10 Quick Tips for Successful Public Speaking
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and
even beneficial. But too much nervousness can be detrimental.
Here are some
proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:
1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more
about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and
conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan
on using. Revise as necessary.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they
arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area
and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform
nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech.
Imagine yourself
speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping
– it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to
succeed. Audiences want you to be
interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don’t want you to
fail.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience
probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the
medium. Focus your attention away
from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence, which is the key
to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club, like Coronado Toastmasters, can provide the experience you need
in a safe and friendly environment.
Visit a Toastmasters meeting!
Coronado Toastmasters Club meets at noon every
Friday in
Visit our website at: www.geocities.com/coronadotm for more information.
If Friday is not a good day, visit www.toastmasters.org and click on Find a Club at the top left of the home page… or contact Toastmasters International using
the information at the bottom of this page.
(949) 858-8255 •
[email protected]
Employers - Organize a Toastmasters group at
work!
The best way to provide communication training
to your employees – at a fraction of the cost of other programs – is to start
an in-house Toastmasters group. Individual involvement produces instant results
in your employees.
To learn more about conducting the
Toastmasters program in your company, contact Toastmasters International and
request a New Club Information Kit. You won’t regret it!
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SOURCE: Toastmasters International
Catalog No. 105