Did you know that glossophobia or the fear of public speaking is the most common fear in America? In fact, 75% of people admit to feeling uncertain about speaking in public.
This is understandable. Public speaking can leave you feeling very vulnerable and exposed. However, conquering this fear opens up a whole realm of personal and business opportunities.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things that you can do to help you overcome your fear of public speaking. Read on to find out our top five public speaking techniques to practice!
1. Think About Your Posture
Your body language is one of your key public speaking skills and communicates a lot about how you’re feeling. Taking control of this will help you to look and feel more in control.
You can use NODS to help with this or:
- Neutral – start off in a neutral stance, so you seem welcoming
- Open – keep your body language open throughout
- Defined – use clean movements
- Strong – always move with purpose
This will help you to command a room, no matter what you’re saying.
2. Practice in the Mirror
Practicing in the mirror is a big part of how to prepare for public speaking. This helps you to hone your skills and be aware of your facial expressions.
Some people prefer to video themselves instead. This can take a little longer if you want to hone specific parts of your speech. But it gives you the time to focus on delivering your speech.
3. Incorporate Technology
If you’re nervous about speaking on stage, taking a prop with you is a great public speaking tip. Using technology can help to draw the focus (and pressure) away from you.
If you are going to do this, just make sure that you feel confident about using the tech in question. The last thing you want is to be worrying about it on the day.
4. Listen to Your Voice
Often when you speak, you focus on what you’re communicating rather than how it sounds. But the way you sound matters and can have a big impact on how people engage with your message.
Recording what you’re saying is one of the top public speaking techniques for students. While it can be painful listening to your own voice, this helps you work on tone, pacing, and annunciation.
5. Give Yourself an Audience
Getting an extra set of eyes on something nearly always helps. This is why some people splash out for specialist feedback from public speaking skills training programs.
If you don’t have the budget for that, why not ask a friend or colleague to help you? It’s a good idea to pick someone who is honest, sensitive, and has good judgment. They’ll be able to give you pointers on what is and isn’t working so you can focus on your speech.
Practice Your Public Speaking Techniques!
When it comes to conquering your fear of speaking in front of people, these public speaking techniques can really help. Practice and experience will also really take the edge off, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! For more insights on conquering public speaking anxiety and improving your communication skills, you can check out thought-leader.com. They offer various resources and tips to help you become a more confident and effective speaker.
