The Top Four Ways You can be a Better Speaker and Presenter
Making a business presentation is not always easy – in fact, it can be nerve-wracking at times. Speaking in public is not a natural thing, after all, and it takes a lot of practice and experience in order to get everything right (even for the most seasoned speakers). Facing the public means facing a crowd, an amount of people that are more in number and may very well decide to chew you off stage when they don’t like what they hear. That’s the basic fear. That’s ingrained, and normal.
However, good speakers prepare, and are able to get over that fear with a few simple tricks. Do you need to speak to the public soon, or do you have a presentation scheduled? Then this one might help you along: here are the top four ways you can be a better speaker and presenter.
Change negative energy into positive energy
It’s normal to be nervous, and it’s normal to have the jitters just before a performance. In fact, you’d be abnormal if you didn’t feel those familiar butterflies in the stomach. You’re going to deliver a speech or presentation with your peers looking at your every move, after all.
The key is to turn that negative nervousness into positive energy. It’s a mind trick. Here’s one thing you should remember – and it’s with this you should lead: an enthusiastic speech is always more effective than an eloquent one. Are you nervous? Share it! Put that energy into your speech. Show them you are excited, and that you mean what you say.
Practice makes perfect
Practice, practice, practice. In the shower, in the mirror, in front of your loved ones. The more you do, the more comfortable you will be when the time comes.
Also, prepare what you have to say – in detail. If you want, you can even have your speech or presentation transcribed for you by transcription services. UK transcription services can have your pre-recorded speech transcribed, and this can greatly help you with the technicalities – as well as your confidence.
Learn from others
Watch videos of your favourite speakers – they are great sources of inspiration.
Reach out
Here’s one other thing that might help you a lot: make time to meet people in the audience before they take their seats, and greet people who are coming to watch you talk. This will have two main advantages. Firstly, you’ll get a sense of who the audience is, and what they might expect. Secondly – and perhaps more importantly – the audience becomes real, and you will not be facing a faceless crowd that may or not eat you up. Remember, it’s the unknown that scares us the most. Do your research, and have confidence in yourself. Others can do it – why couldn’t you?
Image attributed to iosphere/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
