‘All the Great Speakers were Bad Speakers at First’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson
These words by Emerson have been corroborated by some of the greatest public speakers (both past and present) in the world. Personal accounts by Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Warren Buffet among others reveal how they started off unsure and nervous about speaking in public just like the rest of us and how they overcame their fears and mastered the art of public speaking. Let us take a leaf out of the book of these great public speakers and look at ways to overcome the fear of speaking in public based on 2 timeframes (i.e. before and on the day of the speech).
1. A Few Days Before Your Speech
Preparation is Key
Being well prepared regarding the content of your speech is already half the battle won. Let us look at how to go about this:
- The first step in this regard is choosing the subject matter on which your speech will be based
- Extensive knowledge and interest in the subject is essential, for only when you have a passionate interest in the subject will you be able to talk about it with confidence.
- Prepare your speech notes well in advance and if you are doing a PowerPoint presentation keep it crisp and uncluttered to make more of an impact.
Practice Makes Perfect
Once you have the written material ready, it will be a good idea to do a few practice runs of your speech. The more you practice your speech the more at ease you will be, also you can make the necessary changes to optimise the flow of your speech and ensure it is informative and compelling. Getting family or friends to be your audience during these practice sessions will make you more comfortable with talking in front of people.
2. On the Day of the Speech
Take Deep Breaths
Right before you go on stage find a quiet corner and focus on your breathing. Take in a long deep breath and then exhale slowly, repeat this at least 5-6 times. You will find it does work wonders in calming your nerves before your speech.
Make Eye Contact
During the course of your speech it is important that you make eye contact with individual members of the audience. This helps you create a personal connect with your audience. The rule of thumb is that you can pick a member of the audience and make eye contact with them as you explain a specific point (around 10-15 seconds). Once you move onto the next point turn your attention to any other member. Try to include people who are sitting in the far corners of the room to make them feel more included.
Try these techniques the next few times you make a public speech and you will definitely find yourself becoming more comfortable with speaking in front of a crowd.
