- Watch masters in public speaking more often.
Whether it would be through seminars or television, you should watch masters in public speaking more often. This way, you get to take note of their techniques, their habits, and other good practices. Watch them, so that you can also get a better idea on what makes them successful public speakers.
- Check the room or the venue.
As much as possible, you want to visit the room or the venue that you are going to do your presentation on. This way, you would become more familiar with the environment where you are going to present in front of a group of people. If it is possible though, spend some time in the spot where you are going to speak, so that you can have an idea on what it would be like.
- Know your audience.
Learning more about your audience can help you a lot when it comes to the kind of speech or presentation you want to have. For example, if you are going to present in front of professionals, then you should keep it formal, but don’t forget to throw out some jokes. This can keep them from becoming bored.
- Be sober.
It is never a good idea to drink some alcoholic beverages prior to giving out a speech. There are actually some people who believe that drinking a bottle of beer can help them gain more courage in facing a crowd. However, it is much better to listen to someone who is sober, even if he shows some signs of nervousness, than listening to someone who is drunk.
- Learn as much as you can about the topic you are going to talk about.
Spend as much time as you can in researching about the topic you are going to talk about. This is to make sure that you are as prepared as you can, in giving your presentation. Keep in mind that the more prepared you are, that more effective you can be in delivering your speech. Thus, it can also boost your self-confidence, which is very important in public speaking.
- Anticipate possible questions from your audience.
If the kind of presentation you are going to make would give an opportunity for some people to ask questions, then you should be prepared for it. One way of doing this is to anticipate possible questions from your audience, and preparing professional answers to them. Try to come up with the most difficult and unexpected questions, so that you won’t be caught off guard when someone asks them.
- Practice more.
The more you are going to practice your presentation, the more you would become an expert on it. Thus, you should practice more often. Practice in front of your kid, your spouse, your dog, as well as in front of the mirror. Time your presentation, and give more emphasis on those points that are more challenging.
- Be comfortable.
The more comfortable you are in front, the more effective you can be in conveying your message. To achieve that, you should make sure that you are comfortable with what you are wearing. Aside from that, keep in mind that it can also be achieved when you have properly prepared for the speech.
- Be positive.
When you constantly think of negative thoughts, then you may not become successful in public speaking. Thus, you should always think that you are great in it, so that you would be able to attain that. When you constantly have positive thoughts, you would become more confident in yourself, and have the motivation to constantly improve.
- Giving your audience what they want.
It is best if you know what your audience want, before you have your presentation. This way, you would be able to convince them to listen to you all throughout your speech. Thus, if your audience what to be entertained, then you should not hesitate in telling a couple of funny stories, which are all related to the topic you are talking about.
- Don’t forget to bring some notes.
When you do your public speaking, it is necessary to have some notes in front of you, in order to have something as your guide, as far as following a certain flow in your speech. Thus, you should prepare them beforehand. Make the notes small, but highlight some words, so that you can easily see them at a glimpse.
- Don’t put yourself down.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, if you feel that you have not given your presentation a hundred percent. Always remember that you can always make some adjustments on your upcoming presentations, so that you can improve further. Aside from that, it does not necessarily mean that your audience did not enjoy your speech, if you think that it was not good.
- Public speaking is not a matter of life or death.
You should learn to relax when you are speaking in front of a crowd. When you miss out on something that you have on your notes, you should remember that no one except you would know that. Aside from that, no one is going to shout at you if you missed an image in your visual aids.
- Don’t tell your audience that you are nervous about your speech.
If you are nervous about your speech, it is actually not the best move to tell your audience about it. If you do, then they may see you as someone who lacks experience and better skills in public speaking. Thus, it is best to hide it, and gain control over it. Sound more confident at the beginning, and you will realize that just prior to hitting your first minute in front, all your nervousness would already be gone.
- Give it your best shot.
Every time you speak in front of a crowd, make it a point to always give it your best shot. This means that you should always try to make it your best speech ever. By doing it this way, you are always challenging yourself to be better on it, and you are recognizing the fact that there is always room for improvement.
- Don’t speak too fast.
One of the most obvious signs of nervousness and lack of confidence is when a speaker begins to talk real fast. Thus, even if you are nervous, you should learn how to pace yourself. Always remember that when you talk fast, in most cases, your audience may not be able to understand what you are saying. Thus, slow down at bit, so that you can also gain more control over your nervousness.
- Try to avoid looking at the eyes of the people in front of you.
If it is your first time to speak to a large crowd, then try to avoid looking at the eyes of people nearest to you, since it can make you more nervous. This does not mean that you should look at the floor, ceiling, or your sides. Always remember that they want you to look them in the eye; however, if you are too nervous in doing it, you should look at their forehead instead.
- Take a deep breath.
If you are trembling, especially when you are just a few seconds away to being called for your speech, you should practice deep breathing. Taking a deep breath can help in calming your nerves. Thus, just before you position yourself in front of the crowd, take a deep breath, so that you would become more relaxed, and be rid of your nervousness.
- Be funny, but don’t overdo it.
Telling jokes that are related to the topic you are talking about can be an effective technique in getting your audience’s attention. However, you should not over do it. When you tell too many jokes, some people may think that you are a comedian instead of a professional public speaker. Aside from that, it can also take away the validity of your presentation..
- Everyone makes mistakes.
Making mistakes is actually normal. Thus, you should not worry too much about them. For example, if you mispronounced a couple of words, you should not dwell too much about it, since it can affect your whole presentation. What you need to do instead, is to acknowledge them, and to simply move forward.