Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: How to Relieve Discomfort
• Part 2 of 3: How to Prepare for the Presentation
• Part 3 of 3: How to give a speech
• Tips

Public speaking can be difficult for introverts and insecure people, but practice and self-confidence can help you become a great public speaker. Improve your public speaking skills with a variety of simple techniques.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: How to Relieve Discomfort

1. 1 Study your audience. Often, the stress caused by fear of public speaking at various formal and informal events is caused by a lack of information about the people for whom your words are intended. Surely you are worried about how correct your words are, how well the audience understands you and how well your speech sounds.
   • Collect information about the audience before any performances. If you have a presentation, then this aspect is not a problem. Just think about why and where you need to perform. Then use the checklist.
   • Try to estimate the number of people present, age, gender, education (experience and socioeconomic level), religious affiliation, friendliness and familiarity with you. You can memorize the questions on abbreviating the CWP ORDZ, if this makes it easier for you.
   • Answering these questions will help you craft a speech that is comfortable to deliver in a meeting. The audience always determines the content and tone of speech.
   • If possible, talk to 3-7 participant representatives.Identify gaps in their knowledge and prepare explanations. Learn the merits of those present to highlight these aspects. This will make it easier for you to gain the support and trust of your audience.
2. 2 Change your way of thinking. Negative thoughts associated with such a task can prevent you from openly sharing your knowledge. Don't let negative thoughts get the better of you and turn them into positive ideas.
   • Imagine how you are confident in delivering your speech, and how the audience responds positively to your presentation. Imagine that your information is beneficial to everyone present, and you are at the right time in the right place.
   • If you are worried or scared, then you may have anxious thoughts about possible troubles during the performance. Such thoughts negatively affect voice and body language.
   • Try to think positively so you don't accumulate bad feelings and negative ideas. Positive thoughts can help you feel energized, relaxed, and confident. Thinking about how much you don't want to make a speech needs to be changed with encouraging words. You can say to yourself: “Great! I got the opportunity to share my knowledge on a topic of interest to me with wonderful people who are waiting for my speech! ”.
   • Consider giving a speech as an acknowledgment of your merits. Most of the audience in the audience came to the event for you. They want to hear your talk or presentation.
3. 3 Take pauses and silence calmly. Pauses can be awkward, especially when there are a lot of listeners looking at you and waiting for you to continue. However, pauses allow you to catch your breath and collect your thoughts.
   • Make speech your conscious choice. You don't have to perform just because you are standing in front of a group of people. You yourself have prepared and decided to perform.
   • A calm reaction to pauses will help you take your time during your performances. Speech should not be hasty. The pauses always seem longer to the speaker than to the listeners. Just smile and pull yourself together, but don't wait too long. If your words are of interest, then listeners will not pay much attention to the rare pauses.
   • Use pauses to monitor your breathing and stay calm, and communicate your message to your audience. Pause for a while so that those present are aware of what you have heard. Pause is your friend, not your enemy.
4. 4 Notice your speech habits. Keeping track of your speech during regular conversations will help you improve your speaking skills. Practice pauses to get time to collect your thoughts. Don't use parasitic words to fill in moments of silence.
   • Pay attention to any parasitic words you utter. We usually say these words when we collect our thoughts and do not know what to say next (for example, "hmm", "uh", "so", "aha"). Take pauses calmly to get rid of the word parasites.
   • A person also has default speech habits, which can become automatic over time. For example, when a person sneezes, you might answer, "Be healthy." All of these habits are found in public speaking. Notice your verbal as well as non-verbal habits. Which ones make you anxious and insecure?
   • Start fixing habits that don't work for you.
   • For example, you adjust your glasses in moments of excitement, peeling off burrs around your nails, or utter parasitic words.
   • Monitor your behavior in different situations to change these habits. It's important to be aware of your actions even when talking to friends on the phone. Then try to break these habits.

Part 2 of 3: How to Prepare for the Presentation

1. 1 Make a plan. Take the time to properly plan your speech so that it sounds fluid and natural.Study the text of your speech to relieve unnecessary stress.
   • Imagine how you arrive at the place, go up to the stage, give a speech and return home. This will help you ease your anxiety and help you remember aspects that need preparation.
   • Think of your performance as a performance. If you don't remember the script, you won't be able to perform and captivate the audience. The audience will always notice if the actors don't know the words.
   • The better prepared you are, the less anxiety you will have. Create a character if that's more convenient for you. You don't have to be yourself. Try on a stage image. An introvert can transform into an extrovert during performances.
   • Plan all available aspects so that you can fully focus on your speech while speaking. It is important not only to memorize the text, but also to plan nuances such as clothes for the performance and meals that day.
   • Plan your outfit ahead of time so you don't worry when it's time to pack. Also decide when and what you will eat. If you usually feel anxious and lose your appetite before a show, it is best to schedule your meal a few hours before your presentation.
2. 2 Write down a speech outline. It is not necessary to write down the full text of the talk, but be prepared and have a convenient outline.
   • The speech should be pronounced from memory, but the plan will become your support and will allow you to remember all the important points.
   • A good outline will ensure natural fluency. You don't have to worry if you suddenly forget something, because you can always look into the plan.
   • You should also prepare a thesis or main idea of ​​the speech. As in the case of an essay, a clear thesis will be a good helper and support. The thesis will inform you and the audience about the main point of your speech, and also show the audience the level of your preparation and awareness.
   • During a speech, there is a possibility of losing your mind. Having a plan and a good level of preparation will allow you to easily switch between different questions.
3. 3 Practice speaking and writing yourself down. Rehearse your speech, take notes of your deficiencies, analyze your voice, body language, and other aspects to speak with confidence. Track yourself and write down comments about your voice and appearance. Make the necessary changes.
   • Practice is important not only for athletes and creative people. Rehearse your speech at a slightly slower pace so that you can better understand the words and be aware of how things look from the outside. For example, when speaking, people tend to speak faster than usual. Practice will help you keep the pace.
   • Practice to memorize speech better and feel confident. When it’s time to go on stage, you’ll be ready to give a speech even in your sleep. Give a speech while doing your daily activities: washing dishes, mowing the lawn, or watering flowers.
   • Rehearse the middle of your talk a few times, as this is the most overlooked part. You don't have to start over every time. Start from the middle and repeat the speech to the very end several times so that the text is deposited in memory.
4. 4 Breathe deeply, smile and stay hydrated. Breathing is an essential component of a successful performance. Saturating your body with oxygen will help you focus and calm down. Smile to cheer yourself up. Drink water as water invigorates and invigorates. All this will create the necessary mood.
   • During deep breathing, your heart rate slows down and you can think about your actions and words. In moments of excitement, people often use rapid shallow breathing. Such breathing does not provide the required amount of oxygen and can even cloud thoughts.
   • Long, even breaths in and out can clear the mind and calm the body. Remember to smile when you do this. Smiling promotes the release of endorphins that improve mood.It is also important to drink water, as in the case of dehydration, the person is unable to think clearly and quickly gets tired.
5. 5 Get some rest and choose the right outfit. If you have to give a speech in the morning, it is important to have a good night's rest. After waking up, you should put on your pre-prepared clothes so as not to worry about anything.
   • Take the necessary steps to help you relax and get a good night's sleep. Read, watch a movie, or exercise. Eight hours of sleep will allow you to rest and gain strength.
   • Choose your clothes in advance so that you can just pack in the morning. Clothing should give you a sense of confidence and be comfortable. Whether it's a business suit that you are ready to conquer the world in, or a stylish dress that fits you perfectly and builds your confidence. Things should be appropriate but comfortable. A beautiful appearance will dispel any doubts about yourself.

Part 3 of 3: How to give a speech

1. 1 Warm up. Before performing, you need to warm up your voice and body. Stick out your tongue and recite nursery rhymes to clear your throat and increase the volume and sonority of your voice. Then say the rhymes in your normal voice.
   • Warm up to warm up your muscles and keep your movement flowing smoothly as you perform.
   • Warm up your vocal cords with vocal exercises such as using the full range of your voice. Start with the lowest voice and work your way up to the upper register. Then go back and repeat the exercise again.
   • Do some diction exercises and tongue twisters to relax your mouth and jaws.
2. 2 Introduce yourself. Even when speaking in front of people you know, it is best to introduce yourself as it will help you relax and prepare your audience.
   • All you have to do is give your name and say what you do. Tell us why you are performing today.
   • You can be more informal if the environment allows. Start with a short life story that happened to you that relates to the topic of your presentation. A good joke is also good.
   • This introduction will help you gain interest and attention even before you start, and also help you relax. The audience should also feel comfortable in your presence.
3. 3 Start your speech with a statement or thesis. Then you can briefly list the main points of the speech or presentation.
   • The thesis will inform the audience about the topic of the speech, and also show the level of your training.
   • You can also share a short outline of the speech using a transition phrase such as “Today I would like to talk to you about ...”. Show that you are not taking the audience for granted and communicate where you are going. Listeners need to know that the speech will not be endless. This way they will listen to you carefully and stay focused.
   • You may also find it helpful to review your speech outline before you start speaking.
4. 4 Maintain eye contact and use positive body language. Make eye contact, use facial expressions and hand movements. Speech on any topic should not be boring, like the speaker himself.
   • Make eye contact. Hold your gaze on one person for a couple of sentences. This will show that you are speaking to people, and not just speaking words. Eye contact can also help you stay calm. Take turns paying attention to different people and treating them as interlocutors, not as a large, heterogeneous group of people.
   • Body language is just as important as words. If you behave tightly and stand still, listeners will perceive you as boring and anxious. If you swing your arms too much or constantly move, you may also be considered overly nervous. Stand up straight and do not forget to control your bad habits. Move as you move on to new ideas. Walk evenly across the stage so that your pace matches your speaking speed.
5. 5 Pronounces words clearly. Diction is an essential skill for a speaker. You must be understood and heard.If listeners do not understand what you are saying, they will quickly lose concentration. So, you can even ask: "Does everyone hear me well?" - to make sure the microphone is working properly.
   • Speak slowly and loudly. Do not overdo it, but also do not swallow the words and pronounce the endings clearly.
   • Remember to breathe deeply and use pauses.
   • Watch for voice modulations. Your words shouldn't sound monotonous. You can move from a lively to a softer voice to express the desired mood.
6. 6 Embody the desired energy. You will certainly infect the audience with your energy. If you are tense, then they will feel your excitement. Do not follow the energy of the audience, set the mood.
   • Speech and body language should communicate to those present what kind of energy you need. You are passionate about the topic and well versed in the matter, so you decided to give a speech. This kind of energy will help you lead your listeners.
   • Remember to think positively and smile. Positive energy will reflect on everyone and come back to you.
7. 7 Follow the order. Use the outline if necessary, but don't constantly look at the cue or read the text.
   • By preparing and interacting with the audience, you will not need to read the notes, but you can periodically check that you have not forgotten important points.
   • If you are speaking behind the podium, then you can leave the plan on the podium. Don't be afraid to leave the podium. Use the plan as an anchorage or a safe place to return to. Breathe in, let the audience be aware of what you heard, and make sure you stay on topic.
8. 8 Have a good time. Top-notch speakers enjoy performing. Feel free to be proud of the opportunity to share your knowledge and convey all your ideas to the audience.
   • At the end, you can summarize the main ideas and repeat the thesis. Then say a powerful, motivating and challenging ending passage.
   • Thank the audience for their attention and time. Offer to ask you questions.
   • Before speaking, you can write down questions that have come to your mind, that you have already heard before, or that may arise from those present. Be prepared to answer these questions. This is not difficult if you are well versed in the topic.
   • If participants are slow to ask questions, show your experience and say that you are regularly asked a certain question. Use one of the questions you wrote down.

Tips

• Find public speaking courses in your city to improve your public speaking skills.
• Find like-minded people to share experiences on sites like Meetup.
• Try to get a good night's sleep before performing to help you rest and recharge.
• Rehearse your speech to avoid relying on notes and interact with the audience.
• Come up with a stage image and transform into a first-class speaker on stage.
• Remember to breathe deeply and relax. The audience wants to hear you speak, so do not deny them this opportunity.
• A funny story can be a good start to a speech if it's appropriate.