By Public speaking is something that everyone needs to at least be somewhat competent at if you want to effective communicate with people. Sadly this is a subject that terrifies most people, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you would like to become a better speaker in public, then you’re in the right place. The article below has many great tips on this subject.
Make sure you wear a supportive pair of shoes when you do public speaking. You want your posture to be tall and confident, with open and relaxed shoulders so you portray confidence. If you get tense on stage from feet, knee or low back pain, it will affect your speech greatly.
When making a speech, know the concepts of your topics to start with. Do careful research that enables you to view the topic from various angles. Carefully hone in on your own points and prepare your remarks carefully in clear notes that you will be able to follow easily. Being prepared will help when you have to answer questions from the audience.
Try to relax before and during your speech. Breathe deeply and remember that you are well-prepared, so you have nothing to worry about. Some say that it helps to envision your audience members in their underwear to help you relax. This sort of visualization can help you look and feel more relaxed while speaking.
To help boost your confidence level imagine giving your speech to a crowd who is anxious to hear your speech. Imagine the audience standing to their feet giving you a standing ovation when you complete your speech. This will help you feel confident when the time comes to deliver your speech.
The tone of your speech should depend on who you are giving it to. For instance, if your speech is work-related, your speech should be professional. On the other hand, if you are around friends and have to make a speech, you can be more personal. Base your whole speech on your audience.
Look at the room you need to make the speech in. If you won’t be using a microphone, make sure you find out how far and how well your voice will carry. Use the equipment on hand, if necessary. Try learning to use visual aids, if they’re available. Make sure you understand what an appropriate level of eye contact is.
Make sure that the beginning of your speech is a moment to relax. Greet and address your audience. Then pause for three seconds. This gives them a chance to focus on you, while you get a moment to transform your nervous energy into enthusiasm for the material you are about to deliver.
Avoid fidgeting when speaking in front of an audience. Playing with your hair, chewing on your nails and other similar behaviors serve to distract the audience from listening to what you have to say. Instead of remembering your message, they may remember that you continually smoothed your hair. If you find it difficult to stop fidgeting, clasp your hands together in front of you or behind you, or place them on the lectern.
Do not be afraid to let your audience know that you have no idea of the answer to some of their questions. People will respect your honesty and understand that you are human. This is much better than rambling on trying to convince them you know what is going on when you don’t.
When you know ahead of time that you will be speaking in public, dress appropriately. You can dress down if you are speaking to a group of children at a summer camp, but dress more formally if you are making remarks at a business luncheon. Avoid flashy colors and distracting accessories. You want the audience to pay attention to your message rather than to your clothing or jewelry.
Get on your feet and practice any speech on a daily basis. This will give you confidence because you are very familiar with the material. Have your notes with you as you stand at the podium, even if you’ve done a good job of memorizing your speech. That way if you forget what you are to say, you can glance down at your notes and refresh your memory.
After your speech has been prepared, practice it until it is committed to memory. Try practicing in front of mirrors, using hand gestures, and facial expressions for making points. Ask family members for feedback after practicing your speech before them. They can add suggestions for improvements.
Many people start a speech with a joke in order to grab the audience’s attention, so keep this in mind as you are figuring out what to say. If you are going to tell a joke, make sure that it is tasteful and on topic. Otherwise, you risk alienated some of them.
Consider your appearance. The audience is not likely to listen to you when your state of dress or grooming skills are distracting. Consider your audience when you think about what you are going to wear. Suits work well in for most speeches, but consider something more casual when speaking to younger audiences.
If you have to give a speech in front of an audience, practice in front of a mirror. Certain hand gestures and expressions can emphasize on a point that you are trying to make. Watching yourself in a mirror can also help you see things about your appearance that you can improve.
Always leave your audience wanting more. Nothing is worse than a speaker who drones on and on for what seems like hours. Instead, get your information delivered in a timely fashion. Keep the speech within the requested time parameters. However, do not keep your speech so short that you do not give your audience the information that they desire.
After reading the above article, public speaking should be something that doesn’t frighten you any longer. By following the simple tips laid out in the article, you can be an effective public communicator. A good idea when practicing public speaking is to keep these tips with you at all times. Refer back to them whenever you need to elevate your confidence level when speaking in public.