Public Speaking: prepare to combat the nightmare
March 22, 2008 · Filed Under Etiquette
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here’s how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:
- Your audience is there to hear your message. Relax and deliver that message, instead of focusing on yourself.
- Make sure that your speech is right for your audience Encourage adults to take responsibility and set good examples and encourage the young people to take responsibility for their future.
- Take your timeDon’t read your speech word-for-word and don’t rush through it. Be conversational, as if you were talking with a group of friends
- Don’t stand up there like a stick, clenching the podium at both sides. Be natural and animated. Use hand gestures, drink water, move around a little. But don’t rock back and forth — that conveys nervousness.
- Keep it short and simple. The appropriate length varies according to the setting, but be aware of your audience’s attention span. Sometimes “less is more.”
- Make eye contact with the audience. Connect with them. Get them to nod their heads to acknowledge what you’re saying. Make them pay attention to you
- Practice your speech ahead of time. Take time to pause in the right places to make eye contact and catch your breath. You may want to mark your speech where you want to pause.
- Take questions and answers when you’re finished.
- Don’t get into a debate if someone disagrees. Talk with him/her after your speech
- Share a relevant personal anecdote or two: Have fun with it! Ethics doesn’t have to be boring. Remember . . . it’s your character that counts!
- Know the room. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.< /li>
- Know the audience. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
- Know your material. If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase.
- Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.
- Relax.Ease tension by doing exercises.
- Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
- Realize that your audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail.
- Don’t apologize. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.
- Concentrate on the message — not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Yur nervousness will dissipate.
- Turn nervousness into positive energy. Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
- Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
If you have more points to add to the list, please feel free to join in and add comments.
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