It was Dale Carnegie who said,
“You can conquer almost any fear if
you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t
exist anywhere except in the mind.” A common fear among many people is
the fear of public speaking. The idea of standing in front of an
audience to persuade or present often causes worry and anxiety, but it
doesn’t have to. If you can remember Dale Carnegie’s words about fear
and follow the strategies below, you will overcome your public speaking
fear in no time.
1. Think Out Your Ideas
In order to speak well in front of multiple people, you need to have
your entire presentation planned out. Just as you would create an
outline for a research paper, you should do the same for your
presentation. You’ll need to support your ideas, so think of examples
that you can use as evidence. Try to structure your thoughts in a way
that makes sense, and create a sense of completeness with a beginning,
middle, and end.
2. Be Prepared
You will need to practice your speech significantly in order to feel
confident while speaking. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare or
you will not feel ready to present. Instead of trying to memorize every
word, only memorize the key points of your outline and the examples you
will be using for support. You want to be engaged, not
robotic-sounding. Your speech should flow naturally, as if you were
having a conversation with another person.
3. Start Confidently
The opening of your presentation will determine how the rest of the
speech goes, so speak with assertiveness and at a volume where everyone
can easily hear you. Try opening with a strong statement and bold
language in order to convey confidence. Remember that the audience has
no prior opinions or thoughts on what you are going to say, and you are
the authoritative source in this situation.
4. Make Eye Contact
Throughout your presentation, it is important to make eye contact
with individuals in the room. While you should not focus on one
particular person for two long, it is okay to hold someone’s gaze for a
few seconds. If you look at the floor or in a random direction, your
audience will sense that you are not as engaged as you could be. Making
eye contact lets your listeners know that you believe in what you are
saying and that you are there to inform them about something new.
5. Slow Down
A beginner’s mistake when it comes to public speaking is to rush
through the presentation. When you walk to the podium or front of the
room, take a deep breath, look at your audience, and even count to five
before starting to speak. It may feel like an eternity, but it will seem
like a normal amount of time to the people in the room. Remember to
speak clearly and annunciate your words. You should have a slight pause
after commas and between sentences, and an even bigger pause between
paragraphs or major points in your argument.
6. Stay Steady
Most people know that it’s important not to fidget during a
presentation, but it’s also crucial that you limit your movement as much
as possible. Slight swaying or talking with your hands can be just as
distracting as ordinary fidgeting. Stand with your feet about shoulder
width apart, keep your head up, and plant your feet firmly to the
ground. It may feel awkward to hold this stance for a long time, but it
will help you to stand up straight and look more confident while you
speak.
7. Be Human
Remember: it’s okay to be nervous. In fact, it’s normal. Don’t worry
about seeming nervous in front of others, since everybody in the room
has had to give a presentation at one point and understands how you
feel. If you make a mistake, that’s okay too. Just take a deep breath
and pick up where you left off. Keep in mind that everyone in the room
is looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
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