Public speaking tends to be everyone’s worst enemy. However, it doesn’t have to be. Setting yourself up for success with a few simple steps, and public speaking can be a breeze.
Step 1:
Make sure you know your information. Being confident in what you know can make the speech go much easier and reduce anxiety. Having a prewritten speech can be helpful, but it can also increase stress. Make sure you know your message but don’t read word for word. The message is the most important part, as long as you are able to affectively convey that message, that it all that matters.
Step 2:
Make sure to practice. Practice in front of a mirror, in front of pets, or in front of friends or family. Imagine yourself in front of a crowd of people when practicing to reduce anxiety for the true speech. The more times you run through what you are going to say, the less likely you are to forget it the day of. Practicing can also help you revise your speech as hearing it out loud can help to identify where there is any awkward language. So, Practice, Practice, Practice.
Step 3:
Make sure to breathe. Taking a few deep breaths before public speaking can reduce anxiety and aid focus. Breathing will also help you to slow down your speaking and allow for your speech to be more concise. So make sure to breathe before and during your speech.
Follow these simple steps and public speaking can become easy. Take as many opportunities as you can to participate in public speaking. The more times you do it the easier it gets. Make sure to follow the steps and public speaking will become your best friend.
