Public Speaking International - Public Speaking Tips - Handling Nervousness
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When it comes to public speaking and presentations, many of us suffer nerves to some extent. Yet we need that nervousness to be a good speaker! Those butterflies help "psyche us up" for a presentation. Without them, we might feel mellow and in control—but we'd almost certainly come across as too tame and boring. Our nervousness toward public speaking, in fact, is a symptom of our desire to be good for our listeners. In other words, we want to have a meaningful conversation with our listeners in public speaking—about something that we think matters to them. And that concern makes us personable and focused in public speaking. Embrace that need closely enough, and you'll soon forget about your own public speaking jitters. So don't fear your public speaking nervousness. Remind yourself that it's an essential part of preparing to do a good job. Turn your attention instead to what you need to say and do to convince this audience, in this speech or presentation. Your listeners will not only see a more comfortable performer. They’ll hear much more persuasive public speaking. How to Look and Sound Confident While Public Speaking Try this simple experiment connected with public speaking: Stand up and expel all the air from your lungs. Your lungs should now be completely empty. What did that action do to your posture? You’ve probably just taken on a “caved in appearance! That can certainly make you look weak and irresolute in terms of public speaking. Now, slowly fill your lungs up to their full capacity. Did that straighten you up? Sure. Do you feel more capable, prepared, and stronger for public speaking? I bet you do— and I guarantee that’s how your audience will perceive you! The lesson here is an easy but important one: how you stand affects your standing with your audience in public speaking and presentations. When we use good posture for public speaking, and employ our full breathing capacity, we look like a person of consequence. Just doing it will make you feel more confident for public speaking. And your audience will certainly notice the difference! Using Pauses and Silence Also Show Confidence in Public Speaking Speaking of nervousness in public speaking, aren’t we all familiar with adrenaline and its effect on presentation skills? Adrenaline is the fight or flight hormone— and in public speaking, its effect on a speaker usually translates into speaking too rapidly. This effect of adrenaline in public speaking makes us sound like a rushing freight train— nothing in the world, it seems, will slow us down! If we’re thinking, "I wish this presentation were over," that too will push us in the direction of too-hurried public speaking. To counter all of this, use the simple but effective public speaking tool of the pause and use of silence. Pauses are necessary for audience members to absorb important information we deliver when public speaking. But they also convey another message. Pauses and use of silence in public speaking tell our listeners that we are confident. Why? Well, they hear a speaker who doesn’t think the world is going to end just because he or she stops speaking for a second or two. That silence gives audiences an important clue to how we ourselves feel about public speaking: that it’s something we enjoy, and that we don’t want to rush the experience. Public Speaking International can improve your public speaking skills utilizing our proven coaching techniques. |
