10 tips for better public speaking
Is there a great speaker hiding with you?
"Not hardly," you may be thinking. Think again.
The fear of speaking in public is well-documented, often discussed, and probably overrated. The great news is that speaking in front of a group can be an entertaining and energizing experience for even the most fearsome among us.
Try these 10 ideas to enjoy speaking and to sharpen your delivery:
- Be yourself! Every person is inherently charming and interesting, especially when we feel
confident. The only trouble is that we don't always let the good stuff come out! Let your
natural personality come out, and you'll be terrific. Enjoy what you're speaking on, and the
audience will love you. Often, the more you try to sound impressive, the more you come off
sounding insincere.
- Give yourself permission to feel nervous. Don't concentrate on your nerves. Even the most
seasoned, experienced presenter can get nervous. There's no shame in feeling a little scared.
But
here's a common mistake: Many people, when they begin speaking, start to focus on how
nervous they feel. They worry about their hands shaking, and they notice their voice
quivering --- which, not surprisingly, makes them feel more nervous! Instead, realize that it's
OK to feel a little nervous for the first minute or two, and concentrate instead on serving the
audience.
- Forget about yourself. Stop worrying about your hair being perfect or your voice sounding odd
and start concentrating on serving the audience. Focus on delivering value to the audience.
Think about accomplishing your objectives for the talk. The truth is, most people overestimate
how much the audience focuses on the speaker's abilities. All most audiences want is good
information that's not boring.
- Learn from the greats. Get copies of speeches you really enjoy, and read them to "prime the
pump" as you prepare for the speech. Invest a couple of minutes reading Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address, and you'll find it tough not to be charged up to deliver the best speech of your life.
- Nail your first few sentences. There's no question that the first minute or so is the most nerve-
racking. Practice your first sentences over and over until you have them nailed! The more
comfortable you feel with the first words out of your mouth, the sooner you'll stop feeling
nervous.
- Act like you're comfortable. "Fake it 'til you make it," as the old saying goes. Pretend that
you're an accomplished, confident presenter. Think about what a seasoned speaker thinks about
when they're ready to speak: "This is gong to be great"; "I can't wait to get started"; "I know
my information can help the audience"; "All I have to do is my best."
- Practice, practice, practice. Abraham Lincoln, a true master of self-improvement, was
committed to becoming an outstanding speaker. He carried slips of paper in his hat, and while
walking to work, he pulled the slips out and read them aloud to practice. Nothing will skyrocket
your confidence as much as practice and preparation.
- Work on speaking distinctly. To help you sharpen your pronunciation, read aloud from
Shakespeare, from the King James Version of the Bible, or from any other work that has
beautiful, lyrical writing.
- Be grateful for your nerves. A little bit of nervousness is a sign that your adrenaline is up and
running and your body knows you're about to do something interesting. That adrenaline can help
you stay excited and energetic. So remember, your nerves are your friends. Just don't let them run
the whole show.
- You're the expert! Being asked to present on a topic is a pretty strong sign that you know more
about it than the audience does. It's possible you may get stumped now and then, but overall, you
have the advantage of knowing more about your subject than anyone else in the room.
Shari Peace is an international speaker, an author, and the president of Peace Talks, a Dayton, Ohio-based professional speaking firm. Her book, Crank It Out! How to Get More Done - At Work & In Your Life, features time management and productivity tips. Reach her at 1-877-808-8520 or at www.sharipeace.com.
"If that's the case, you'd be better off in the coffin than delivering the eulogy."
-- Jerry Seinfeld, joking about the fact that the
fear of public speaking is worse than the fear of death
for many people
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Ideas & Inspirations