What are the public speaking basics you should master?
- Speak with confidence.
- Watch your body language.
- Know your audience.
- Lighten up!
Public speaking is as thrilling as it is frightening. Admit it, you can’t help but admire professional speakers as they do their thing. There’s just something about their confidence and way with words, isn’t there?
If you want to be like them, you should find a suitable center that offers public speaking training. The Philippines is home to a lot of eloquent speakers, but just like you, there are times when they get nervous too.
Relax, you’re not headed for your execution! But you might as well be with all the people staring at you. Don’t worry, you got this. Just breathe and speak.
If only it were that easy, right?
People suffer from stage fright at least once in their life. It could be in a school presentation, a pitch for your meeting, or talking about a particular cause at a large auditorium. In these scenarios, it’s normal to feel your hands shake, or the beads of sweat to appear on your forehead.
To calm your nerves down, keep these tips in mind so you’ll ace your next presentation!
Speak with confidence.
You’re probably raising your eyebrows right now, thinking that this particular tip is already a given. But it is good to mention it repetitively so you can use it as a mantra, don’t you think?
Speaking with confidence doesn’t necessarily mean that you should talk in a loud voice. In fact, refrain from this, since doing so may sometimes come off as obnoxious.
You can display some confidence by presenting organized thoughts and a readable presentation. When you know that you have arranged them, it will help you become more at ease with speaking.
Your audience will also notice it if you are unprepared, which will lead to you being more flustered. Practice and prepare your speech at least a day before.
Take note of the key points, but don’t recite from your notes like a robot.
Read your material well so you fully absorb the gist of the information.
Watch your body language.
The importance of body language when speaking can never be stressed enough. If you’re feeling a little anxious, just focus on your breathing.
Audiences can be cruel and they may bring up your shaking voice or constant walking. Breathe calmly and compose yourself to speak so that you can reduce stress and so that you can present your ideas clearly.
Make eye contact when you can so that you will engage the audience.
Avoid crossing your arms all the time because it can have a negative connotation to it. Don’t shut off your audience!
Most of the time, moving your hands to emphasize a point works, but don’t look like you’re swatting at flies!
Know your audience.
As a speaker, you have to be comfortable with your audience, and the same thing applies to them.
Survey the crowd, are you there for a serious discussion or a lighthearted talk? Knowing your audience means you can deliver your material in a suitable manner.
But this doesn’t mean that you should worry about the reactions of the audiences. You still have to remember to brush it off and be courteous to them.
Don’t take it personally when there is someone sleeping in the audience or laughing at a funny Facebook video on their phone.
Focus on delivering your speech and you’ll be fine.
Lighten up!
Remind yourself that you are making a speech, not running a marathon.
Talking too fast makes you catch your breath and it will make your heart race faster, which will only serve to make you more nervous. Not to mention, no one will understand a word you’re saying if you do.
So lighten up and don’t panic. Have faith in yourself and in your material.
Key Takeaway
These tips on public speaking basics that you should master are just reminders, but the best guide you can trust is yourself. Ease into the speech and don’t think about making mistakes too much.
Public speaking training in the Philippines and around the globe will help you if you want to be a speaker professionally.
Your skills in speaking lies entirely in your passion for it. What are you waiting for, go for it!