What You Should Know About Speaking In Public
What You Should Know About Speaking In Public
Many people are frightened by speaking in public. If you face fears when it comes to this important task, take heart. There are steps you can take to alleviate your trepidation. Read on for suggestions to help you before your next public speaking engagement.
Know the audience that you will be speaking to. To help you get to know the audience, greet people as they enter and engage them in some conversation. By doing this, you will feel more comfortable when you go to the podium. It is much easier to speak to people you know.
Make sure you wear a supportive pair of shoes when you do public speaking. You want your posture to be tall and confident, with open and relaxed shoulders so you portray confidence. If you get tense on stage from feet, knee or low back pain, it will affect your speech greatly.
Make sure you know your material completely. It is useful to know all the facts, figures and a few jokes or stories relating to your topic, whether your speech is memorized or not. Depending on the type of audience and how receptive they are, you can weave in stories as you go along. Draw on your general knowledge in the Q&A session following your presentation.
Wait until after your speech to enjoy a beer. You may be tempted to consume a little liquid courage, but it is not a good idea. Alcohol can cause memory issues and may make you stumble over your words.
Take a look at the venue before you make your speech. See how big the room is, how many seats there are, and what the lighting is like. You will feel less nervous when you know what environment you will be dealing with. Also, try standing at the podium to get a feel of the stage.
Get on your feet and practice any speech on a daily basis. Doing so will increase the confidence you have, as you will be very familiar with the material. Make sure that you carry your note cards to the podium for back up should you forget your speech. This will help if you stumble over any part of your speech or forget an important point.
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.
When it comes to public speaking, you need to make sure you practice your speech. Practicing several times before your actual speech can make you become more comfortable with your material. Reading your speech out loud can also help you revise your speech. This is also your chance to get rid of filler words and better your pacing.
Now that you've read this you should be better prepared to face your fears. Keep coming back here whenever you're preparing for a speech. You will get more comfortable with practice. Practice these as soon as you can.