PUBLIC SPEAKING - How To

Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking

"According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death." - Jerry Seinfeld

If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone. You must first recognize what "fear" is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Here are some great insights into Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking.

Steps to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking - 

1. Fears - The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you'll be boring or bad. If you are coming from an authentic place, and you cover the material with clarity, you've won 3/4 of your inner battle with fear.
2. Learn how to enroll and engage your audience - If you haven't yet taken a professional development course on public speaking, consider finding a public speaking training course appropriate for your needs. Learning the art of public speaking can enhance your results in a boardroom, in a sales presentation, and even accelerate your climb up the corporate ladder. It is a must-skill for any executive and/or business owner.
3. Practice - Find business organizations, networks and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can afford you the opportunity to practice. Remember to choose topics that you are already an expert on. Speaking on a topic that you are not familiar with will increase your stress, and impede on your performance.
4. Use recording software - Record everything on your PC/laptop. Review it to see where you can improve. Have speaking pros attend your live presentation to give you feedback. Allow yourself the opportunity to learn more every time you go out.

1. Remember, even the top professionals learn something new every single time they go out!

 

Annoying Public Speaking Habits

"Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Here are some annoying public speaking habits. They can be deal breakers, so avoid these annoying habits at all costs!

·         Voice Trailing Off - Many speakers let their voices trail off at the end of every sentence. The audience can hear the first part of their sentence, but they have no idea what pearls of wisdom might be lost in the whispers at the end.

·         Looking Down - Sometimes this speaker will deliver complete sentences inaudibly while looking down â€" obviously not interested at that moment in engaging the audience.

·         Mumbling - Mumbling is not cool. Inexperienced speakers will often speak at conversation level, not giving any thought or consideration to the people in the back of the room. Recently, I sat in on a panel discussion at a workshop. The panelists chose to sit instead of stand to address the standing-room-only crowd, which I thought was rude. And one man, whenever it was his turn to speak, would rest his elbows on the table and fold his hands in front of his mouth during the entire time that he was speaking.

·         Reading - Some speakers are not good readers. If you are not skilled at reading something out loud, don't do it while speaking. Especially avoid doing this secretly. In other words, if you plan to deliver your speech by reading all or part of it, and you do not have good out loud reading skills, forget it.

·         Not keeping everyone involved - Inexperienced or thoughtless speakers leave members of the audience out. When an audience member asks a question, it is rarely heard in the back of the room. I've seen many expert speakers respond to the question by engaging in a one-on-one conversation with this person while the rest of the audience is left wondering. Speakers, I urge you to repeat the question so everyone is on the same page. And then respond to the question so that everyone in the room can hear it.

·         Sitting Down - Some speakers choose to sit down on the job. In a very small, intimate group or when the audience is sitting in a circle of chairs or on the floor, for example, speaking while seated is generally okay. But if you have a room containing six rows of chairs or more, you really should express respect for those in the back of the room by standing so that you can be seen as well as heard.

·         Filler Words - Even some professional speakers still use too many filler words. It takes practice, but you can rid your vocabulary (especially while speaking in public) of those filler words like, uh, ah, er. Also avoid connecting sentences by overusing "and."

·         Overshooting Time Allotment - Many speakers have trouble staying within the time allotment. Most programs or presentations are carefully organized. Each segment is designed to fit into a specific time slot. I've seen speakers completely disregard their time constraints and foul up the entire evening's program. Not cool.

Benefits of Public Speaking

"As long as there are human rights to be defended; as long as there are great interests to be guarded; as long as the welfare of nations is a matter for discussion, so long will public speaking have its place."- William Jennings Bryan

The Personal and Practical benefits of using a few simple concepts to overcome your public speaking fears to easily deliver effective presentations include -

Personal Benefits -

• Increased Self Confidence
• The Ability to communicate and articulate your thoughts and ideas
• Effectively Persuade Others
• Words can hurt, heal, create, build, transform
• New Opportunities
• Ability to Lead
• Have a Rare and Valued Skill
• Have Fun
• Improve Your Quality of Life

Practical Benefits -

• Career Advancement
• Receive Recognition
• Get the Credit that You Deserve
• Entertain Your Audience
• Captivate Your Audience
• Learn to speak Concisely, Clearly and Confidently
• Speaking out in important situations, as Parent, Citizen, Customer

Public Speaking Techniques

"There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience" - Alexander Gregg

I have listed the following public speaking techniques, that should help you overcome fear and anxiety. It would help you deliver a speech without feeling nervous. I have found great success in these techniques!

1. Smile. This will help you ease your mind and make you feel comfortable in your surroundings.

1. Take deep breaths. This is an oft repeated tip but it always helps you start. Avoid taking deep breaths in between, as it might sound weird.
2. Tell yourself there is nothing to worry about. The words to live by are, "Don't worry, be happy". What is the worst that is going to happen after all?
3. Loosen your muscles and relax. Being stiff on stage will make everyone think you are nervous.
4. Have a good sense of humor. If you mess up, have a good joke to back it up, makes you seem like you are under control.
5. Keep an OPEN mind. This relaxes you and just makes you feel better.
6. Practice. This isn't for everyone, but it helps most people. If your speech is well rehearsed it will be fine. Also try to deliver as many public speeches as you can (for eg. at Toastmasters), it will surely help you gain confidence!
7. Feel free to move around. (this one is more for a classroom, not a business setting for the most part) When you move, it makes you seem like you are happy, but don't be robotic with the movements.
8. Keep good eye contact, this might not help you, but it will help the audience like you. If you have trouble with this, pretend that someone did something funny.
9. Try to include the audience. Many times people think you can't include the audience, but you can. This makes you seem like your not the only one talking, because you aren't.

 

Tips on Public Speaking

"If you can't write your message in a sentence, you can't say it in an hour." - Dianna Booher

Here are some important public speaking tips to help you develop your skills and become far more effective as a public speaker.

• Ensure your speech will be captivating to your audience as well as worth their time and attention. Videotape your presentation and analyze it. Emphasize your strong points during your presentation.

• Present the desired image to your audience. Be solemn if your topic is serious. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous. Remember, you don't look as nervous as you feel.
• Establish rapport with your audience. If a microphone is available, adjust and adapt your voice accordingly.
• Maintain sincere eye contact with your audience. If what you have prepared is obviously not getting across to your audience, change your strategy mid-stream if you are well prepared to do so.

• Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflectand think.

• Check out the location ahead of time to ensure seating arrangements for audience, whiteboard, blackboard, lighting, location of projection screen, sound system, etc. are suitable for your presentation.

• Tell audience ahead of time that you will be giving out an outline of your presentation so that they will not waste time taking unnecessary notes during your presentation.

• Humour : Tell jokes if you're good at telling jokes. If you aren't good, it is best to leave the jokes behind. There's nothing worse than a punch line that has no punch.
• Tell stories : Stories make you a real person not just a deliverer of information. Use personal experiences to bring your material to life. No matter how dry your material is, you can always find a way to humanise it. Keep audience interested throughout your entire presentation. Remember that an interesting speech makes time fly, but a boring speech is always too long to endure even if the presentation time is the same.
• Using Public Speaking Environment - Try not to get stuck in one place. Use all the space that's available to you. If your space is confined (say a meeting room or even presenting at a table) use stronger body language to convey your message.
• Mistakes - Mistakes are all right. Recovering from mistakes makes you appear more human. Good recovery puts your audience at ease - they identify with you more.