Public Speaking: Gain Confidence - NAS Whiting Field Homes

If you've ever found yourself in front of a room full of people, filled with nervousness about how to address them and hold their attention, then you know how stressful public speaking can be. If you?re like most people, you probably have felt a few rushes of public-speaking jitters over the years, when you're asked to address a crowd. Below are a few tips to make your next public-speaking experience as effective and anxiety-free as possible:

Know Your Material

Knowing your stuff is key to effectively addressing a group. If you have any uncertainties about the material or any concern about your grasp of it, your anxiety level will be high ? and, of course, the more nervous you are, the more likely you are to come across as an ineffectual speaker. So, it is vitally important to review your material thoroughly and rehearse your presentation as much as possible. That way, when you walk in the room, you'll feel relaxed and confident in the conviction that you know your stuff.

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Know Your Audience

Before you prep for your presentation, make sure you know your audience. Having a grasp of their interests and their reasons for attending will help guide your speech. Also, be certain to keep in mind the general tone of the event and group of people ? is it an informal talk to a group of people with similar interests, a serious and formal business presentation, or a presentation for a crowd who will want there to be a high entertainment factor? When it comes to the subject you?re speaking about, will you be addressing a group of specialists on a topic they know well, or non-specialists without much background in the area who needs things spelled out? Knowing as much as you can about the audience will help you craft a presentation effectively geared toward them.

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Be Conscious of Speed?

One of the most common mistakes that novice public speakers make is talking at a very fast pace. This rapidity can come from nerves or just from a sense that there isn?t enough time to fit it all in. It is important to make sure you slow down when speaking, giving your audience time to absorb what you have said (and also giving note-takers a chance to write things down). Along those same lines, design your presentation so that you?re not trying to squeeze too much info into too short an amount of time. Practice your speech several times, and reorganize or or cut out portions that don't fit.

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Be Present

A memorable public speaker makes the audience feel as if they are being seen, spoken to, and heard, so it's important to get tuned into the people in the room. An easy way of doing this is to maintain sincere eye contact with people throughout your audience. Look at them, not around or above them, and when you catch someone's eyes, hold their gaze for a few seconds (3 seconds are normally effective and comfortable). Also, if someone asks a question, be certain to really listen and respond in a way that is as individually geared toward the person and the question as possible. If you know your material well, you can be a bit more flexible and adaptable, allowing your audience to get involved.

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Speak With Conviction

If you speak with passion and conviction, people won?t likely notice if you make a few minor slip ups along the way. Your ability to hold the audience?s interest and convince them of the ideas you?re presenting has a lot to do with how much you convey your own sense of belief in those ideas, so speak with confidence! Use intonation, facial expressions, and body language as tools to convey conviction and enthusiasm ? they are also powerful mediums of persuasion. Another way of communicating your passion and belief in what you?re speaking about is through the act of compiling a really strong presentation. If you arrive with a highly organized, well thought-out, and articulate presentation, the viewers will know they are in the presence of someone who cares about what he or she is saying, and you will hold their attention effortlessly.?

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Source: http://blog.naswhitingfieldhomes.com/2012/12/13/public-speaking-gain-confidence/

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