5 Public Speaking Tips
If you search in Google for the term “public speaking tips” you get roughly 2.6 million responses. That seems like a lot, but when you have to be the one standing in front of the group, it can seem like there isn’t enough information in the world that could get you over that fear.
Believe it or not, most of those fears are self imposed. What do I mean? The people listening to you don’t really care how the information is disseminated, they just want the information. It’s the speaker that puts themselves through the ringer weeks before the event. Here are some tips that may seem obvious, but once completed, will really put your mind at ease, trust me.
Public Speaking Tip #1
KNOW YOUR TOPIC! I mean know your topic, inside and out, upside down, what ever question someone could throw at you, you know the answer. You really need to be prepared to reach this level. Do your homework, you will know you have reached public speaking Nirvana when you get that feeling; it will come with knowledge. Believe!
Public Speaking Tip #2
Greet as many of the attendees prior to your speech or presentation as possible. Familiarity promotes confidence. Besides, think of the benefit you provide with the topic you are to speak on when you take the time to meet people before you go on.
This strategy also prevents you from pacing back and forth and worrying yourself to death until you go on. There is no point in cramming now, and it’s helpful to be actively engaged in an activity rather than fretting at this point.
Public Speaking Tip #3
DON’T think everyone in the audience is naked, this in fact will hurt your chances of a successful public speaking outing. And while we’re on don’ts, don’t follow that advice of looking at the wall at the back of the room, over everyone’s heads. Â That advice is given with the idea that then it will seem as if you’re making eye contact, but it doesn’t work. Â Better you should really make eye contact, one person at a time. Â Deliver a complete thought to one person, then move, find another friendly face, and deliver the next complete thought to that person and move your way through the audience in this way. Â Everyone will feel much more connected to you and engaged, and believe it or not, the eye contact will actually serve to ground you more than avoiding eye contact by looking at the back wall.
Wait! There’s More! I just wrote a much more in-depth and complete article on becoming a more comfortable public speaker. Â You can find that here. Enjoy!
Public Speaking Tip # 4
When you find yourself with only a mouthful of uhs and ums, stop yourself, repeat the sentence as if to add importance, and replace the uhs and ums with silence to allow your points to hit home. Don’t be afraid of silence! Take your time to gather your thoughts, sip some water, take a dramatic pause. Â Most people talk faster when they’re speaking in public anyway, so your audience may appreciate the time to mentally digest and catch up to your material.
Public Speaking Tip # 5
Animate your speech. Most people think that good communication is mouth-centric. Nothing could be farther from the truth! To be a powerful communicator, you have to use your entire body. Gestures and body language add energy and enthusiasm to your speech.
These are tips can really help you take your next step in public speaking. Do you realize that people pass up promotions because they will be required to speak publicly?
There’s no need to let your fear of public speaking stand between you and your potential. Â HypnosisFirst’s End Fear of Public Speaking is a wonderful tool to help your subconscious mind become more comfortable and take the edge off that old fear.
Do you realize people fear speaking in public more than they fear dying? Maybe because dying is abstract and appears far away while the podium is right in front of them. Either way, you really can come to grips with your fear and maybe you won’t start auditioning for the lead in Hamlet, but you’ll be able to get through it easier, and using hypnosis is one of the best ways to make it easier, faster!