ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Coming in second on the list of the Chapman University Survey on American Fears after public speaking is heights, followed by bugs, snakes, and other animals. Others in the top ten fears include drowning, needles, darkness, and clowns. But if a podium is your personal idea of a monster, here are some tips to tackle your next presentation.
The first step is to be prepared. Write an outline, and then practice in front of friends and family. Have someone record your speech and then watch it back to catch mistakes. Find a private place before speaking to sing some scales and take deep breaths – this will help your voice sound warm, strong, and confident. Popular ted-talks presenter Simon Sinek says your heart beat and words speed up when you get nervous, so speak unusually slowly. And don’t forget about body language.
Debra Fine, an Author and Motivational Speaker said, “You must look confident and relaxed rather than nervous and ill at ease.”
Do this by standing up straight and using the space around you with movement and gestures, and don’t just scan the crowd – make eye contact with audience members one by one. Also, share personal stories and opinions on the topic of your speech. This will help the audience connect with you and make you feel more natural.
If you want to get really comfortable with public speaking, join a public speaking club like Toastmasters, which has over 15,900 clubs in 142 countries. To find a group near you, go to www.toastmasters.org.
Contributors to this news report include: Hayley Hudson, Producer; Roque Correa, Videographer and Editor.
To receive a free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
