Public Speaking

How to Prepare for a Speech Ahead of Time

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When it comes to being nervous about public speaking, sometimes it’s the details that can cause us the most anxiety.

The details to which I am referring are not your notes or preparation for the presentation itself, but rather vital tangential items that can throw you for a loop if not handled properly.

There are four categories of details that, planned for in advance, can greatly lower your stress level when you are getting ready to make a presentation:

  1. Items to discuss and arrange with the event planner or meeting organizer ahead of time;
  2. Items to prepare ahead of time that you may need to take with you;
  3. Items to take with you to the event  that can be packed and ready to go the day before the event;
  4. Things to do once your arrive at the venue of your speech or presentation.

Knowing that you have all of these ducks in a row and quacking in tune can greatly reduce any stress you are feeling about speaking in front of a group of people or an audience.

As a general rule, the more prepared you feel, the easier it is to handle the usual last minute public speaking nerves that show up before you start a speech or presentation.

I’d love to know if you find these lists useful.

In addition, if there is anything else you have found that can be added to any of these lists, I’d really appreciate your sharing your suggestions with me.

BONUS IDEA: Some of these items also apply when you are attending an event where you are not a speaker.

The most obvious example is to make sure that you always have a supply of your business cards with you. You never know when you might meet someone who would like to have one.

3 Tips for Creating a Great Introduction

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When it comes to public speaking, there are all kinds of introductions:

  • Introducing yourself when meeting someone new;
  • Introducing yourself to people at networking and business events; and
  • Introductions given before you give a speech or presentation.

Depending upon how often you give formal presentations, you may not need the third type of introduction very often; but it’s still important to have a good one in your toolbox.

That requires an introduction that will get your audience excited to hear you before you even open your mouth.

This video from my series on Public Speaking Tips and Tricks covers 3 important aspects of how to be introduced in such a way that sets you up for success:

  1. What to include in such an introduction, and who needs to prepare it;
  2. Who needs to make the introduction (not you!!) and what they need to do it effectively; and
  3. How to introduce yourself if you are stuck doing it.

If you haven’t yet accessed it, you can find out more details about how to prepare for a speech ahead of time in my complimentary ebook, Overcome Your Public Speaking Fears.

It is available both on my website, http://VibrantVocalPower.com, and at http://OvercomeYourSpeakingFears.com.

If the devil is in the details, then don’t let the details surrounding preparing a speech or presentation devil you.

Tips for Handling an Angry Person

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Communicating with other people can be somewhat challenging at times.

So what do you do when someone catches you flat footed and starts aiming an angry tirade at you?

Do you get defensive and start yelling back, which only raises the temperature of the (so-called) conversation higher?

Or might there be a better way to handle someone who is obviously upset, and maybe not even at you.

Check out the video about this very subject. I’d love to hear what you think of my suggestions.

Here’s wishing you calm confidence in any conversation.

Tips for Handling Last Minute Speaking Nerves

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Do you sometimes suffer from public speaking anxiety?

Are you ever anxious when you have to speak in public?

Do you sometimes experience a dry mouth, shaking hands, or some other uncomfortable sensation?

It is perfectly natural to feel somewhat nervous before giving a speech, picking up the phone to make an important call, recording a video or podcast, going to a networking event, or even having to talk with a difficult person.

That’s why it’s really helpful to have some useful tips at your fingertips to use whenever those pesky nerves try to derail your best efforts at communication.

Check out this edition of my Public Speaking Tips & Tricks series for ideas on how to deal with the nerves that often occur before people start doing any public speaking.

Do let me know if they prove helpful to you; and, if perhaps, you have some tricks of your own up your sleeve.

For your complimentary ebook about overcoming your fear of public speaking, click here.

What Type of Public Speaking Do You Avoid?

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fear of public speakingDo you experience fear of public speaking?

Most people think of public speaking as having to give a speech. I have a different and much broader definition.

According to my definition, public speaking is any time you talk to someone other than yourself.

Think about it!

  1. Would you rather have a root canal than go to a networking event?
  2. Do your hands shake or your voice get wobbly when you have to make a sales presentation?
  3. Instead of asking for a raise or a promotion, did you wait for it to be granted; and it went to someone else less deserving than you?
  4. Have you ever taken the lead on a project, only to see someone else claim the credit; and you were unable to speak up and set the record straight?
  5. Are you one of those people who absolutely has to do all three thousand four hundred and sixty two items on your to-do list before you could possibly pick up the phone and call someone?

If you said yes to any of the above you are expressing a fear of public speaking.

I invite you to ask yourself this question: What is my biggest challenge or fear when it comes to speaking to other people?

Until you get clear on the answer to that question, you will continue to struggle with that particular aspect of building your business and creating the results you want.

For me the answer to that question was item number 5 on the list, picking up the phone and calling people. That fear was keeping both me and my results small. Not only that, it meant that I was of less service to my clients than I had committed myself to be.

It wasn’t until I learned a great system from an expert in this area, that I became comfortable picking up the phone at any time for any reason, whether for making an initial phone call, following up with a prospective client, or connecting with one of my current or past clients.

If there is some area of public speaking in which you are not as confident as you would like to be, I invite you to download my free ebook, Overcome Your Public Speaking Fears. In it, I delineate the 10 Powerful Pathways to Overcome Your Public Speaking Fears (even if you have struggled with them for years).

This updated and expanded ebook includes a bonus pathway: How to get your nerves to serve you instead of sabotaging you.

I invite you to access this practical and encouraging guide at http://OvercomeYourSpeakingFears.com.

Enjoy!

P.S. Please feel free to share the link to this incredibly helpful guide with anyone who may need help overcoming their own public speaking fears.

 

Take Your Voice from Dull to Dazzling

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Have you ever sat through a speech that was so boring that you either fell asleep, or spent the time catching up on your email?

Would you like to know how to avoid doing the same painful thing to the people who are listening to you?

An obvious requirement is to create an interesting presentation. However, you can ruin the best speech in the world by delivering it in a boring manner.

One of the best ways to spark up any presentation is to use what is called vocal variety. That sounds promising, but what is it, and how can you do it?

Following is a list of suggestions for you to try out when you are practicing your next presentation, or simply reading something aloud. Any of these methods can help to add interest, drama or humor to even the most mundane material.

  1. Tempo  – speeding up or slowing down at appropriate places in your talk helps keep people alert and attentive.
  2. Volume – using a louder or softer voice is an effective way to add emphasis to a particular point you want to make. (It can also wake people up!)
  3. Rhythm – alternating a steady rhythm with syncopation and the use of well timed pauses are also very powerful attention grabbers.
  4. Pitch – speaking in a lower or higher voice is another way to add variety, especially if you are quoting someone else.

If you  want to start having some real fun with your voice, try using some of these sounds in your voice when you speak:

  1. Gravelly
  2. Breathy
  3. Husky
  4. Nasal
  5. An accent
  6. Tight lips

The next time you are watching a cartoon, pay attention to how the voice actors create the distinctive sounds of their characters, generally by combining several of the techniques I’ve shared with you above.

Listening to how great speakers use their voices is also a great place to start getting ideas for how you too can make your voice go from dull to dazzling, and keep the eager attention of anyone who has the privilege of listening to you.