Public Speaking 101: Everything You Need To Know

If the thought of speaking in public puts you into a tailspin, youre certainly not alone. Millions of men and women of all ages share your fears. Anxiety doesnt just affect you physically; it also compromises your ability to get your point across. Fortunately, there are many strategies for developing your public speaking skills.

If you are preparing for a public speaking engagement in advance, memorize your speech first, before anything else. Once you are able to give your speech without looking at your notes, you can start to perfect your delivery. You will be more comfortable on stage when you have memorized your speech.

The way you look can determine how well you do at public speaking. If you are not well-groomed or dressed at your best, you are not going to feel very confident with yourself. This lack of confidence may cause you more fear and could mess up your whole speech. So, be sure to look your best!

Any time that you need to make a public speech, you must make sure that you thoroughly understand what you will be talking about before giving the speech. Research it from various angles so you have a good understanding of the topic. Write down bullet points of everything you want to cover, and be clear and concise so that you can refer to it as needed during your speech. This kind of preparation is bound to pay off handsomely as your audience asks questions.

Learn your audience. Ask about the people that are going to be the audience. Greet your audience when they walk through the door. Your speech will be much more relaxed if you feel friendly with the audience.

The tone of your speech should depend on who you are giving it to. For instance, if your speech is work-related, your speech should be professional. On the other hand, if you are around friends and have to make a speech, you can be more personal. Base your whole speech on your audience.

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.

Never hold a deep conversation with someone just because they are sitting in one of the front rows. When you are speaking in public, everyone should be just as important to you. Make sure that every single person in the room is fully aware of everything that is being said.

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.

Exercise

If you are nervous about speaking to a group, consider a visualization exercise that can help you significantly. Instead of looking out at your audience as people to impress, imagine that they are sitting there in this underwear. It is impossible to be intimidated by people dressed in such a way, so you will be calmer to speak.

Each of these tips has proven effective for individuals who once shared your apprehension. With the right mindset and motivation, anyone can deliver their message regardless of the audience size and environment. While you may not ever look forward to future public speaking engagements, you can be sure that you will no longer dread them.