Public Speaking

Rehearsal is a great way to build your confidence when giving a presentation. It can be helpful to research your topic too: http://www.clinicalhypnotherapy-cardiff ... king-tips/

Studies have shown that the fear of public speaking ranks up there with the fear of death for some people! Why are some people so afraid of standing in front of an audience to make a verbal presentation?

For new public speakers there are a few things things that strike fear into their hearts. Identifying and learning how to cope with the most common fears associated with public speaking will go a long way toward being able to deliver a public speech, presentation or seminar without being paralyzed with terror.

New speakers are afraid;

1- They will forget what they planned to say and be left tongue tied, lost and looking like a fool.
2- The audience will doubt, challenge or even criticize them during their presentation.
3- They will be thought ignorant or stupid.
4- They will be asked questions they don't know the answers to.
5- Because they lack confidence.

Personally I have many years experience as a public speaker and teacher but I started out like everyone else. I know the terror of sitting in the audience watching the clock on the wall as the minutes before my first student speech ticked away. I know that really, really uncomfortable feeling when the minutes separating me from that stage or podium are gone and it's finally show time for ME! My heart goes out to that person because I WAS that person!

I will elaborate on the following points only IF anyone would like me to, but why spend a lot of time posting if no one cares what I have to say? So here are some very brief bullet points that may help you the next time you are called upon to make a public address.

1- The other posters in this thread are right. Rehearsing your talk again, again and again OUT LOUD begins to build confidence if for no other reason than you will get very familiar with your material and the way you imagine it SHOULD sound.

2- Different speakers approach building their speeches in different ways but I recommend a two step process. First write out a script of exactly what you want to say. This will also help you to time how long it takes to deliver your talk. Timing is almost always a factor.

3-The second step is to create a topical outline based on your script. Since you have been practicing the script over and over again creating an outline of the talk's main points will free you to look at your audience occasionally and not be tied down to reading off your script. This allows you to make eye contact with your listeners. Eventually you will be able to observe how your audience is responding to what you're saying.

4- Finally, there is no substitute for learning your speech and your topic. This will both build your own confidence that you have something valuable to give your audience AND if they sense you are comfortable with your subject matter it will make them feel at ease and more likely to accept (and not question) your authority.

Like all things in life, practice makes perfect. You can take some comfort in this fact: I've found that people will fully understand and tolerate some nervousness on your part if it appears as though you worked hard to present a well thought out presentation that has value to them.

Bright Blessings to you!

Q