Speaking in Public
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- Public Speaking
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On a list of personal
fears, public speaking is placed higher than the fear of death
or the fear of flying. Many people make a conscious effort to
avoid making a public speeches, including Chairmen of large
public companies. So you are not alone!
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Some people actually
depend on their ability to speak well in front of an audience
for part of their livelihood. Whether you are about to make your
first speech or your umpteenth, stage fright, that irrational
fear of facing an audience, will most likely be present. Being
nervous is natural, and can be beneficial. It's just a sign that
you want to do a good job and you are nervous that you may
disappoint yourself and others. In some cases, stage fright can
be a crippling embarrassment. It can turn a presentation into a
social nightmare for the infrequent, inexperienced or
ill-prepared speaker. If you have a speech to deliver and need
to overcome a bad case of nerves, have a look at these tips that
I have learnt 'the hard way 'over last 30 years of making
speeches in public.
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1.
'Practise, man, Practise!'
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The old joke about the man
asking how to get to Carnegie Hall is very relevant to making a
speech. Nothing beats rehearsing if you want a professional
presentation. After all, the underlying cause of most nerves
before a speech is basically a lack of confidence, either in how
the subject matter will be received or how well the speech will
be delivered. The only cure for this fear is 'practise,
man, practise!' It's only
after actors have learnt their lines thoroughly that they can
concentrate on their performance. So it is with your
presentation. Once you master the words by practising a few
times, then you can move on to the meaning behind those words
and how to put them over effectively. When you have a high level
of confidence in your material and your delivery, then your
anxiety level will reduce.
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2.
The Audience
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When you rehearse your
presentation, visualise as accurately as possible to whom you
will be talking. Use the appropriate language or expressions
that you know they will understand. Audiences generally will be
on your side and will want you to do a good job. They will be
sympathetic and admire you for doing something they may not be
good at. They will be receptive and eager to hear what you have
to say. Whatever kind of audience you visualise, be positive.
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3.
Get Physical!
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If after all your
rehearsal and preparation you are still feeling very nervous,
then you need to find an outlet for that energy. Many
professional actors and public speakers find that doing some
form of light exercises in their dressing rooms or a private
area can relieve the excess nerves. Try running on-the-spot or
shaking your arms and legs. Go out for a quick run somewhere, or
punch a punch bag (if you happen to have one handy!). The trick
is to release enough nervous energy to calm your fears but not
leave you so relaxed that your speech suffers. A certain amount
of nervousness is a good thing because it shows you really care
about the speech and the audience. It's similar to an athlete
getting ready for the big race. The best speeches are delivered
by nervous people and the most boring by those who claim not to
be suffer from stage fright.
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4. Familiarity breeds con-
in this case - Confidence!
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If at all possible, go to
the exact spot where you will be giving your speech. Check what
you can see and what you can't see from that perspective. Will
there be a platform or lectern? Will it be formal or informal?
Will you have to use a microphone? How well do the microphones
work, and how are the acoustics? Familiarising yourself with
these details will give you more confidence and may just help
keep your mind off your stage fright. Become comfortable with
the feel and atmosphere of the stage where you'll be. You may
even be pleasantly surprised how limited the view of the
audience really is when all any lights are turned on. You may
not be able to see them!! What you might fear as a group of
faces staring at you in judgement may just turn out to be an
anonymous group of shadows.
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5.
Take a Break!
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In the unlikely event that
you do find yourself becoming overcome with nerves during a
speech, all is not lost. Take a few moments to collect your
thoughts. Don't rush it! Have a glass of water handy and take a
slow sip. Always have two glasses of water ready so that you do
not have to pour a second with shaky hands! And most of all
remind yourself that the audience is on your side. Most of them
have the same fears of speaking in public that you do and will
be very supportive. Above all, never or try to change your
well-rehearsed plans, especially 'on your feet'. If you make a
mistake, never apologise. The audience may not have noticed.
After all, they don't know what you are going to say. Just find
a logical restarting point in your speech and start from there.
Having an audience fully behind you and your words of wisdom can
be the best cure of all for nerves and stage fright.
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If you'd like buy a very
useful guide to making effective speeches go HERE
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