We either do it well or do it badly, and the outcome affects the way people think about us. Precisely why public speaking causes so much fear and anxiety. The best part is that with thorough preparation and practice, you can overcome this nervousness and perform well. There is public speaking training for such purposes. So, if you do not make presentations regularly, there are places where public speaking comes handy that assist your career and creates more opportunities.
You may need to attend a conference where you introduce your company, and if you are a celebrity, you might accept an award sometime. Of course, actors have a celebrity coach for speaking in award functions and press conferences. However, public speaking coaching hones covers every aspect.
Excellent public speaking skills can enhance your reputation, boost your self-confidence, and opens countless opportunities. Master these strategies and become a great speaker –
1) Plan appropriately: Make sure you have a proper communication plan in place. You can use several tools such as the rhetorical triangle, Monroe’s motivated sequence, and 7Cs of communication. This way you can structure what you want to say. Think about how important the first paragraph of a book is. If it does not grab you, you are likely not to read it further. The same principle applies to the speech. Your introduction should be intriguing, only then will the audience stick around to hear you. Begin with some interesting facts and statistics.
2) Practice: There is reason people stress on the phrase, ‘practice makes perfect!’ You cannot become a confident and compelling speaker without practice. If you would be delivering a speech or presentation, create it as early as possible. The earlier you put them together, the more time you get to practice. In fact, public speaking training has its practice techniques to assist you with the same. Sometimes, you can practice alone, or you can assemble your coaching friends and understand where you lack.
3) Engage with audience: Try engaging with the listeners while speaking to them. This way, you feel less isolated as a speaker and keeps everyone engrossed in your message. If possible, ask questions to the audience, and encourage people to ask questions and participate in the speech. Remember, some words reduce your power as a speaker. Also, pay attention to how you speak. If you are nervous, you might speak quickly. There are high chances you could trip over your words. Take a deep breath. Gather your thoughts and sound confident, natural, as well as authentic.
4) Body language: If you are not aware, body language gives subtle cues to the audience. If you are nervous, the audience learns about the same. Stand straight, take deep breaths, look people in the eye, and smile. Avoid leaning on one leg and use gestures that feel unnatural. Many prefer speaking behind the podium while delivering presentations. Podiums assist you in holding notes as well. The best way to beat your nervousness is by walking around and using hand gestures. This movement shows in your voice.
5) Think positive: It has a significant impact on the success of communication as it makes you feel more confident. Fear makes it easy for you to slip into the cycle of negative self-talk, especially right before addressing the audience. To raise your confidence, use affirmations and visualizations. Visualize about giving a speech or presentation. Imagine how you feel once it is over. A celebrity coach asks the actors to do so before giving their shot in front of the camera.