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A fear of public speaking is the number one obstacle to
presenting the perfect speech!
Overcoming your public speaking anxiety is not just useful in
speechmaking, but can improve your confidence in ALL areas of
your life.
Here are 8 simple tips to help you deliver your speech with
CONFIDENCE.
Good luck!
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #1... Smile!
Smile as you introduce yourself and whenever the content of your
speech allows it. People say that smiles are contagious, but it's not just
a cliché... it's true!
Researchers in Sweden discovered that people found it hard to frown
when looking at other people who were smiling... and even found their
own muscles involuntarily twitching into smiles back.
Smiling will relax YOU and warm up your audience.
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #2... The Eyes Have It
The thought of speaking to a group can be intimidating - but the
thought of talking to individuals one-on-one is not so scary!
So when you have to give a speech, focus on just one person and make
eye contact. When you've finished your sentence, move on to another
member of the audience and address your next sentence to them. (If
actual eye contact makes you feel uncomfortable, let the person go out
of focus just a little, or look ever so slightly above their eyes).
Move randomly from individual to individual, making eye contact each
time. Your presentation will SOUND more natural and FEEL less
frightening.
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #3... Nobody's Perfect
One of the biggest reasons for feeling anxious when preparing for a
speech is the idea that you have to deliver it PERFECTLY.
The reality is that NO ONE expects you to be perfect... and what feels
like a massive blunder to you will probably go unnoticed by the majority
of your audience anyway!
Learn to keep going in spite of any errors - even laughing them off if
they're obvious ones like fluffing your words. And remember that ALL
public speakers make mistakes, even those with plenty of experience.
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #4... Make a Movie!
Don't worry, we're not talking big budget here!
Simply have a friend film you making your speech, or - if even THAT is
too nerve-wracking at first - film yourself.
Watching yourself will help you identify areas that need improvement
(thereby increasing your confidence)... and may also show you that you
are for more interesting to listen to than you perceive yourself to be!
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #5... Don't Be Afraid to Use Humor
Unless the topic of your speech absolutely rules out a little levity, don't
be afraid to use humor.
Sharing a joke lightens everyone's mood and makes your audience
warm to you, which - in turn - helps relieve your anxiety.
By the same token, don't be afraid to laugh and make a joke if
something goes wrong, thereby turning a potential disaster into yet
another opportunity to really connect with your listeners.
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #6... Analyze Your Audience
One of the best ways to make your speech memorable is to make it
RELEVANT to your audience.
Think hard about who you'll be speaking to. What are they interested
in? What problems do they face? What information could you provide
that they'll find HELPFUL?
Answer these questions and you'll be well on your way to delivering a
meaningful presentation... one that will stay in the minds of your
listeners and may even influence their actions in a positive way!
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #7... Don't Rush Things
If you're nervous about making your speech, then you might be
tempted to rush through it in order to get the whole ordeal over and
done with.
But the problem with THAT is that hurrying along your speech will cause
you to breathe irregularly, raising your heart rate and making you feel
even MORE nervous. You will also miss out on the chance to really
connect with your audience in a meaningful way.
So take a deep breath before you start, stop seeing your listener as the
enemy, and speak slowly and calmly. Once you overcome the urge to
rush, you might even end up ENJOYING the whole experience!
www.best-speech-topics.com
Tip #8... Everyone Loves a Story
The 8th and final tip in this series is to include at least one story in your
speech. Telling a relevant story is a good way to grab the attention of
your audience - and knowing that your audience is engaged and
genuinely interested in what you're saying goes a long way towards
relieving any anxiety you may be feeling.
Use a story that clearly demonstrates or supports a major point in your
speech. It can come from personal experience or observation, or you
can simply retell a story that you've heard elsewhere.
Begin by saying something like "let me tell you a little story to show you
what I mean...". Those words are almost guaranteed to spark interest in
those audience members who may not have been paying close enough
attention and will ensure your message sticks in their minds.
I hope you found these tips helpful.
Please 'Like' my page on Facebook to stay up-to-date
with all new tips :
www.facebook.com/BestSpeechTopics
And don't forget to visit my site for lists of speech topics, plus
lots more help in writing and delivering your presentations:
www.best-speech-topics.com
