public speaking

Tips to Get Over Your Fear of Public Speaking

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Some people are born to engage a crowd – they're confident, cool, and collected, even while speaking publicly.

They can get right up there, deliver their spiel, and never seem to break a sweat. No fear, no frets, and no fumbles. If this doesn't sound a thing like you, you're likely lumped in with the rest of the folks who dread public speaking. It's nothing to be ashamed of, but it's also not your destiny. You can get over your fears and turn anxiety into accomplishment.

Face your fears josephcostello.ie

Prepare

If fear of public speaking already weighs on you, "winging it" will only make matters worse. No matter the topic, you must study up on the facts and figures, background, studies, etc. The more you research and learn, the better you'll be able to present the information. You need to know what you're talking about and that it's factual and informative.

As per Mayo Clinic, "The better you understand what you're talking about — and the more you care about the topic — the less likely you'll make a mistake or get off track. And if you do get lost, you'll be able to recover quickly. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready."

Rehearse

Just like a stage actor rehearses his lines before opening night, you should practice your presentation before your "performance." Harvard Business Review suggests, "Enlist your friends to help you rehearse your speech. They can help review your material, ask you tough follow-up questions, or act like an indifferent audience."

The Balanceadds, "Rehearse several times before the big talk. Time your presentation and always have back up material in case time is left over."

Practice may not make perfect, but you'll be closer to it.

Envision Success

When you're a ball of nerves, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But with a sunny outlook, you can effectively will your way into doing a job you're proud of. Mayo Clinic explains, "Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety."

Huffington Post notes, "By being able to paint a concrete picture of what success looks like to you, it becomes less abstract and more obtainable to you." So, think about yourself standing up there, well-prepared, well-received, and realizing it wasn't so bad after all.

Breathe

Fear and worry can cause anything from sweaty pits to something closer to a panic attack. You need to concentrate on your breathing to calm yourself down and gain clarity and focus.The Balance recommends, "using deep belly breathing to reduce stress and build confidence."

CNBCexpands, "Deep breathing before and during your presentation or pitch calms your nerves and adds power and strength to your voice. Deep breathing also keeps your voice centered and prevents dangerous uptalk, which undermines your credibility and confidence. (Allison Shapira, founder, and CEO of Global Public Speaking)."

Be Yourself

Authenticity and ease of yourself will go a long way. You want to connect with your audience, and how better to do that than by being you? Too much memorization and rigidity will cause you to come off as more of a robot than the real thing. Be conversational and friendly. Nobody is waiting/hoping for you to mess up, they just want to be engaged and enlightened.

CNBC advises, "Telling personal, true stories are the best way to impart information and inspire others. (Gary Schmidt, Past International President of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization that helps members improve their public speaking skills)."

You can do this!workingmother.com

Forget the fear and find your place front and center.

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3 Tips for Giving a Stellar Presentation

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Whether you're set to speak in front of some co-workers at the office or you have an audience-full of colleagues to impress, you want to give your all when you give your upcoming presentation.

You may be a natural in front of crowds or have the jitters just thinking about it, but no matter your level of comfort, anyone can give a stellar presentation with the right tips under their belt.

Your presentation can go smoothly and successfully when you execute your ideas with practice and purpose. You may not knock it out of the park at your first speaking engagement, but you will feel ready to impress when you take this advice into account. The more you present, the sharper you'll get, so make sure to fine-tune your skills with each presentation you give. Not only will you feel proud of your accomplishments, but your audience will appreciate a job well-done.

Plan and Prep

Prepare for the presentation unsplash

No matter how well you think you know your stuff, winging it is risky business. Even the most knowledgeable person can use some brushing up, be it on their material or how to present it.

And preparation is more than what you plan to bring to the table. As per Entrepreneur there is, "the need for a careful analysis of audience members to know whom you're speaking to, and what they are expecting or needing from the presentation. Take time to talk to the person who invited you in the first place, to obtain a full and complete analysis of who will be in the room."

As Huffington Post puts it, "This isn't about you and what you want to talk about. What does your audience want to know? What can they learn from you that is unique to your experience."

You can tailor your presentation more precisely, giving your crowd the best version of your vision. Then you can practice until you feel confident with what you'll be presenting. Inc. notes, "When you know what you're going to say backward and forward, you don't have to worry about fumbling your words or losing your train of thought. Your audience will appreciate a no-rambling approach."

Start Off Strong

You can do thispexels

It is important to engage your audience from the get-go. Easing into things can have you losing the crowd before you've even hooked them in. You need to be energetic, enthusiastic, and exciting. Like they say, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

As per Skills You Need, "The beginning of your presentation is crucial. You need to grab your audience's attention and hold it. They will give you a few minutes' grace in which to entertain them, before they start to switch off if you're dull. So don't waste that on explaining who you are. Start by entertaining them."

You may want to start off with a personal touch. Inc. suggests starting with a good story. "TED Talks speakers use this tactic all the time. Your opening story should be one everyone in the room can relate to." Be yourself, loosen up, and be conversational rather than machine-like. Huffington Post recommends, "Try to be relaxed and conversational. Make your audience feel as though they were the only ones in the room."

Hammer in the Main Message

Get to the pointpexels

You may have plenty to say, but too much information in one presentation can be an overload. Less is more in many cases, and you'll find that your presentation will flow better when you stick to simplicity, with a main message at the core. As Skills You Need suggests, "When planning your presentation, you should always keep in mind the question: What is the key message (or three key points) for my audience to take away? You should be able to communicate that key message very briefly."

As suggested by WikiHow, "Focus your presentation. Having a long, rambling presentation that is hard to follow is not going to win you any audience interest. You need to make sure that your presentation is clear and focused and that any asides you throw into it are there to back up the main point."

One way to make sure your main message is heard and understood is to repeat it throughout the presentation. Inc. suggests reiterating the main message three times. "Introduce the points you will be making, and then spend the meat of your presentation fleshing them out. Conclude by reminding the audience about your points."

Keep this advice in mind and use it to your advantage. Your presentation will be perfected!

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