0We all want to become a good and confident public speaker. Isn’t it? However, we can’t get rid of the sweaty hands, knocky-wobbly knees when we get upon the stage. Yeah! It happens to everyone. Even to the most regular public speakers. It’s just that they have found a way to get past these things. The anxiety, nervousness or anthing else that you may call it.
Today I am going to share some tips which will help you to make a more confident appearance during a public speech. So let’s start.
1. Prepare: Know your topic thoroughly
Research a lot about your topic before you go up there and speak. When you know your topic thoroughly you will be sure that you can handle the presentation very well. This mind-set can help you a lot to get over your anxiousness.
2. Practice a lot
Before your presentation practice a lot. Now the question is: how will you practice? You can start by practicing in front of a mirror but you won’t be facing any audience then. In order to overcome this you can have a practice session in front of your friends or family. In other words, in front of a supportive audience. You can also join a public speaking course or even Toastmasters. Also make sure that you are holding up a right posture while talking. Working with a coach always helps.
3. Get the audience laughing
When you start off your speech with a joke you can be sure that this is one presentation where things are moving in the right direction. When people laugh along it means that you have successfully stepped over "stage one" of your presentation, which is to create a bond with your audience. This lightens up the atmosphere. You can also use some ice breakers.
4. Focus on nodding faces
During your speech you may feel anxious with the thoughts like “ Am I doing good?”or “Am I boring the audience?". It can be really nerve wracking when the audience doesn’t respond . In such situation, there will always be few people with genuine interest who will be listening and nodding along. Now your task is to focus on these faces, which will help you feel connected with the audience and will give your confidence, a big boost.
5. Be expressive
It’s always possible that the only feeling you have during the your presentation is fear. Don’t try to hide it. I would suggest instead of hiding it, express yourself more clearly. What I am trying to say here is: Share some experience of your life and as your story advances feel the emotions that you are narrating in the story. When you do this there won’t be a need to hide your fear, you will be covering it up with some other emotion.
For example, when I started speaking in public, I always went cold and started shivering which is natural for anyone but then I implied this technique, I used to get myself so engrossed in the topic and never let my mind come back to the thought of “How I am doing?”
Covering up your fear with other emotions is much easier instead of hiding it.
6. Be prepared for the situation when you make a mistake
Yes this happens to all.
No matter how much you practice, we all are still humans, and god! we make mistakes. When you make a mistake during a public talk it can be a bit awkward for you to manage and may also make your audience uncomfortable. So as a "back up" in such situations you should prepare a couple of jokes to laugh it all off and get out no harm done. Plus, if you have already prepared for such situations you will be relaxed and won’t be all worried if something goes wrong.
And I am sure if you work-out on all these tips the knocky-wobbly knees, going cold, sweating, butterflies in stomach will be a thing of past, in no time.
All the best!
