Public Speaking - How To Do It Well And Not Panic
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I'm one of those people who's never had a problem with public speaking. (Well, except when I had to do it in a foreign language, but that's a bit more understandable.) So I've never had the same problems most people do when it comes to giving speeches. But I've found I've been able to help several friends who do have problems, so I figured I should put down what I've learned here for the benefit of others.
One theory I've read claims our fear of public speaking actually has its roots in nature - that when you're being stared at by a bunch of strange people, our instinct is to run away, not stand tall and face them. Because back at the origins of the human race, when something stared at you, it usually meant it wanted to eat you.
So what can you do? Whether you're preparing a speech for your high school English class or getting ready to make a presentation at work, here are some things that will be helpful to keep in mind.
Take deep breaths. Relax.
I know this is easier said than done for most people. I certainly have an all-but-impossible time trying to calm myself down when I'm stressed, even when I try and clear my mind and do something I enjoy. But believe me when I say worrying really won't help you. At best, it will change nothing, and at worst, it will affect your performance. So seriously, prepare, do your best, and be as content as you can with that.
If your anxiety is truly that bad, then I suggest volunteering to do your speech as soon as possible. It sounds counter-productive and sometimes gives you less time to prepare, but once it's done and over with, you can finally get a good night's sleep.
When giving your speech, focus on a neutral spot on the wall, or on a friend or colleague.
I'm sure you've heard this one before but I'm going to reiterate it here. If all those staring eyes throw you into a state of unparallelled paralyzing panic, don't look at them. Instead, focus on something on the wall or the face of someone you're more comfortable looking at. Pretend you're giving your speech to just that person. Try your best to melt out everything else around you and just focus on speaking clearly and concisely. Your speech will be fantastic.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practice your speech at least three times. If you're particularly nervous or want feedback, find a volunteer you can perform for. It will not only help you organize your thoughts and the speech itself, but it might help calm your nerves, too.
Don't memorize your speech.
This sounds so tempting. After all, if you know exactly what you're going to say and when you're going to say it, how can you possibly screw up? Here the thing, though: you're going to stress yourself out trying to get it all in your brain and you won't sound as natural. I haven't memorized a speech I've had to give in years for this very reason.
This one obviously doesn't apply all of the time, as some people genuinely perform better this way. However, I haven't generally found that to be the case in my personal experience. Besides, if the subject you've giving your speech on is something you're passionate about, why are you frightened? You should be ecstatic! You have a captive audience to hear what you have to say. Share your interests and passions with your audience - they will be more likely connect with what you are saying if you can project your enthusiasm onto them, rather than appearing bored or panicked.
Project Your Voice
Some of us have more trouble with this than others, but if you find yourself constantly being told to speak up, you should listen. Unfortunately, if you happen to be soft-spoken, this can be difficult, but people truly can't hear you otherwise, and it will impact your performance.
Use technology to help, not hinder.
I'm sure you've seen this happen nearly every time someone has to give a speech. Someone wants to show a video, a slideshow, and play some music. And how often does it work without any hiccups? I'm sure you don't want to be that poor kid who's awkwardly fussing with cables while the rest of the class stares at you. So how can you avert it? If at all possible, test out the exact equipment you'll be working with in advance. This may be more easy in a workplace than a school classroom, but I'm sure your teacher or professor would be more than happy to help you.
Remember, the more complex technology you're using, the more potential there is for something to go wrong, so it is always wise to plan accordingly. My advice is to always keep it as simple as possible, and if your slideshow decides not to work, you have to be able to deliver a good presentation without it.
So those are my tips to give a good speech. Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? The comments section is below!
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