Do you have a fear of giving speeches?
Do you break out in a cold sweat whenever you are asked to speak in public?
If so, you will be glad to know that with preparation and practice you can give a great performance.
Preparation is the first step in making a great speech. The more prepared you are the more comfortable you will feel in front of your audience and the more substance your speech will have.
• Know who you are speaking to: It is importance to know your audience. You don’;t want to give a light and fluffy presentation to a room full of engineers.
• Be passionate about your subject matter.
• Organize what you will say. Your material should be clear and concise.
Bob Proctor, a great orator, breaks a speech down into 3 simple parts.
First, tell the audience what the speech is about by introducing your material.
Next, give the audience the meat of your material.
Third, review what you have said in steps 1 and 2. The second step of any great speech is practice.
A great orator will know his stuff. Study all of your information. The better acquainted you are with your material the better you will feel when sharing it with your audience.
Make sure to practice your speech before your actual presentation. You can practice by yourself until you have it down and then practice in front of friends or family. Ask for honest feedback and adjust what isn’;t working. When it is time to give your speech make sure to take a few minutes to relax. Have some water so you will not become parched. Many speakers "warm up" by exercising. They say this gets their blood pumping and pumps them up to give the speech.
While in front of your audience remember that the hard work is already done. You have prepared, you have done your research, and you have practiced. Now comes the time when you get to show your stuff. Share what you know in a clear voice and make eye contact with the audience.