Sunday, March 17, 2013

Public Speaking Tips

By Zoe Smith


How comfortable are you with speaking in front of people? Do you speak clearly and at ease, or find yourself in a bit of a mess at the thought of having to face an audience of some sort. I know many people who have some serious public speaking anxiety going on and the good news is-there are things you can do to help you overcome it. Here are super helpful public speaking tips that you can keep in your arsenal the next time you need to address a group of people.

1. You probably know this by now but it cannot be stressed enough-prepare, prepare, prepare! You have probably been given enough time to get ready for your speech so use this time wisely and research the material related to the topic. Organize them and study as much as you can. If you know what you are talking about, it will show and people will know.

Also, keep in mind that even if you have all this information in your head- do not read it verbatim. Speak from your heart. Be passionate about your topic. If you have prepared well and sincerely care about what you are saying, you will be an effective speaker.

2. If you are going to use power point, don't give a bullet point presentation unless you want to put people to sleep before the end of your talk. Make it as interesting as possible. Use colorful pictures, compelling images, engaging videos and sound bites. A short and straightforward presentation coupled with appropriate visuals is recommended.

3. Now, even if you are well prepared and have a fantastic presentation going for you-public speaking anxiety can still grip you. The scariest moment is 1 minute before your actual speech and when the fear hits you- take deep breaths. Imagine the positive outcome of your speech. Replay the points of your speech in your mind and envision your audience responding to it well.

4. It's always good to find at least one friendly face in the audience. If you don't have anybody with you-then look for someone who seems genuinely interested in what you are saying and direct your talk to him or her when the rest of the crowd is less than engaged. Even if one person was helped by what you have said, it has all been worth it.

5. The most successful speeches and talks are those that have the audience in participation. Engage them by asking questions or make them more involved with the stories you are recounting. Make it seem like you are all in an intimate setting and relating to each others as friends. The more positive the memory of your talk, the more they will retain the talk.

Every single individual has something to say-don't be deceived into thinking otherwise! Go ahead, learn these helpful public speaking tips, practice in front of a few friends and get ready when the time comes for you to shine. Live and be free today!




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