public speaking – Personal Growth Cafe

October 23, 2018February 16, 2018

Tips to Overcome the Fear of Speaking in Public

Somehow, you’ve suddenly found yourself responsible for giving a speech!

Don’t fret; you can learn how to overcome the fear of public speaking.

While some people seem to have a natural propensity for public speaking, no one is exempt from nervousness.

What can you do?

There are specific action steps you can take to help alleviate your nerves, even if you’ve never stood in front of a group of people before.

Here are some things you can do to help you get through your presentation:

1. Be prepared. The best thing to do to help you overcome your fear of speaking is to be prepared!

Once you know your material and have your speech ready, you’re ready to prepare for the final part – speaking.

Having a well-practiced speech will give you confidence.

You’re the expert on this material, after all, or you wouldn’t be speaking in the first place.

2. Practice making your presentation so you can get into a rhythm and know how the presentation will flow.

Say your speech aloud to practice difficult words or names and to time yourself.

If you have other presenters, practice as a group and be open to feedback from others.

Practice using any slides or power point presentations you’ve included in your speech.

3. Strengthen your presentation. There are simple things you can do to make your speech go from ordinary to extraordinary.

4. Making eye contact, pausing at certain points, and having visual aids are things that will bring your speech up a notch.

Learning these things ahead of time and including them in your practice sessions will alleviate some nerves.

Find one or two things to focus on the first time you speak.

Very few people make the perfect speech every time so the key is to learn from each presentation to make future speeches even better.

5. Be proud of doing your best. Keep in mind that everyone who speaks gets nervous ahead of time, some more so than others.

Once you consider you aren’t alone in your feelings, it makes it easier to deal with them.

6. Refrain from comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone better and someone worse than you. Just do your personal best and be happy that you’ve given it your all.

Find a mentor, or someone who is more experienced in public speaking, to ask advice. Learn from their mistakes.

7. Practice speaking in public. If you’re going to be speaking frequently, you can find ways to get more practice.

8. Take a class on public speaking, or volunteer at a community organization. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.

If you care about animals, kids, or social issues, there are many venues for you to speak, go find a local club or school and volunteer your time.

9. Start off small. Practice speaking in a classroom full of children first.

Read aloud during religious services at your place of worship.

If you have a favorite hobby, volunteer to teach a class about that hobby at your local library.

Don’t worry about how perfect your speech is. In six months, it won’t matter.

What will matter is that you’ve done your best, improved, and possibly inspired one person with your words.

That’s what it’s all about, anyway.

How confident are you with speaking in front of a crowd?

How do you feel before the speaking engagement?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 15, 2018January 8, 2018

Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most common fears that plagues us all!

But have you ever wondered why it’s so common?

I mean, we all speak all the time to our family and friends, what makes public speaking so different?

Well, it tends to be a social fear because we don’t want to appear stupid in front of others.

After all, what could be more embarrassing than making a fool of yourself in front of a large group of people?

Fear of Public Speaking Symptoms:

Dry mouth
Racing heart rate
Sweaty palms
Light-headedness
Unsettled stomach
Trembling hands or legs
Stammered speech
Rambling incoherent speech

Do these symptoms of fear plague you when you think about speaking in public?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people go through the exact same symptoms as you.

There are ways to overcome your fear of public speaking:

Be Prepared

Making every preparation before the big event will help give you confidence. Planning out every detail will help to put you at ease.

Know your material. If you’re worried about rambling off course, try to have very detailed outlines and notes of what you’re going to say.

Then, stick to the notes when you are speaking.

You should know your material well enough that your eyes are not glued to the paper for the entire speech.

Know your audience. Be aware of why the audience has come to listen to you speak.

If it’s a special occasion, then be prepared for the importance of the event.

This may make you more nervous, but it’s better to know beforehand.

Know the conditions under which you will speak. Check the lectern and microphone ahead of time to make sure everything is working properly.

Check out the room and visualize how the speech will go so you can make your entrance and give your speech with confidence.

Practice your speech as many times as possible. You can practice alone, in front of a mirror, or even in front of some friends.

Recording yourself giving your speech can also be helpful.

Relax Before Opening Your Mouth

This can take an enormous amount of effort, but by following a few simple steps, you’ll find that you can relax and speak as you normally would.

And after a few practice runs, you might even find that you enjoy public speaking!

Visualize the audience as being on your side.

They’re friends waiting to hang upon your every word. If you feel this way your body language will reflect that in your speech.

Don’t hesitate to take deep breaths and pauses when needed.

For example, when you’re called on to speak, take several deep breaths before leaving your chair.

When you reach the lectern, thank the person who introduced you and then slowly count to 3 in your head before speaking.

Implementing these tips will give you time to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves.

You’ll be less likely to start rambling and you’ll start to feel your muscles slowly begin to unwind.

If necessary, look at your notes and prepare what you’re going to say before opening your mouth.

If you’re worried about looking foolish in front of others, simply eliminate the possibility.

If you’ve come prepared and relaxed about the event, then you’re no fool!

You’re an intelligent human being with something special to offer the audience. Don’t forget it!

How confident are you when speaking in public?

How do you feel when speaking in front of a big crowd?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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January 22, 2018January 5, 2018

Tips for Making a Public Speech

If you find yourself in a position where you have to give a public presentation, you may be racked with nerves at the thought of standing in front of a group.

It’s normal to be scared.

After all, probably most people in your audience would be just as nervous in front of a crowd too!

Here are some public speaking tips for conquering your fear and being a successful speaker:

1. Practice makes perfect.

Make your speech in front of a mirror or a friend so you can accurately time your speech and get into a rhythm.

Practice speaking out loud, especially if there are hard to pronounce words or names.

2. You’re the expert, so speak with conviction.

Even if you don’t know everything about the topic, you should know enough about it to make it through your speech.

3. Project your voice.

Even though you’ll likely use a microphone, if you speak too softly your audience members in the back of the room might not hear you well.

Projecting your voice conveys confidence to your audience.

4. Maintain eye contact.

Periodically glance around the room and use the 3-second rule while looking directly into someone’s eyes.

Doing so will make your audience will feel more involved.

The 3-second rule means you take your eyes off your notes and look around the room.

Focus on a face for 3 seconds and then continue scanning the room.

5. Use humor in your speech.

Even if you’re speaking about a dry topic, draw something funny into your speech.

Not all of us are born comedians, so don’t go overboard on this if it isn’t natural.

6. Pause periodically.

This gives your audience time to reflect and think about what you have said.

This will also give you a breather so you can speak without feeling out of breath. It also paces what you say.

7. Use note cards.

Note cards will remind you of the important points you want to make in your speech.

Avoid writing out your entire speech and then reading it, however.

This shows that you haven’t really practiced what you’re going to say and it can affect your speech if you start to fumble around for your place.

Short note cards with an outline of your topic or short facts can be helpful in keeping you on topic.

8. Don’t worry if you make a mistake.

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time.

If this happens to you, just go on with what you were saying.

If you need to take a moment to re-align your thoughts, feel free to take it.

9. You’re in command of the stage when you’re the speaker.

Most audiences are quite forgiving, so just keep moving forward if you make a mistake.

10. Familiarize yourself with the audio-visual aids.

Much like your speech, make sure all the equipment is working and that you’re familiar with the room and equipment ahead of time.

11. Speak to your audience.

Be aware of your audience’s reactions to what you’re saying.

If what you’ve said is not being understood, find a way to restate it.

12. Handouts are a good aid.

You can do this one of two ways.

Hand them out at the beginning of your presentation or as a summary at the end.

13. Keep your speech within the time parameters.

Stop when your time is up.

When you practice ahead of time, you’ll get good at keeping within the time limits.

Every good speaker has had to learn how to give a good speech through trial and error, so the more speeches you give, the better you’ll become!

Many speakers say that stage fright never really stops, but being prepared can definitely decrease the level of fear.

Planning your speech ahead of time and talking about something you’re passionate about can be an amazing experience.

How do you feel about giving a speech in public?

How do you prepare yourself for the occasion?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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