Public speaking is often rated as among the top five fears of most people. It is even scarier than death to some. Since speaking in public can be so intimidating, it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time by implementing some ideas. Use this advice to master public speaking.
When speaking to a crowd of people, you will have to win them over and not just assume that they will buy what you’re saying. You must work hard to get their attention and even harder to keep it. This is a performance, which means that you will have to work hard in order to get the results you want.
Know your material as best you can. 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. You can work these things into your speech to add time, engage the audience, and make yourself sound like a real professional. Your thorough knowledge about the subject is also great in the Q and A that follows up the speech.
Public speaking needs to be taken seriously. You can’t just get up and speak and expect that everyone will hang on to your every word automatically. You need to make an effort to get and keep their attention. Think of this as a performance, and that means you need to work harder to get the reactions you are looking for.
Pay Attention
Always face your audience during your speech. Avoid becoming distracted. You want your audience to pay attention to you, so you need to pay attention to them as well.
Once you have initially memorized your speech, practice it repeatedly. You’ll get smoother at your speech by practicing it often. Also refine your pace. Give yourself some pause time after making key points. If at all possible, you should practice giving your speech using the equipment that will be used.
When you speak in public, preparation is critical. Understand exactly what you are planning to say. 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. Take time to practice your speech beforehand until you know it easily and well. Preparation allows you to be more at ease.
Do your homework on the topic you are presenting on. Researching well lets you see all parts of the subject. Identify the points you want to make and draw up careful notes that you can follow. This kind of preparation is bound to pay off handsomely as your audience asks questions.
Learn your audience. If you can, learn who is going to be in attendance. Then, greet them as they enter the room. Feeling comfortable and familiar with some individuals in the audience makes the process much friendlier.
Familiarize yourself with the venue where you will speak. If the room doesn’t have a microphone, figure out how far you can expect your voice to carry. Use the equipment to see how it works. Understand the best ways to use visual aids. Practice making eye contact as well.
Being prepared – understanding your topic is key. Even when you commit your speech to memory, knowing jokes, facts and figures with regard to the topic is always helpful. Pay attention to how your audience is responding. This can also reinforce your speech when answering questions or providing follow up conversations.
Dress appropriately for any speech you’re giving. It will help to reflect a professional attitude. Men should wear ties if possible, as ties help to direct eyes towards your face as you speak.
Don’t drink alcohol before a speech. Although you may think that a bit of alcohol will boost your confidence, the results could be disastrous. There is nothing more frightening than being on stage in front of people and forgetting your words because of alchol intake.
Prior to launching into your material, try to win over the crowd. Smile while they’re walking into the room, and give a friendly handshake or two. If you are positive, your audience will be interested in your speech.
While delivering your speech, look at your audience. Don’t allow anything to distract you, no matter what may be going on around the room or auditorium. It is important that the audience has your undivided attention, in order for them to get the message that you would like them to get.
Rehearse your presentation daily. That way, you will gain greater confidence from your familiarity with your content. While having the speech memorized is ideal, you should carry note cards with you to the podium. This allows you to take a quick peek at your notes should you happen to forget what you wanted to say next.
When you speak to large groups of people, you need a clear, strong voice. Keep water near you when you are speaking. Do not drink milk or soda on the day on which you are making your speech. These fluids can stimulate the production of mucous and inhibit saliva production. Drink a little tea to help relax those vocal cords.
Visual Aids
Understand the topic of your speech completely. Do careful research that enables you to view the topic from various angles. Develop your points carefully and prepare yourself with notes you can follow. You will be better prepared when you have questions to answer.
Don’t let your visual aids be so eye-catching that they distract from you. You need them to underscore your main points. You don’t want your message to get lost. Visual aids should be of good quality, and used only for specific points where needed. They should look good and be colorful, without causing a distraction from the presentation or speech as a whole.
As previously stated, some people have an intense fear of addressing an audience. But, it’s important to not make the choice to let the fear take control over your confidence. Take these tips to heart and your public speaking skills will increase.
from Personal Coaching Center http://ift.tt/2fqPcMh
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