I believe adamantly, that where there is a will, there is a way. Public speaking offers no exception. Many people imagine being excellent speakers but do nothing to move in that direction. They put that goal in a back pocket and eventually throw out those pants along with other interests that never materialize. Public speaking is a skill that is achievable for everyone who is motivated to excel in that discipline. It takes tenacity, passion and perseverance to climb the mountain to success one step at a time. Here are three steps to help you achieve public speaking magic.
Step #1 – Overcome The Fear
If you have a moderate to severe fear of public speaking, that will hinder any attempts you have for success. On the Fear Scale of one to ten, with one being where you are mildly anxious and ten where you would actually pass out, you must achieve a peak performance level.
That level is usually around one to three. Even professional speakers have a mild level of fear before any presentation that they give. The fear for them may be disguised as energy and eagerness to present.
The trick for the average fearful speaker is to find a stress-reducing routine that they can do the night before a presentation, the morning of, just before, during and after their speech. Deep breathing is the oldest and best way to control anxiety and stress. Meditation which releases stress through positive imagery helps to cause the relaxation response. When done properly, the speaker’s alertness, memory retention and joy of speaking can surface. This applies to both face to face and virtual presentations.
Step #2 – Posture Foundation
Once the fear of public speaking is manageable, the posture a public speaker conducts can evoke an aura of professionalism. It takes seven seconds for an audience to decide whether
they want to listen to you. This is based on the non-verbal communication signals a speaker projects based on their posture, eye contact, hand gestures and smile. During virtual presentations, the way a speaker sits in the chair and faces the camera can greatly impact
the initial introduction of every speech. Face to face standing presentations requires the speaker to stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Both face-to-face and virtual presentations require the presenter to imagine a little wire attached to the top of the head bringing the speaker’s head position upward and forward.
Step #3 – Voice Dynamics is the Key
Excellence in voice dynamics is a learned skill that takes practice and perseverance on a daily basis. In includes the speaker’s use of volume, pitch, rate, confidence, melody and friendliness. Experimenting with the best use of these components is what helps a speaker create credibility, interest and persuasiveness.
A good speaking voice is usually considered to have the following characteristics:
- Easily heard through proper volume and articulation
- It’s vitality expresses the impression of strength even when not loud
- The expression portrays shades of meaning, never boring or monotonous
- A pleasant and friendly tone
Remember! Everyone has the capability of achieving public speaking magic and developing excellence in public speaking through coaching, training, practice and perseverance in public speaking. Register today to “Speaker Skills” 416-783-6717 or speakerskills@rogers.com to begin your journey of public speaking magic.
Written by
Bette Elly Klimitz
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