Some people are good at it and others not so much, but one thing is certain: we all need to know the ten public speaking techniques that we’ll be revealing in the next post. With these, you’ll feel much more confident when facing an audience and you’ll be able to convey your message with clarity, precision and charisma.
Before we begin, Here’s a clue: The most important thing of all is that you connect with your audience and spark their curiosity. If you want to find out more about public speaking and the fear of public speaking, read on!
Why are we so afraid of public speaking?
Although not everyone reacts in the same way when speaking in front of a large group of people, in a way, it’s inevitable to feel a bit nervous – but why is that?
The shyness and a lack of practice These are usually the main reasons, although there are many others that become intertwined and, in the end, form a huge tangle that is difficult to untangle. When we realise we’re getting worked up and that our nerves are starting to trigger physical reactions, the situation becomes even more uncontrollable and can turn into a major problem, particularly for those who need clear diction and good public speaking skills in their job. This is what is known as anxiety sensitivity, which means that, as well as worrying about having to speak in public, we also worry about feeling anxious.
The following factors may also have an impact:
- Physiological factors: The anxiety triggered when we have to speak in public stimulates the autonomic nervous system and prepares the body for what it perceives as a threat. This causes our pulse to race, makes our mouths go dry and leaves us feeling out of control.
- Negative thoughts: A negative view of ourselves, combined with the excessive importance we attach to the moment, can be devastating for our performance. If we see the event as a judgement on who we are, our nerves will get the better of us.
- Lack of public speaking skills: Some people are more talented than others, which is why we need to practise our speaking skills so as not to develop a fear of public speaking. In the next section, we’ll share ten techniques to help you overcome your fear of public speaking.
Discover the 10 public speaking techniques that won’t let you down
The most important thing when speaking in front of an audience is to feel confident, and that means believing that what you’re doing is right, regardless of whether others think it’s good or bad. Although this may seem simple, it isn’t; that’s why these ten tips To overcome glossophobia, these techniques focus on building your self-confidence.
- Preparation: Research and organise your speech section by section. If you’re clear about what you want to say, the order in which you’ll say it, and the main idea around which your story revolves, you won’t end up drawing a blank.
- Get to know your audience: Tailor your message to your audience’s needs and interests. If you know your target audience well, you’ll have a head start when it comes to meeting their expectations.
- Practise: do some practice runs to familiarise yourself with the content and build your confidence.
- Be mindful of your body language: Maintain a confident posture and use appropriate gestures to get your message across.
- A clear, measured voice: Speak clearly, vary the tone of your voice and pause to emphasise key points.
- Eye contact: make eye contact with different people in the audience to build a connection and avoid feeling isolated.
- Use visual aids: Use presentations, charts or videos to reinforce your message.
- Storyteller: Use anecdotes, interesting facts or examples to illustrate your ideas and capture your audience’s attention. Furthermore, appealing to emotions – provided they are appropriate to the context – will serve as a hook and help your audience to remember what you’ve said.
- Interaction with the public: asks questions, encourages participation and responds to comments from the audience.
- Keep your nerves in check: Take a deep breath, stay calm and remember that all speakers experience some anxiety.
What qualities should a good speaker have?
People with leadership potential are usually very good at public speaking, and that’s because they manage to connect with lots of people at once. If you think about it, being a good public speaker is more important in everyday life than you might realise. If you’d like to improve in this area too, check whether you have the qualities needed for public speaking – and if not, it’s time to work on them!
- Trust: If you come across as confident and self-assured, it will be easier for your message to come across as credible and well-founded.
- Empathy: this quality is particularly useful for connecting emotionally with the audience and understanding their needs and perspectives.
- Ability to improvise: It is important to be able to adapt to unforeseen situations and respond effectively. Before delivering your speech, you might want to think of a few answers to questions that the audience are highly likely to ask.
- Charisma: Charisma is a combination of qualities, such as friendliness, self-assurance and confidence. Having charisma and the ability to captivate and hold the audience’s attention will be essential for delivering a speech that adds value.
- Mastery of body language: It should not be overused, but sometimes it is necessary to use gestures, facial expressions and body language to support and reinforce what is being said.
- Active listening: Knowing how to listen and respond appropriately to comments or questions from the audience will make your relationship with them a very rewarding one.
- Ability to persuade: to be able to influence and persuade the audience regarding a specific point of view or course of action.
- Thorough understanding of the subject: To feel confident, it is very important to have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of the topic you are going to talk about.
Now that you know the most important tips for overcoming your fear of public speaking, it’s time to put them into practice and continue learning about professional development and staff with Educa.Pro. Sign up for our newsletter!
