Many people fear public speaking. They experience nausea, body chills, sweating, and an adrenaline rush causing a head spin, and this ruins whatever you planned for the stage. Many people can do the most difficult tasks in their comfort zone with ease, but something like public speaking, which helps at every step of life, makes them conscious and nervous.
The anxiety created in our heads is conquerable with a few simple tactics and skill upgradation.
Why is a public speaking skill important?
The objective of public speaking ranges from influencing people, imparting wisdom, educating people, or entertaining people. It signals that public speaking is essential in all walks of life. People who are confident when speaking in public can make better social connections and decisions and excel in leadership, nailing every interview they appear.
How can one develop public speaking skills?
This skill is not rocket science, which can be polished over time with consistent practice. One can get professional guidance and learn how to speak publicly here.
The following tips can help you conquer your anxiety and nervousness and make you one of the most confident speakers.
Accept that it’s ok to be nervous
People usually disregard any negative attitude and believe it is something to eliminate, but it is not valid. If you don’t acknowledge your negative feeling, you won’t try to make them positive and drown in self-doubt and self-sabotage. Getting nervous and anxious is normal and not something one should be ashamed of. Each one of us has a comfort zone that expands over time. Public speaking is intimidating and gets better with time and practice.
Prepare talking points
Lack of content preparedness is an essential factor that gets your ears ringing and freezes your body. The first task at hand when you speak in front of a big audience is the content, that when well-prepared, will improve your overall confidence and performance. One needs to make sure that the content is written in a structured manner with a catchy headline and well-researched facts. It interests the audience in your presentation, and you are more likely to cover all the relevant points without deviating.
Record yourself
It can be intimidating to face the audience, especially if you are unaware of how you are sounding and appear to them. If you are someone who is intimidated by these thoughts, then this tip is your lifesaver. Set up a camera when you are alone or hand it over to someone with whom you are comfortable. Dress up exactly how you would on D-Day and deliver your piece. Watch the recording later and deduce where you are lacking and improve accordingly. It indicates how you will appear on stage and give you a chance to improve yourself before final delivery.
Get information on your audience
It is another crucial step that might make or break your performance. Your delivery piece must be structured to impress the audience you are addressing. It creates a personal connection and makes you more approachable and relatable.
Read and learn about oratory legends
The people who have been legends in delivering speeches were not extraordinary. History and even the contemporary world have many leaders and artists who mesmerize everyone with the manner of their speaking and influence people. You can watch their speeches and model their body language and speaking style. You can also watch TED talks of ordinary people with extraordinary stories presenting themselves beautifully and encapsulating the audience.
Practice mindfulness
You might think about how mindfulness can change the way you speak. But it does. Apart from the content you deliver, the body language has to be in sync with how you communicate. When you practice mindfulness, your mind is calmer, positively influencing your body language and making it more relaxed and confident.
Learn to listen
For being a good speaker, it is essential to be a good listener. Learn to pay attention to those addressing large gatherings and influencing people. Observe those people, their mannerisms, body language, and tone of speech. Listen to people who talk to you personally. You will learn what matters to a particular age group, how they respond to a specific situation, and what kind of speech would a similar audience appreciate. You can engage better with people, approach them with a calm vibe and be comfortable in their presence.
Not only this, but you also learn to have deep conversations with people. It helps you in case of a fumble on stage mid-way when you can relax and engage in fun banter with the audience or add on something impromptu as per the level of the audience.
Include your element
Anyone can go to Wikipedia and read about the topic you wish to speak about. They will listen if you have something that Wikipedia doesn’t. Incorporate anecdotes, puns, mind-blowing facts, personal stories, and anything that adds a cherry on the cake. Make sure your start and end are catchy and have the maximum audience attention. Interact with the audience. These add-ons keep the audience active, and you feel energetic and peaceful.
Don’t take feedback too personally
Some people tend to take every criticism personally, overthink it and lose confidence. A person who appreciates feedback, be it positive or negative, and does not let it get to their head is the one who garners maximum success.
Conclusion
From the tips above, you can deduce that public speaking isn’t as hard as it seems. Anything that doesn’t fall in your comfort zone is initially scary but gets easier with time. Along with the tips above, you can always go for professional courses that prepare you as a rock-solid speaker, someone who can comfortably address the fanciest elites to the most notorious crowds with ease. Everyone can be a good speaker if only time, attention, and focused practice are devoted to honing the skill. So, don’t be nervous and get going.
