Public Speaking
Fear of public speaking is called "glossophobia" Many studies have shown that public speaking is one of the greatest fears faced by most of us, in fact, it is more prevalent than thefear of death. There are some things that you can do to prepare to speak in public that will allow you to speak confidently in front of others. They include:
Know your material - The better prepared you are, the more confident your demeanor will be to those listening to you. Before you are due to speak, make sure that you have reviewed all of the material that you will be presenting. If you have prepared well, your audience will be able to see that you are knowledgeable about the topic you are presenting. You may also want to consider putting bullet points on index cards to place on the podium to keep you on track.
Know your audience - Whenever possible, you should know something about the audience you will be presenting to. This does not necessarily mean knowing the individual listeners, instead, it is more about understanding their prior knowledge of your topic. If you are working with a group that includes beginners, intermediate and advanced audiences, it will make a difference in how you present your material. If you present entirely towards beginners and you have a more advanced or intermediate you may lose their attention.
Know your venue - An understanding of the layout of the venue in which you will be presenting can help boost your self confidence. If you walk into a room and discover it has hard wood floors and you have on shoes that make a lot of noise, you will likely lose some of your confidence. This can help you prepare even more effectively as the layout can also have an impact on your presentation. Find out how the sound system in the venue works, otherwise people in the back of the room may not be able to hear you and may interrupt you or be disruptive by talking among themselves which can be very disconcerting if you are already concerned about your ability.
Make use of ice-breakers - A simple way to put yourself and the attendees at ease is to make use of an ice-breaker exercise before you get started on your presentation. This does not have to be complicated, it can be as simple as having everyone introduce themselves. This will also help put names with faces and help everyone feel more at ease, making your job as a speaker easier.
Encourage interactive behavior - While you do not want people interrupting you constantly while you are presenting, you do want to encourage attendees to ask questions. You can take the spotlight off yourself for a few moments by inviting other participants to respond if the question lends itself to group discussions. There is nothing wrong with encouraging people who are there to learn to also teach something to other attendees. Remember, everyone has a different idea based on their own experiences.
Summary
Depending on the type of presentation you are going to make, you have many opportunities to ensure your success as a public speaker. Knowing your material and your audience are the two most important things that you can do to prepare. While not everyone is a natural public speaker this is a skill that can be learned. If you want to be a stronger public speaker you may want to enroll in your localToastmasterschapter to develop the confidence you need to be a strong public speaker. Public speaking is a part of many of our lives, whether it is at work or through a volunteer organization. Learning how to speak confidently in front of others takes practice and planning.
