How To Master The Art Of Giving Speeches

For some people, merely thinking about public speaking can cause their palms to sweat. It is one of the most common fears out there. However, there are many ways to overcome your fear and deliver a memorable speech. Here are some useful tips.

#1: DO YOU KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE?

Know the reason why you are asked to talk in a room full of people. Identify your audience. It is important to identify your audience to know what they want or need to take away from your speech. If you are speaking in front of your friends at a wedding, entertain them. If you are speaking in front of your co-workers, inspire them.

#2: HAVE YOU REHEARSED?

Make time to practice your speech. Write down your goals and the content of your speech ahead of time. This will ensure that your muscle memory will work while you deliver your speech. Try practicing despite having different distractions to mimic real-life situations.

#3: WHICH STYLE WORKS FOR YOU?

While others may benefit from having their script memorized, some may perform better with a few notes on a paper. Different events will usually require a different style. Know which style works for you.

#4: HAVE YOU TESTED ALL THE EQUIPMENT?

Nothing is more frustrating than last-minute technical difficulties. Avoid adding more stress to your day by testing all the equipment and audio visual presentations ahead of time. It is best to have backups too.

#5: HOW DID YOU USE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE?

The right physical or non-verbal communication can have a profound impact on how your message is interpreted and received. Be aware of your body language! For instance, you must make eye contact. Face your audience and stand straight. Avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pockets.

#6: DID YOU GRAB ATTENTION?

Grab attention by refraining from starting a speech with what today’s talk is about. Instead, use an interesting anecdote or a shocking statistic to kick things off. Conclude your speech with a summary and a strong statement that your audience will remember.

#7: HAVE YOU TRIED ENJOYING THE EXPERIENCE?

Image credits: unsplash.com

Fake it until you make it. If you look bored, then the audience will think that you not interesting. Exude confidence by adding a little humor (i.e., as long as it is appropriate) and interesting anecdotes. This will help you and your audience relax. Remember to eliminate sentences that does not clearly support your purpose. Remember that it is not about you, it is about your audience.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How To Beat The Fear Of Public Speaking

The place is all set, you are now standing in a room full of people with lights focused on you alone. You are about to voice out your ideas and accept the audience’s warm or cold reception. This imagery can sound nerve-wrecking to most people. Even if you prepared your notes and practiced your introduction, you can still feel nervous on stage.

Anxiety in several situations such as public speaking is completely normal. In fact, this is known as performance anxiety. Other performance anxiety examples include test anxiety and writer’s block. Fortunately, you can overcome this fear with enough preparation and continued persistence.

1. PREPARE AMAZING VISUAL AIDS

Come prepared with interactive presentation slides and eye-catching notes (to be given out to each of your guests). As the audience reads through the slides and notes, their eyes will not be solely focused on you. This will help you a lot as you giving a speech to people who are not directly looking at you is easier.

2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Firstly, record yourself and observe the areas that need improvements (e.g., tone of speech or hand gestures). Secondly, perform in a room full of a few people whom you are comfortable with. Lastly, consider joining groups that do improvisations or public speeches.

Getting used to the pressure of public speaking through practicing several times is extremely helpful. When you know what the worst case scenario is, you are less likely to stress about it once it comes.

3. VISUALLY TRANSFORM YOUR AUDIENCE

No! I am not recommending you to visualize your audience naked. Instead, I want you to perceive them as your friends whom you have not seen in a long while. You will be more comfortable to look them in the eyes as you turn each one into your “friend”. This will also add a very approachable, friendly, and personal tone to your presentation.

4. TELL A STORY

Incorporating a story in your presentation can alleviate your nerves as messing it up is completely acceptable. As stories are meant to be told and not to be memorized, you can tell yours in the most natural way possible. People might not recall some of the main points of your presentation but they will surely recall a good story.

5. EMBRACE AWKWARD SILENCES

If your mind goes suddenly blank during your presentation because the nerves kick in, it may seem like you stopped for a long while. But it probably took less than a minute in real life. Embrace these “awkward” silences and take it as an opportunity to take slow and deep breaths. Worry not, the audience probably would not mind the pause as they try to understand what you were saying all throughout.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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