Climbing the Ladder

How to improve your public speaking skills

For most of us, there is nothing more terrifying than standing up and speaking in front of a large or small group of people! The following tips are geared toward helping you make public speaking less stressful. And, less stress means a more relaxed and confident you—making a better impression on everyone else.

Be prepared and practice
Know your subject; it adds confidence and authority to your speech. Outline your points and always use note cards. And, always practice your delivery to make sure that your speech will not exceed the time allotted for you. If you’re speaking at a very important engagement, try to practice beforehand in front of someone who can properly assess how you’re doing.

Know your audience
Just about everyone overlooks this important strategy. Knowing your target audience provides you with tactical insight on the type of presentation that would best appeal to them. It directs whether you can be casual and humorous, or whether you should be formal and serious. It also gives you help in streamlining your speech by telling you what you need to include and what you can do without.

Image
It’s always paramount to look your absolute best when addressing any group. Image is everything, as much as we deny it. How your audience responds to you really depends on how you’re perceived. You’ll appear as a more convincing speaker if you’re dressed well.

Stage fright
Anyone who has ever spoken in front of an audience has had stage fright at one time or another. It might just be helpful to sit quietly for a few minutes before your speech and gather your thoughts. Also try to breathe deeply and use visualization techniques that will train your brain not to panic. And lastly, mentally walk through the exercise many times.

Follow the tips above and you’ll surely be on your way to becoming more relaxed when speaking publicly. For more information and helpful tips on public speaking, try Toastmasters International at www.toastmasters.org

Have you had a particularly unnerving public speaking moment? If so, tell us your story!