Public Speaking Tips

By Crystal Brown-Tatum

Why is Public Speaking so Stressful?

o Believing that public speaking is inherently stressful. Public speaking need not be stressful at all. If you correctly understand the causes of public speaking stress and take care to address them, speaking in public will become an invigorating and satisfying experience for you.

o Thinking you need to be perfect in order to succeed. Perfection is a goal that few, if any, professional public speakers attain. Your audience will not expect perfection and neither should you.

o Trying to cover too much material. Don't try to accomplish too much in the time you are given. Instead, be realistic with your speech objectives given the time you are allotted.

o Having the wrong objectives. Public speaking is about having an effect on your audience - to educate, motivate or persuade them. This is where your focus and purpose should be. Concentrate on what will benefit your audience, not yourself.

o Trying to please everyone. People are diverse. It is likely that each individual member of will respond differently to your presentation. It is unrealistic to expect to please all of them and you should not try to.

o Trying to emulate other speakers. You've likely attended more than a few events where you've listened to professional speakers or trainers give a presentation. Don't make the mistake of trying to copy their style. Instead, simply be yourself. This will allow you concentrate your full attention on your material and your audience.

o Failing to be personally revealing and humble. Telling personal stories to illustrate your points can have a profound impact on your audience and their receptiveness to your message. However, few things will alienate an audience more quickly than arrogance. Instead, be humble when speaking about yourself and your achievements and experiences.

o Expecting the worst. Believe that you will succeed and you are already more than half way there. The negative outcomes you might imagine will rarely, if ever, occur and even if they do you can use them to your advantage. Humor is a great tool for turning a minor disaster into a memorable teaching moment.

o Being over prepared. The adage that you can never be too prepared isn't always true. Take time to develop and foster confidence in your self and your ability to succeed.

o Thinking your audience will be as critical of you and your performance as you are of yourself. Your audience will want you to succeed and will give you every opportunity to do so. Mistakes and hitches which may appear glaring to you are likely to pass unnoticed by the majority of your listeners.

Successful Public Speaking Tips

o Make sure you speak loud enough for the audience to hear you. Nothing is worse than having to strain to hear a speaker present. So, before you begin a presentation, have someone stand at the back of the room and tell you if you can be heard.

o Don't shout into the microphone. Conversely, if you are using sound amplification equipment, avoid the temptation to speak loudly. Before you begin, have the sound technician adjust the amplification so that you can be heard clearly while using your normal voice.

o Avoid speaking in a monotone. The easiest way to put an audience to sleep is by speaking in the same tone of voice for a long period of time. Instead use your natural speech patterns with their variations in pitch.

o Change your delivery pace. By speaking at different speech rates for short periods, you can add energy and animation to your speech pattern. Observe the way you speak during a normal conversation with a friend or colleague. You will notice that sometimes you speak quickly and while at other times you slow down.

o Slow down for important points. By slowing your speech rate while delivering your key points, you can convey emphasis and importance.

o Use the pause. Silence is an excellent exclamation point. By slightly extending a pause, you can add emphasis to a key point in your presentation. The best presenters plan their pauses to achieve maximum impact!

o Drink water. Before your presentation, drink a glass of water. This can help prevent potential voice problems during your presentation. Keep a glass of water at the podium and take a sip of water as necessary during the presentation.

o Check out the national news. News anchors provide some of the best examples of effective voice usage.

Connecting Techniques

o Learn the group demographics

o Select a topic the audience wants to know about

o Create a title that will capture interest

o Arrive early and mingle with the other early birds

o Make sure the facilities and setting are comfortable

o Arrange for a brief but relevant introduction

o Ensure your body language communicates "I am glad to be here"

o Greet and acknowledge the audience

o Make sure the audience can hear and see you

o Acknowledge the occasion

o Clearly communicate your objectives and how long you plan to take

o Let the audience know what is in it for them and what the desired outcomes are

o During your presentation:

o Begin on a positive note without apologies

o Make sure your voice reflects enthusiasm

o Smile (a lot)

o Ask a question

o Introduce humor

o Make eye contact

o Praise the audience

o Share the audience's concerns

o Tell a personal story

o Give the audience something to do

o Solve a problem

o Express your point of view

o Speak the audience's language and use their vocabulary

o Use images and metaphors that the audience can relate to

You should also recognize that there are varying degrees of stage fright. At one end, there is simple excitement with adrenaline preparing the performer to excel. At the other, there is a near death experience. Somewhere in the middle is a cross over point at which your performance becomes impaired by the state of your nerves. If you are reading this article then chances are that you have crossed that point on more than one occasion. Read on!

In order to begin conquering your stage fright, you first need to recognize when you are approaching your crossover point. This will differ from individual to individual and may also be affected by the type of performance event. For example, some people find that facing an audience of thousands is nothing, but performing before a small group turns them into jelly. Others find an audience of friends more intimidating than strangers. Secondly, you must know how to take immediate remedial action.

Almost everyone experiences stage fright at some time. The polished speakers you see have learned to take control of the stage fright experience through a mixture of preparation, physical skills and positive attitude. Master these and you will be able to conquer your fear.

Preparation

Preparation is absolutely vital. This includes your material, audience/event analysis and the physical setting. You may know the subject, but do you know the audience and the significance of this occasion? Not knowing can be a significant cause of anxiety.

Practice by video or audio recording yourself which helps to visualize performance and to develop muscle memory. Researchers have confirmed that use of video tape in preparation for public speaking or singing reduces anxiety and improves performance.

Develop an inconspicuous personal relaxation ritual. Singers, musicians and dancers can often do this behind the scenes but presenters are usually on the stage before their performance and would look a bit odd doing tai chi, yoga or standing on their head.

Improvise a prompt so that you are not anxious about forgetting the sequence of your material. You can use prepared flip charts, pictures on the wall, slides or presentation software.
Physical Skills

Public speaking is a physical activity. Stage fright is an emotional reaction which restricts physical abilities. To unlearn the unwanted physical reactions associated with stage fright, you must practice performance before an audience. Once is not enough. Mastery requires distributed and incremental learning. One possibility to obtain regular speaking experience in a less threatening environment is to engage a professional coach or enroll in a class or seminar. You could also consider joining a local Toastmasters club. With practice you can access other kinds of intelligence and appear physically relaxed, enthusiastic and confident even though you are not.
Positive Attitude

Mold your attitude around all your successes. Remember what success feels like, what it looks like. Even when you perform in a less than stellar fashion, remember the parts you did that were outstanding. People overwhelmed with stage fright have negative attitudes. They imagine everything that could go wrong or develop a litany of other negatives. Replace negative attitudes with positive ones. A positive attitude will lead you to seek any help you may need to improve. A negative attitude shackles your personal and professional life.

Think about all the things you have to share with this audience and how it will benefit them. Decide beforehand that it will be a fun experience. Performance is an act of faith. You have to believe your body will perform what it has practiced whether it is a speech, a song, a dance or an athletic competition.

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