Has your fear of public speaking caused you to miss out on career opportunities or has it hampered your educational experiences? If the shakiness and nervousness you feel is something you have not yet been able to conquer, have faith. By using the tips that you will see below, you will have what it takes to be a great public speaker.
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.
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.
It is normal to feel nervous when giving a public speech. However, no matter how nervous you feel, you cannot let others notice. If you find yourself nervous, try to imagine yourself giving the speech to someone you know. It will calm you down and allow you to successfully give your speech.
Practice your speech until it’s perfect. Practice it while you are looking into a mirror and try using different hand gestures or facial expressions that help to make your points. Ask those closest to you to listen to your presentation as well. They can assist you in figuring out parts of the speech that you may need to alter.
If you will be speaking for a long time, be sure to have a glass of water handy on the podium. It is also a good idea to have a stool behind the podium so you can perch occasionally if you get too tired. Wear comfortable shoes so that you will be able to concentrate on your speech rather than your feet.
It is perfectly fine to use note cards. Though you ought to memorize your speech, it’s wise to have a copy of it as well. While you don’t necessarily need the entire speech, having key points of it that you want to emphasize should at least be written down on note cards to ensure that you don’t forget to cover the important stuff.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages prior to making your speech even if they are available at the event at which you are speaking. While alcohol may relax you, you do not want to appear inebriated when you make your speech. You may forget what you want to say, slur your speech, inadvertently insult someone or even become sick in the midst of speaking if you drink too much. Save the liquor for your post-speech celebration.
If you are one of the many individuals whose fear of speaking in public has cost them numerous opportunities over the years, you are not alone. The hesitation you have felt in the past is about to melt away to nothing. Use the information above as needed, and you can control your own destiny when it comes to public speaking.
