Public speaking is a difficult situation that many individuals struggle with. Presenting yourself and standing alone in front of an audience can produce a kind of fear of public speaking. However, presenting yourself and speaking well in front of an audience is a skill that almost anyone can learn. Follow these helpful tips to improve your self confidence and public speaking skills.
A common factor that makes public speaking difficult for so many people is the anxiety it often produces for the speaker. This anxiety can cause overactive sweating, redness in the face, stuttered, rapid or muffled speech, and a very fast heart rate. Overcoming public speaking anxiety is quite easy, to do so it is first important to make sure you prepare for your speech. In your speech notes, write helpful instructions to yourself, such as “speak clearly, pause, or take a breath” to remind you slow down your speech in order to speak clearly, and take breaths to remain calm during the speech. Practicing some deep breathing exercises and ensuring yourself that you know what you are talking about and are prepared before you make your speech can help relax you and prevent speaking anxiety, too. If it is possible, visit the venue where you will be speaking before the event, so you can get a good understanding of your surroundings during the speech.
Another helpful consideration for people looking to improve their public speaking is to attend public speaking seminars. Public speaking seminars are very valuable and common for individuals looking for public speaking coaching and tips. These seminars often feature experienced and professional public speakers to provide guidance and coaching for individuals who struggle with public speaking. Many of these seminars teach valuable techniques for a successful public speaking engagement, such as leading with a “hook.” A hook is a joke, statistic, attention-grabbing fact, or personal anecdote to help a public speaker feel more comfortable by engaging their audience and keeping their attention.
Improving your public speaking skills is not only valuable for people who have to give a public speech. Learning the skills involved in public speaking will help in your every day. For example, many skills involved in public speaking will help to build character, advance individuals in their careers, improve communication techniques, and build more overall confidence. Everyone with a desire to better themselves can benefit from improving their public speaking skills, will you?