You Can Learn to Become an Efficient Public Speaker
The fear of public speaking is very real for a lot of people. It actually ranks so high on the list that it has been shown that the fear of death actually takes a back seat to it.
At some point in your life, you have probably had the occasion to speak to a large audience. Of course ‘large’ is relative. To some, it can be any number larger than zero, where others don’t start to get uncomfortable until the number reaches over a hundred.
If you are among the number of people who would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy, you now the anxiety, along with the sweaty palms, unsteady speech and the fear of blacking out that come with public speaking. Perhaps the worst part is waiting for your turn to speak, whether you are introduced or have to get every body attention yourself. That is the moment of truth.
Perhaps the reason for the fear is that you don’t simply think everyone is looking at you; you know everyone is looking at you and judging what you are saying.
So, you take a deep breath and begin to muddle your way to the speech. At the end there is a sigh of relieve as you try to figure out if you had even holding your breath the whole time.
If this sounds familiar to you, it may help to know that even very confident people still get stage fright from time to time. Even when they have delivered the same speech hundreds of times- think motivational speakers. From time to time, we can all loose our confidence.
If you are looking to be able to deliver an address so that the audience thinks you have everything together, here are a few things to keep in mind before your next speaking engagement.
First, preparation is the key to your success. Make an outline of your speech, being sure to bold the points you want to be sure you hit.
Practice your speech to you friends, family, the dog, whoever will listen. If they have questions try to answer them in the speech. If they offer helpful suggestions, on word usage or flow, take them.
When D-Day comes, make sure you get to the venue as early as possible to feel it out. Is it a large auditorium or a relatively small meeting room? You don’t want to think you are speaking to a room that holds 50 only to find out you have enough room in the hall for 150.
Dress in comfortable clothes that look nice. This will boost your confidence and make your feel more at ease.
Don’t let the audience think that you are not one hundred percent confident and knowledgeable about your topic. After all, they are there to get information from you. If they knew more about the issue at hand, they would be there.
Remember, you have earned the right to speak. Some body somewhere decided you were the best person to present this idea, whatever it may be, to the masses.
And breathe!
High among the list of scary things for many people is the fear of public speaking. Few things can strike fear into the heart of a person and one of them is facing an audience.
At any point in anyone’s life, a person has the opportunity to talk in front of an audience. Everyone who is faced with such a dilemma knows those familiar feelings of anxiety. This situation is often accompanied by sweaty palms, shaky voices, palpitations, and sometimes a few sobs.
It is at this precise moment that “visions” come -- thoughts of being laughed at and ridiculed emerged. You imagine standing frozen in front as you forgot what to say, mumbled along, and placed everyone to sleep.
At this point, you are yanked back into reality by the sound of the presenter introducing your name. What follows next can be pretty ugly.
Those who have experienced similar situations know how difficult and uncomfortable it is to make a speech. Even confident people can sometimes be stopped by stage fright. This has led many people to despise public speaking.
Yet there are people do it with such seemingly relative ease! It is because they know that public speaking is like a skill that can be learned. It can be learned by anyone, including you.
One of the most important things in preparing to make a speech is to maintain a positive mental attitude. Let your fears pass through you and realize that many people have done this before and therefore, you can do it too.
Here are some things to remember in making a speech:
Preparation is key.
You must know your topic inside and out. Write an outline of the speech, highlighting all the key points. Prepare possible questions and answers. It's important to understand the topic and not just to memorize words. That way, even if you forget the words mid-speech, you still have confidence to continue.
Practice as much as possible.
You must practice until you know it by heart. Use a timer to control the pace of the speech. A timer is useful especially if there is a time limit. Practice in front of a mirror and practice in front of friends. Ask for their opinions on how to improve your speech.
Arrive at the venue early and get a feel of the place.
Try rehearsing on the actual podium. Consider your appearance. Dress well in comfortable clothes. This will inspire confidence in your self, as well as, make good impression on the audience.
Breathe deeply.
It is normal to feel anxious before a speech but you can't let nervousness stop you from being effective. Deep breathing increases the flow of oxygen into the brain. This helps maintain a clear mind. It would also be good to have a glass of water on hand.
Don't be afraid of the audience.
Never assume that the audience knows more about the topic than you do. The audience isn’t there to hurt you. They are there in order to hear what you have to say. Pretend that the audience is composed of friends and family. Better yet, have one of your friends who listened to your speech attend.
Remember to maintain a positive mentality at all times. Never entertain the thought of messing up. Be confident in your preparations and in yourself. Believe that you can do it and you will.
Anyone can learn to speak in public confidently. All it takes is some practice and a positive mental attitude to overcome this common fear.
- Leon Edward
