10 Tips for 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
humor, 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. Work to control
filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the
unexpected.

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
Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and
count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-
thousand. Pause. Begin.) 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’re
rooting for you.

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
Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience
builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the
experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

Source of article: Toastmasters International