Public speaking is something lots of people find terrifying. If you have fears about talking to others and influencing them from the podium, take heart. However, you can work to minimize your anxiety. Read on for suggestions to help you before your next public speaking engagement.
Your audience will not remain attentive unless you work to keep them listening. You need to work hard if you want their attention, and you need to work harder if you expect to keep it. Think of this as a performance, and that means you need to work harder to get the reactions you are looking for.
After writing a speech, time yourself. Doing this allows you to make sure you stay within the time frame given to you. If you find your speech is lacking length, add a little extra information to help fill time. Also, don’t rush through your speech when it comes time to give it.
If you want to impress your audience when giving a speech, you must practice and prepare beforehand. Have a good understanding of what you are trying to say. Support your statements with facts, when necessary. Jot down the things you wish to convey. Go over your remarks again and again until you have them memorized. The more time you take to be prepared, the more confident you will be while speaking.
Know your speech through and through. After you are able to do the speech from memory, you will be able to refine your delivery. With your speech firmly implanted in your mind, it will be much easier to naturally ad lib when you finally give it.
When you speak in public, it is important to be prepared in order to make a great impression. Have your facts and statements solidly in place. If you’re not sure of a particular fact, it’s best to do your research before stating it. Write down the things you plan on saying. Practice daily until you know your speech by heart. Solid preparation gives you confidence for the speech itself.
Know as much about your material as possible. Even when memorizing a speech, you should know the figures, facts, stories, and jokes that relate to your topic. Use them judiciously when you feel your audience is receptive. Also, use them to answer questions and back up the substance of your speech.
Learn the material the best you can. Don’t just memorize words, understand facts and even have a relevant story or joke on hand. It is possible to work them into your speech as you get a feel for your audience. It’s also good to use them to help reinforce your points in your speech by offering a question and answer session as a follow up.
Make sure you look at your audience when giving a speech. Do not let yourself get distracted by things in the area. You are trying to convince your audience of something, which means that it is very important for them to have your full attention.
Know your topic. Research broadly to get a full understanding of the topic at hand. Think through what you want to say, and put those thoughts down on paper so you can follow your own train of thought. It will be worth it when you find the audience asking questions.
Be aware of the audience you are speaking in front of. If there is a way, find things out about some individuals in the audience. Try and say hello to people as the enter the area and ask their names. The crowd will feel more friendly if you have a level of familiarity with at least some of the people.
Make eye contact with your audience as much as you can. Never allow yourself to be distracted by anything else that is going on in the room. You must command the attention of your audience.
One way to become more effective at public speaking is to concentrate on telling a true story. Outline the story before the speech. A well-rounded story will have the audience know when you begin and when it ends. If the story touches on something that actually happened to you, the audience will connect with it more.
From reading the above suggestions, you should have gotten great tips to best reduce your fears. Bookmark this page so that you can come back to it any time you must speak in public. The more you practice these ideas, the more comfortable you will become. Begin practicing now.
from Personal Coaching Center http://ift.tt/1R8sTDc
No comments:
Post a Comment