up the speech.
When you arrive at the podium take a deep breath and engage the audience with your eyes and smile. Take a moment to calm your nerves and use your nervous energy as a way to energize your speech. Allow your audience to feel your excitement for what you are talking about.
To help boost your confidence level imagine giving your speech to a crowd who is anxious to hear your speech. Imagine the audience standing to their feet giving you a standing ovation when you complete your speech. This will help you feel confident when the time comes to deliver your speech.
Some people prepare their notes for speaking in public by using a tablet or other device; however, this is not necessarily a good idea. Murphy’s law is sure to strike and leave you with a dead battery, a stolen device or some other catastrophe. Be safe and write your remarks on index cards as well as keeping them on your mobile device.
Make sure that the beginning of your speech is a moment to relax. Greet and address your audience. Then pause for three seconds. This gives them a chance to focus on you, while you get a moment to transform your nervous energy into enthusiasm for the material you are about to deliver.
Public speaking fills many people with dread, while others thrive by feeding off the energy of a crowd. Whether you are terrified of public speaking and avoid it all costs, or enjoy standing before a crowd of people, these tips can help. Remember them the next time that you have to give a speech.
