Public Speaking Information

Five Tips for Overcoming Public Speaking Nerves


Your mouth is dry, heart palpitating, and knees knocking. You go into panic, facing a dreaded public speaking assignment.

It doesn't have to be so.

These five tips will give you some strategies to overcome those symptoms and have the butterflies flying in formation.

1. Deep breathing will pull in oxygen. Adrenalin, secreted to help you deal with the fear brought on by little doubts, causes breaths to become shallow, or causes you to hold your breath. Deep breathing will help your brain work to capacity, and forcing the slower pace will quell the panic.

2. Bluff. Stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out. Smile. Even though you don't feel happy or confident, do it anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is confident. This really works!! Bluff - body and smile

3. Keep you mouth and throat hydrated. Plan to keep a drink on hand while you are speaking., though this sounds impossible. Visualising how you will use it if you need it, and calling up the audacity to do such a thing will carry across to your attitude as you take your place to speak, placing your glass just where you need it to be.

4. Adrenalin sends the blood rushing to the fight/flight centres of your brain at the base of the skull. Place your hand on your forehead and press gently on the bony points. This will bring the blood to the parts of the brain that need it to present your speech best.

5. Know you are prepared. Obviously this depends on actually being prepared, so take every opportunity in the days leading up to the speech to prepare your material. Be familiar with the structure of the presentation, and the ideas to use. Memorise the most important parts, and the parts you are frightened of forgetting. I would memorise the opening of the speech and in the moments before presenting it, would reassure myself that I knew that part, and that would lead on to the rest. It worked!!

If you want to develop your speaking confidence, visit an ITC club. You will have the chance to find the strategies that work for you and perfect them. ITC offers a supportive environment and constructive evaluation for you to develop your communication skills.

This article was written by Bronwyn Ritchie for Communicators Logan City, an ITC Club. All rights reserved. You are welcome to reproduce it accompanied by the following information: ITC is an international organisation offering training in communication, leadership and organisation skills. International Training in Communication provides opportunities for personal growth that show immediate results. The ITC website is at http://www.itcintl.com/


MORE RESOURCES:

Toastmasters: Here to help you quash your fear of public speaking
Moody County Enterprise, SD - Nov 18, 2008
BY RYAN WOODARD Jerry Doyle has started a local chapter of the public speaking club Toastmasters International, which has members all over the world. ...


Public Speaking Is Not Worse Than Death
dBusinessNews Triangle (press release), NC - Nov 19, 2008
DURHAM, NC November 20, 2008 — Many people fear public speaking, yet it can be an extremely effective method for marketing your business’s services. ...


CNET News

Google attempts to save marriages around the world
CNET News, CA - 34 minutes ago
Naturally the company has offered the usual public speaking about concentrating on other businesses and accepting that not every bet will work out. ...


Clubs and organizations
Beaverton Valley Times, OR - Nov 20, 2008
For fun and to fight your fear of public speaking. www.timbertalkers.com. Tualatin Valley Unit of Parliamentarians — 7 pm, fourth Tuesday of the month, ...


Program to focus on public speaking
The Reporter, WI - Nov 14, 2008
RIPON — Jody Roy, professor and chair of the communication department at Ripon College, will present a program on public speaking and perfecting ...


Public speaking course essential for repertoire
Kaleidoscope Online, AL - Nov 10, 2008
Cecil Betros, professor of communication studies at UAB, believes it is important for students to take part in a public speaking course. ...


Biz Buzz
Alameda Sun, CA - 9 hours ago
Otaez Mexican Restaurant, 1619 Webster St. (Info: Jennifer Allaire, 864-2464) * Noon to 1 pm Marina Village Toastmasters: Work on public speaking and ...


Rockland teens expound, orate, speak, dissect and dramatize during ...
Lower Hudson Journal news, NY - Nov 12, 2008
And after the 24th annual Rockland County Forensic League public speaking tournament was over, 16 teen orators were handed plaques and congratulated on ...


Teaching public speaking to sixth-graders
Sonoma Valley Sun, CA - Nov 7, 2008
... they didn’t actually meet until kindergarten), sparkles with many talents, including teaching, authoring books, public speaking and lots of other stuff. ...


AsianWeek

Overcome the Top Fear in America: Reduce Public Speaking Nervousness
AsianWeek, CA - Nov 3, 2008
Mark Twain Public speaking is the number one fear in America, according to the Wall Street Journal; death is number two. But fear of public speaking is also ...

Public-Speaking - Google News

home | site map
© 2006