How to master the Art of Speaking in Public?

Postby sachin322 » Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:32 am

We all have been Speaking in Public from time to time, it does not matter whether we have to speak in a team meeting or in front of an audience.
So how can one overcome his/her fear of speaking in public?
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#1

Postby Richard@DecisionSkills » Wed Jul 04, 2018 1:17 pm

By (1) speaking regularly and (2) scaffolding

You don’t start with a 1 hour unscripted speech to a hostile audience of 5,000 people. Instead, you start with a 2 minute, scripted speech to friends. Then you build from there, making a 4 minute speech to 10 people, then a 5 minute speech to 15, and eventually you have scaffolded to a 10 minute speech to 100 people.
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#2

Postby emtelligence » Fri Nov 02, 2018 1:25 am

Prepare a small speech. Memorize it. Then go to random people on the street and ask for their feedback. Tell them it's only a minute or so.

When you force yourself to practice, you'll find out that it's not so bad. That's how I started out and just like doing anything in succession, it gets easier.
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#3

Postby academic » Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:32 pm

Richard@DecisionSkills wrote:By (1) speaking regularly and (2) scaffolding

You don’t start with a 1 hour unscripted speech to a hostile audience of 5,000 people. Instead, you start with a 2 minute, scripted speech to friends. Then you build from there, making a 4 minute speech to 10 people, then a 5 minute speech to 15, and eventually you have scaffolded to a 10 minute speech to 100 people.


I have done a Bear Pit pitch in front of hundreds. No preparation was possible and I was full of confidence because every speaker was in the same situation. I started shaking from the first minor setback, which was when I needed to ask the audience if my microphone was on!

Notice how pet animals fluff-up or beat-down their blankets. Wild animals do this too, scratching at the floor and softening it before curling up. Public speaking is a bit like that. My view is that the only way to make an uncomfortable situation comfortable, is to fluff it first.
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#4

Postby Candid » Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:00 pm

academic, you'll notice there's a thumbs-up thingy on each post, which you can click to 'like' what Richard wrote. I liked it, too.
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#5

Postby academic » Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:33 pm

I am on the fence :)

The scaffolding approach sounds sensible, and must be a preferred approach if it works for you, but evidence suggests performers of various persuasions - despite incrementally increasing their audience size over many years (from small drama clubs, to film school, theatre, and beyond) - simply never overcome stage fright!

The Guardian wrote:"Many players use alcohol and beta-blockers to control their performance anxiety and then, after the high of a performance, musicians can struggle to come down and therefore drink to relax"


I do not drink, and my best performances seem to happen when I am too tired to care. I think something similar is happening when you see politicians, exhausted from road trips when a TV crew jumps out, are simply too worn out to imagine how they might come across to the audience - and so they come across relaxed!
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#6

Postby bogdan9310 » Fri Feb 01, 2019 10:37 pm

I think it's useful to pick someone from the crowd, and every time you have to look at it, just lock eyes with that person.
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#7

Postby Roman_K » Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:54 am

As Dale Carnegie said in his wonderful book have something good to say. When you have a great message your delivery doesn't matter. You will connect to the audience because they will sense your authenticity.
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#8

Postby allenjackkson » Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:12 pm

Speaking in front of a large gathering is nothing short of an art. It is a life skill that can come in handy at any time. Public speaking can be a daunting task, but when you master it, you will find that it becomes very easy to convey your thoughts and ideas efficiently. Here’s how you can master the art of public speaking.

• Know your audience and communicate at their level
• Rehearse as much as you can
• Arrive early and get acquainted with the stage/podium
• Work on your gestures, body language and movements
• Practice your tone and volume
• Make eye contact with the audience
• Be confident
• Speak slowly but clearly
• Try to tell a story instead of reading the speech
• Keep cue cards but don’t focus on them
• Take long pauses
• Use emotion and humour to connect with your audience
• Stick to your allotted time
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#9

Postby michelle27 » Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:47 am

Thank you guys for posting about public speaking because I have taken a lot of different course where I have to public speak and I am terrified every time! I honestly believe that rehearsing is the best way to gain some confidence. I also learned in school that taking deep breaths in the mirror will help tremendously with being afraid.
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#10

Postby MichaelS » Wed Apr 17, 2019 1:04 pm

I agree with the Dale Carnegie idea of having an authentic message. When you are passionate enough words and the guts to get up and speak will come. I grew an interest in magic and it led me to do many scary speeches because of it.

Here's another tip:
Ask yourself, " What can I give?"
when you focus on helping your audience in some way it isn't about you and you can be more relaxed (with practice) when you realize you are trying to help. You also realize the audience is on your side, they want you to share something of value to them.
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#11

Postby bencryer » Thu Jun 06, 2019 5:58 am

These have been my experiences:

Speaking to family members about the topic you want to talk helps you gain a certain level of comfort and confidence.

Clarity of thought is very crucial. If you are clear about what you want to say, you can keep all the points in mind and recollect each as you talk to your audience. Writing points on the blackboard or smartphone or even a slip of paper is immensely helpful, as it helps you get back on track if you sway away from the topic

At the actual presentation, some speakers feel comfortable when they pick a friendly face from the audience. This has mostly worked for me, unless you are at a eulogy session (no offense meant)

Triggering audience interaction is very important to keep the presentation lively. Rather than making it a lecture, just try to ask some pertinent questions with your audience. This spruces up their interest.
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#12

Postby publicspeakingnyc » Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:34 am

Go to the subway (in daylight) and give your speech there. Bring a music stand if it helps. I do this in NY.
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#13

Postby mitochondrea » Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:14 pm

Practice, practice, practice. That is the most effective way to improve your public speaking skills. It can be with friends, family, or even in front of a mirror. Any practice you get will no doubt give you important feedback you can use to further improve your skills.

There are essentially two main aspects of public speaking.
1. The content and 2. the delivery.

Both are crucial in order to master public speaking. Spend time writing speeches, editing them, and presenting them! You can write daily for 5 minutes--it's more important to be consistent than making large pieces every day. I also recommend recording yourself speaking and playing it back for you to hear. That way, you can make notes of where you stumble, what you liked, and etcetera. Hope this helps!
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