Ideas for Improving Your Public Speaking Abilities

Most people cringe at the thought of public speaking. It’s actually something that the majority of people would simply avoid at all costs. But, the opportunity and the occasional moment of speaking in public often finds its way into our lives. It might be hard to believe, but according to Sang, (2017) almost 75% of people from around the world suffer from public speaking anxiety, speech anxiety or what is classified as social anxiety disorder and known as glossophobia. It’s the gut-wrenching experience of having to speak in front of an audience or group of people. The classic symptoms generally include freezing-up, sweating, shaking, heart pounding, nervousness, panic, and the common symptoms of butterflies in your stomach. And, these indications can come on suddenly no matter who you are in front of; whether it be presenting in front of an audience of hundreds of people, a group of co-workers, or even with a simple elevator speech.

Why do so many people suffer with public speaking?

Public speaking stirs a thought and causes us to worry more about what people think of us. This ultimately leads our brains into a process that freezes in panic. During this process, the panic mode causes the frontal lobe or rational part of our brain to shut off. Unfortunately, this is the area that’s responsible for thinking, organizing, planning, and word production. If this takes place, chaos is sure to happen.

A big factor can also be attributed to the beliefs that most people have about themselves as speakers and public speaking in general. People simply overestimate any consequences of communicating thoughts and ideas in front of an audience. They basically view the opportunity as a threat that could jeopardize individual credibility and image. This also includes the negative aspects of being a speaker such as not being good enough to speak in front of crowds, being labeled as a boring speaker, not a good public speaker, and so on (Tsaousides, 2017).

Glossophobia or the fear of public speaking can be overwhelming to say the least, but it can be beaten. Speaking in front of others does not have to be a scary experience. If you spin things around the experience for yourself could actually turnout to be something fun and exciting. Think about it, the opportunity to improve social engagement, meeting new and interesting people, and the benefit of learning new things. Here are some simple ideas that can help you and your audience enjoy your public speaking moment.

Understand who your audience is

As you organize and prepare your speech, there are a couple of elements that you must discover. Know exactly what you will be presenting in your speech and who your audience is. It seems pretty obvious that knowing the subject you’ll be talking about is important. But just as crucial is knowing who your audience is. Do a little research and discover who’s going to be in attendance and why they are choosing to listen to you. It’s definitely helpful to find out:

• How many people will be attending?
• Educational background
• Experience level
• Gender and age (if possible)

Knowing some or all of these details can help you prepare accordingly. You’ll have more confidence, appear more open, but more importantly, you’ll come across as being relaxed. This helps in minimizing anxiety and will go a long way in helping be successful with your speech. When you know who your audience is and you deliver a presentation based on their details, they’ll be more inclined to listen to what you have to say.

It all starts with being prepared

Give your speech a little humor and try including some anecdotes, but most of all, give it a personal touch. It’s your introduction that needs to be compelling in order to grab the attention of your audience. Of course, you also want to end with something compelling as well. It’s acceptable to include note cards with bullet points that can help you remember specific things. If you insist on reading during your talk, you’ll have limited eye contact and eventually lose touch with your audience. It’s crucial to keep audience members engaged and focused on what you are saying.

Preparation is definitely a key ingredient for a successful speech. At the same time, include other important elements such as paying more attention to your audience. Notice how they are reacting to what you’re saying and learn to adapt. This ability can provide increased energy and create additional enthusiasm with your audience and inevitably help them to like more of what you are talking about.

Use audiovisuals, but choose wisely

Many people prefer to use audiovisuals when giving a speech. While it’s acceptable and sometimes helpful, it can also be distracting. You want audiovisuals that will help to maintain attention by focusing on specific details.

Remember to breathe

Many individuals who are giving a speech constantly worry about how they’ll do and reactions to any negative thoughts. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to express something that you like or enjoy doing.

Learn to be quiet! That’s right. There’s no set rule that suggests you talk every second you are in front of a group or audience. Some of the best speakers and story tellers have learned to pause here and there. You can do the same thing simply by breathing and taking a few seconds to scan your audience. This will develop further eye contact, increase engagement, and help determine the reactions of your audience.

Appearance

Whether you like it or not, your appearance will mean everything to your audience. That’s why it’s crucial to go with attire that can help boost confidence and self-assurance. This also includes personal hygiene such as hair, makeup, nails, etc. If you can feel good about yourself and your appearance, imagine how your audience will feel about you.

Don’t forget, your appearance, attitude, personality, facial expressions like smiling, body language, eye contact, and how you speak such as the tone of your voice, can all help maintain your levels of confidence. Which ultimately keeps your audience engaged and listening to what you’re saying.

Unless you’re a professional speaker, nobody in your audience will be expecting perfection. Keep in mind, you can improve your public speaking abilities by simply practicing your speech, which can go a long way in helping to calm your nerves, improve presentation skills, and boost your confidence.

References

Sang, Z. (2017). What is glossophobia? The nerve blog. Retrieved from http://sites.bu.edu/ombs/2017/11/27/what-is-glossophobia/

Tsaousides, T. (2017). Why are we scared of public speaking? Psychology today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smashing-the-brainblocks/201711/why-are-we-scared-public-speaking