1) Be prepared.
Give careful thought to the purpose of your speech and the audience you are speaking to.
Outline your speech and be familiar with the points that you want to make.
You don't have to give your speech exactly the way it was written, but you do need to know the structure of your speech including the points that you want to make and how you will craft transitions to keep your audience with you as you move from point to point.
You may want to memorize the opening and closing of your speech.
A strong opening will immediately get your audience's attention and spark their interest in what you have to say.
A strong closing will help them to take your message home with them and put it into action.
Practice your speech in front of a friendly audience.
Your best friend, spouse, or child may be perfect for this.
Ask them to provide helpful input about how to improve your speech and to let you know what you are doing well.
I've even practiced my speech in front of my ever-patient dog! She had no helpful input, but she listened very attentively.
Preparing for the big day will help you to keep your nerves under control.
Know where you are speaking and know your audience.
How big is the stage? The room? Will a microphone be provided? Hand-held, lavalier, or on a stand? How many people are attending? What are their interests and demographics? 2) Have a back up plan.
What if you are using a video presentation and the equipment doesn't work? Take the time to think about what could go wrong during your presentation.
If you are prepared for the unexpected things that may crop up, you will cope with them much more easily when they do.
I say when because, if you give enough speeches, you will surely experience some of these situations.
I like to watch how other speakers handle them so that I can pick up some helpful hints before I am put on the spot.
Here are a few tips that may come in handy.
If your projection equipment fails, have hand-outs available to pass around.
If your speech is interrupted and you lose your place, make a game of it.
Pick a member of the audience and ask them how they interpreted what you last said, or "quiz" them to test their attention.
You'll have to craft this technique to suit your subject and your audience.
If there is a medical emergency in the audience and paramedics arrive, don't just keep speaking as if nothing is wrong.
Take a brief recess and perhaps direct the audience to clear the room so the paramedics can work unimpeded.
3) Relax before your speech.
Remember, the audience wants you to succeed.
Arrive early and greet people as they arrive at the event.
Visit with them a bit if you can.
Then, when it's your turn to take the stage, you will be speaking to a room of friends, instead of strangers.
Remember to look them in the eye, the advice about looking over their heads does not work! When you look people directly in the eye, you create connection.
When you connect with your audience, they want to hear what you have to say.
If the butterflies are still fluttering, that's OK.
Keep your body language relaxed and project confidence.
Your audience will treat you as a confident speaker and that will help your confidence to grow.
4) If you are serious about public speaking, join an organization like Toastmasters.
Toastmasters creates a safe environment with constructive feedback to help you improve your communication and leadership skills.
You can use your Toastmasters friends as a test audience for your speeches and use their feedback to polish them so that you sparkle on stage.
5) If you want to hone your speaking skills and learn to live your life with confidence and gusto, consider hiring a personal coach.
Let individual attention help your confidence and speaking skills soar.
Give careful thought to the purpose of your speech and the audience you are speaking to.
Outline your speech and be familiar with the points that you want to make.
You don't have to give your speech exactly the way it was written, but you do need to know the structure of your speech including the points that you want to make and how you will craft transitions to keep your audience with you as you move from point to point.
You may want to memorize the opening and closing of your speech.
A strong opening will immediately get your audience's attention and spark their interest in what you have to say.
A strong closing will help them to take your message home with them and put it into action.
Practice your speech in front of a friendly audience.
Your best friend, spouse, or child may be perfect for this.
Ask them to provide helpful input about how to improve your speech and to let you know what you are doing well.
I've even practiced my speech in front of my ever-patient dog! She had no helpful input, but she listened very attentively.
Preparing for the big day will help you to keep your nerves under control.
Know where you are speaking and know your audience.
How big is the stage? The room? Will a microphone be provided? Hand-held, lavalier, or on a stand? How many people are attending? What are their interests and demographics? 2) Have a back up plan.
What if you are using a video presentation and the equipment doesn't work? Take the time to think about what could go wrong during your presentation.
If you are prepared for the unexpected things that may crop up, you will cope with them much more easily when they do.
I say when because, if you give enough speeches, you will surely experience some of these situations.
I like to watch how other speakers handle them so that I can pick up some helpful hints before I am put on the spot.
Here are a few tips that may come in handy.
If your projection equipment fails, have hand-outs available to pass around.
If your speech is interrupted and you lose your place, make a game of it.
Pick a member of the audience and ask them how they interpreted what you last said, or "quiz" them to test their attention.
You'll have to craft this technique to suit your subject and your audience.
If there is a medical emergency in the audience and paramedics arrive, don't just keep speaking as if nothing is wrong.
Take a brief recess and perhaps direct the audience to clear the room so the paramedics can work unimpeded.
3) Relax before your speech.
Remember, the audience wants you to succeed.
Arrive early and greet people as they arrive at the event.
Visit with them a bit if you can.
Then, when it's your turn to take the stage, you will be speaking to a room of friends, instead of strangers.
Remember to look them in the eye, the advice about looking over their heads does not work! When you look people directly in the eye, you create connection.
When you connect with your audience, they want to hear what you have to say.
If the butterflies are still fluttering, that's OK.
Keep your body language relaxed and project confidence.
Your audience will treat you as a confident speaker and that will help your confidence to grow.
4) If you are serious about public speaking, join an organization like Toastmasters.
Toastmasters creates a safe environment with constructive feedback to help you improve your communication and leadership skills.
You can use your Toastmasters friends as a test audience for your speeches and use their feedback to polish them so that you sparkle on stage.
5) If you want to hone your speaking skills and learn to live your life with confidence and gusto, consider hiring a personal coach.
Let individual attention help your confidence and speaking skills soar.