Years ago, the comedian Shelley Berman told about being on a plane, looking out the window, and seeing the wing on fire. The fire grew bigger. When his window started to get hot, Berman finally, shyly, reported the problem to a flight attendant who screamed and went charging up the aisle to the cockpit. As the passengers began to talk anxiously among themselves, Berman realized he was not the only one who had seen the fire. Minutes later, the plane made a safe emergency landing. The moral according to Berman? Most people would rather die than make fools of themselves.
Many of us feel the same when it comes to public speaking. Looking out into a sea of faces, some interested, some hostile, most indifferent, a quick, painless heart attack seems preferable to opening your mouth. But it doesn't have to be that way. These tips will help ease your anxiety. Once you've spoken publicly a few times, you may even find that you enjoy it. But even if you don't, you'll at least know you can do it if it's required of you.
Prepare
Prepare your presentation at least a week before you are due to speak. Practice it in front of a mirror until you are confident you can recite the main points with confidence.
It also helps to know your audience and what they expect from you. Do they want a casual, interactive chat, or are they expecting a slick presentation complete with slides and analysis?
Finally, take some time to think about what you want to get out of giving this talk. Traffic to your personal website? Referrals to your agency? A sense of satisfaction that you are giving people valuable knowledge and resources? While you are preparing for your talk, try to find a way to make your goal fit with the goals of your audience.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Before you go on stage, breathe in deeply through your nose. Hold your breath for a few seconds. Then let the air out through your mouth. As you do this, tell yourself, I am a competent and intelligent public speaker with more than enough knowledge to wow this audience. Even if your conscious mind doesn't believe it, your subconscious mind just might be convinced.
Start With An Icebreaker
Tell a joke. Share a poignant or amusing personal story. These opening techniques will get the attention of the members of the audience and make them care what you have to say. Remember, the audience wants to like you. Make it easy for them to do so.
What's In It For Your Audience?
How will the information you are sharing, or the product or service you are selling, make the members of the audience's lives easier? Does your agency take on difficult clients nobody else will touch? Can the medication you're selling control high blood pressure better than the existing brands? Will people be able to use the information you're giving them to do something productive in their own lives?
Remember that although a personal example or two is okay and even desirable, no one wants to hear all about you, you, you. They want to know what's in it for me, me, me!
Bring the Speech Full Circle
Relate the ending of your speech back to the beginning. This can be as simple as saying something like, If you follow these useful tips, you'll almost always be able to connect to even the most hostile families.
Stay Around For A Private Chat
Be available after your speech to answer questions or to exchange a few words with people who want to talk to you privately. You may wish to use this time to solicit feedback by asking questions like, What was the most useful thing you learned tonight? or, If you could have changed one thing about tonight's presentation, what would you have changed?
Shelley Berman had the right idea when he said that most people would rather die than make fools of themselves, but with these public speaking tips to guide you, you don't have to worry about looking like a fool. In fact, with a little practice, you can probably make yourself a public speaker who is highly in demand.
