Public speaking is not something that comes naturally to everyone, if you fall into this category then don’t worry as these are skills which you can work on and improve with ease. There are many times which call forth someone with public speaking abilities, perhaps you nee dot present a project or an idea to your work or university, maybe you wish to have a career as a top lawyer like Boston’s legal supremo Jeffrey Glassman or maybe you need to give a speech at a wedding. Whatever the reason may be for you to want to improve your public speaking skills, here are some of the things that you need to keep in mind the next time you are required to speak in front of people.
Plan and Rehearse
Some of the best public speakers can stand in front of a crowd and deliver a speech off the top of their heads or with just a few ideas jotted down. If you are not one of these people then you are going to need to meticulously plan your speech and more importantly, rehearse it. A great way to do this is to record a video of yourself and watch it back so that you can see what areas you need to improve. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to hone your speech before the event, having strong preparation will mean that you will be less nervous when the time comes.
Body Language
Body language is one of the most important parts of public speaking, it helps to reinforce points, take command of the audience and also to help you to feel better as you speak. Opening up your frame will help you to breathe better and also to look commanding on the stage. Using your hands and arms will help you to make points and also to include the audience in your speech through pointing and waving your arms.
Start and Finish
The beginning and end of your speech should be the biggest parts of your speech, it is important to have a strong beginning so that you capture the attention of the audience. Throughout your speech some may switch off a little and it s important that at the end of your speech you offer a small summary of what you have spoken about and then a big finish. You can finish your speech with unanswered questions or important points for the audience to think about.
Let Your Personality Shine
Standing on stage and offering the public a monotone speech without any humor, anger or any other such emotion is boring and it will not engage your audience. You should seek to let your personality shine through your speech, make jokes, shout, whisper, walk the stage, whatever it is that you need to do in order to deliver your speech with character, that is what you should be doing. When you give a speech that feels more natural it serves you well in terms of calming your nerves and in terms of getting the audience to buy in to what you are telling them.
