Picture them naked is what people always told me. It’s kind of creepy to think about people naked as I an trying to speak. Many people are scared to death of public speaking. It is so important to practice before hand and try to strike a chord with the audience. Your audience must really believe you are about what you are talking about. Always remember your voice matters and your worth listening to. Always do warm ups before you speak.
Here are some tips to live by before the big moment:
- Know your audience. Know how knowledgeable they are about the subject and how you can better help them. Tell them why it’s worth listening to you. They will feel more engaged if they have an incentive. Relate to the people who are listening to you.
- Prepare an attention grabber. Engage your audience right from the start. Ask a question, tell a joke, deliver a strong quote, deliver an important newsworthy topic, use an analogy, or refer to an imaginary event. Dare to stand out from the beginning with an ice breaker.
- Decide on structure. Keep it simple such as beginning, middle, and end. Split your middle into sections. come up with rhetorical questions and answer them. Audience engagement is key
- Create bullet points. Take time to write about what you want to talk about in detail. Record some simple main details on index cards. This can guide you while you are speaking.
- Consider resources. The audience should remember you. Not visual aids. Don’t stand next to a power point and read it. Your conversations it with your audience not with slides. Familiarize yourself with your power point, technology, and room.
- Be calm. Everything about you should send a message of calmness and control. Communicate through body language. Always walk calmly and think of about your posture. The room is yours. Don’t forget to smile.
- Always speak as though you mean it. Be sure of everything you are saying. Be excited about what you are saying. This will reflect on your audience and encourage their excitement as well. Inspire your listeners through facial expressions, enthusiasm, and body language. This is your subject and audience so command them.
“Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” – Stephen Keague
