Most of us find standing up in front of a group of people pretty nerve-wracking, whether it’s delivering a work presentation or giving a witty wedding speech. You’re not alone in feeling jittery! Thankfully, though, there are some ways you can ease the fear factor and speak in public with confidence so that your audience really sit up and take notice.
Know your topic
If you know your subject matter inside out, you’ll find that you can deliver your speech with greater ease and confidence. So be sure to familiarise yourself with the subject matter well before the occasion – do whatever research is required, then sit down to type your speech out in full. You’ll probably need to refine your first draft a few times before it’s polished, so don’t leave this to the last minute! Going over the text a few times will make your speech come across in a more clear, precise way.
If you’ve done your preparation thoroughly, you’ll be able to head into that room full of expectant faces feeling confident that you can successfully engage every one of them. The audience members will also feel confident that the information you’re delivering is spot on.
Practise in front of a mock audience
Now you’ve got your speech written, it’s time to practise delivering it in a confident way. The more you say the speech aloud, the more the sentences will sink in to your memory. This gives you the chance to look up at your audience regularly, instead of gluing your eyes to the page. Of course you don’t need to commit the entire speech to memory and then rattle it off like a robot, but if you lose place halfway through, it’s handy to be able to continue on so nobody notices!
If you can, get your partner or a friend or family member to act as your mock audience – and invite constructive feedback. You’ll feel more confident if you’ve delivered the material at least once already, and they can also tell you if there are areas where you need to be clearer or expand more.
Deal with the physical nerves
Besides that funny knotty feeling inside, many of us also experience physical reactions to nerves – we might feel sweaty, a bit nauseous, light-headed, or get a dry throat. Sometimes no matter how many deep breaths you take, you just can’t control those physical symptoms!
But you can keep these reactions in check by making sure you eat a light meal before your speech (so you don’t feel faint), keeping water on stand-by for croaky-throat moments, and visiting the bathroom before you’re due to talk.
Dress right and be yourself
Dress to suit the occasion, but not so you’re uncomfortable. For example, if you’re prone to sweating when under pressure, choose a top in a lightweight material that doesn’t show sweat marks. And despite the fact that you might be delivering a formal speech, a smile here and there, or a light-hearted comment or two, will inspire confidence and make you feel more relaxed. Go for it!
Got any tips for speaking well when you're in front of a crowd? Share them here ...
