The fear of public speaking is very common. It even outranks death for some. Therefore, it is important to practice in advance in order to boost your confidence. The tips that follow are a good starting point.
If you are asked to speak about an unfamiliar subject, be sure to make the most of your research time. Study a wide variety of texts, videos and actual examples of your topic. Talk with people who know about it. When you speak, you can choose to talk about your research and share what you have learned rather than attempting to present yourself as an actual expert.
Whether you are new to public speaking or it is something you have done dozens of times, watching videos of the pro can be helpful. Viewing them allows you to see what the experts do and say to engage their audience. You can then try using these techniques when you give your next speech.
Bring the audience to your side, and then begin speaking. Greet the audience members as they enter. Your audience is sure to show great interest if you have a good attitude.
When asked to speak at a wedding, you may be tempted to try some sort of funny patter or to poke fun at the participants. Even when your intentions are good, this can be hurtful. It is better to speak in a friendly, caring and supportive way at this important event.
To increase your effectiveness as a public speaker, maintain good posture when you speak. To inspire confidence you should stand comfortably upright and avoid common posture problems such as slouching or leaning to one side during the presentation. If you don't intend to use gestures keep your hands in a neutral position, either straight down at your sides or in front of the body with one hand over the other at about navel height. Hold the attention of your audience by adopting a calm and upright demeanor.
Prepare with note cards if you need to. Though memorizing your speech is always wise, keeping a written copy on hand is also smart. Having the main points on note cards will help you get through the speech.
Be sure to use appropriate visual aids to make your speech more interesting. A picture or an object is worth a thousand words and can add depth and dimension to your presentation. Be creative in your choices of visual aids. Photos, paintings, sculpture, souvenirs, charts, graphs and many other types of objects can help you get your point across clearly.
Don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake during your presentation. Unless the information given wrongly is important do not correct your mistake. Instead, continue on with your speech like nothing has happened. If you need to correct the mistake you made, apologize and correct the mistake and continue on.
If you use a computer program to present pictures and information, be sure that you know how to operate it. The last thing you want is to waste the time when you are supposed to be speaking with a lot of computer fiddling. Practice your speech and your visual aids presentation thoroughly.
Learn as much as possible about your audience. Tailoring your delivery and tone ensures that you make your point clearly. Failure to use an appropriate delivery style will likely cause your audience to lose interest and retain key information. For example, you might consider differences in your audience members' age, income level, and knowledge of the subject matter.
Gesture naturally as you would in conversation. Don't try to learn gestures from others. Be yourself. Move around a bit while you are onstage, especially if your presentation is lengthy. This will help keep both you and your audience from being bored. If you are being filmed, try not to dash around too quickly!
Take the time to practice in front of a mirror. this can help you see how you look as you are speaking. Then you can try different approaches until you find on that seems right to you. This can help you have a better idea of how you look to the audience who will be watching you.
Keep things in perspective. Things do not always go as planned, but that does not necessarily mean that your speech is not effective or well-received. Whether you trip over a cord or forget your next line, it is not the end of the world. If you do not make a big deal of it, most people will probably not even remember that it happened. Regain your poise, and continue with your speech.
Start your speech by telling a story. This story can be from a personal experience or a hypothetical story. Adding a bit of humanity to your topic can trigger their empathy and willingness to learn from you. When coming up with a narrative, do not include any anecdote that people might find inappropriate or offensive.
If you find yourself nervous prior to a speech, just try to envision that you are someone within the audience. If the speaker makes a mistake, will you laugh? Would you think any less of the speaker? If an error happens, do not worry.
Avoid letting the audience know how nervous you are prior to delivering your speech. This can make you look unprepared, and it sometimes makes your audience take you less seriously. Most of the time, the audience has no idea how nervous you are. Pretend you are confident, no matter what.
Use quotes to your advantage when speaking in public. A good quotation can form the basis of your remarks, or you can intersperse quotes throughout your speech. When using quotes, be sure to give credit to the source. Practice delivering the quote in an effective tone of voice and with the proper inflections for best results.
Some find public speaking to be even more intimidating than death itself. As mentioned previously, it is among the five biggest fears that people have. However, you don't have to allow your public speaking fear to have control over you. Put this advice to use and start speaking publicly like a pro.
Orignal From: Speak In Public With Ease And Confidence
No comments:
Post a Comment