Dare to impress on public speaking

It was proved that the biggest fear in the world is the fear of… public speaking. Not death, not some illness… public speaking.

And probably it can be understood why: since we were children, we had to say a poem or to sing a song to impress Santa Claus. As an employee, we have to present our product or our services to reach a new client.

Public speaking in this situation puts pressure on us. Because of this, we will receive or not a certain gratification.

We don’t have in school a discipline where to learn public speaking who we learn mathematics or physics. But still, some steps that can be followed for a good speak:

• Preparation. When you know that you have to deliver a presentation, make some research in the begging. Find what other specialists said on that topic and what are your results on that.
• Be brief. The longer you talk, the more time and effort to put into your presentation.
• Pay attention to your time. If you know that you have to deliver a speech for 10 minutes, repeat it and measure the time needed. And for your safety, you can try to allocate only 7 or 8 minutes. In normal conditions, time flies easier than during your preparation.
• Follow a structure. For each presentation, you can have in mind a maximum of 3 principal ideals. You can tell them in the begging and then you can develop each of them. In the end, you make a summary.
• Pay attention to other presentations. If you are not the first presenter, it helps to take information from the other speaker. Make some connections with what they already presented, say your opinion on that, or give some contra-arguments on this. It is more personal speak.
• Record yourself. In this way, you can follow your body language, your facial expressions, or your voice. In this way, you will find how others see you and where you can improve your presence.
• Practice. A lot. In all kinds of contexts. Start with small groups. Then grow your audience. And ask for feedback from people close to you.

What about you? How are you preparing an important speech you have to deliver?

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