You’re about to give a speech in front of a packed auditorium. How can you make sure you don’t choke? It’s a common fear, but you can overcome it with some preparation, practice, and confidence. In this article, you’ll learn six tips to help you deliver a successful speech without panicking.
Before you write or rehearse your speech, you need to know who you’re talking to. What are their interests, expectations, and concerns? How can you relate to them and engage them? Research your audience and tailor your content and tone to suit them. For example, if you’re speaking to a group of students, you might use humor, stories, and examples that they can relate to.
Obviously, know your topic cold. Know your audience and the language they use so you are not technical when it's not necessary. Unless you are delivering an academic paper, remember that people want to learn and they need to be entertained. Imagine yourself sitting in the audience, what would you want to hear? Be brief and try to engage the audience with questions. Powerpoints are wonderful but you are fighting cellphones and if you can't add enough to interest people, you might as well e-mail them your presentation. And of course, embrace the moment and try to enjoy it. This helps you relax.
I'm putting considerable effort into enhancing my public speaking abilities, with a focus on several key areas, so that I will not choke, however I am ready to embrace imperfection: Visualizing myself delivering a significant keynote within the next five years serves as a powerful motivator for ongoing skill improvement. I firmly believe that consistent practice is indispensable. Engaging in breathing exercises has proven highly effective in mitigating stage fright. Actively enhancing audience engagement is another essential aspect I'm prioritizing. For those aspiring to become public speakers, my advice is straightforward: seize every opportunity to speak whenever feasible. Practice truly does lead to improvement!
Practice your presentation as many times as you can in front of people - record it, review it and ask for objections or questions. Make sure you understand your audience and that your presentation is geared toward them. Lighten the mood in the room if it makes sense to diffuse the tension and relax - use a little relatable humor. Get as much interaction with the crowd as is applicable in context. The tone that you present with makes a big difference; I always try to sound as excited about the presentation as I want my audience to be. The biggest struggle many people face is stumbling over words - the "ums" and such can be distracting.
Public Speaking can be very frightening for some, and for others it can be very comforting. In my opinion and experience, Pubic Speaking is a way to let in the public to your point of view. Whether you are standing on stage, arena, classroom, zoom room, or on a soap box, engaging your audience is crucial. I tend to start out with a joke or with an energy crowd booster exercise. Once I feel I am fully connected with the audience (they aren't talking or chattering) then I begin on my speech, or discussion. A main part in Public Speaking is the preparation done before hand. The more memorized you are, the more confident you will feel, and the better the points you are trying to convey will land. Prepare, feel confident and take the stage!
Know your subject, know the audience and practice your presentation. There is no guarantee that you won't choke. Always be prepared.
A well-organized speech has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the audience’s attention, establish your credibility, and preview your main points. The body should develop your arguments or ideas with evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarize your main points, restate your thesis, and end with a strong call to action or a memorable message. Use transitions and signposts to guide the audience through your speech.
To plan the structure of your speech effectively, begin by clarifying your purpose and identifying 3-5 key points. Create an outline that organizes these points logically, considering how to transition between them smoothly. Develop supporting material for each point, such as examples or statistics. Craft an engaging opening to grab attention and a memorable conclusion to reinforce your message. Practice your speech multiple times to familiarize yourself with the structure and content, ensuring a confident delivery.
Calm your nervous system before you go into the auditorium. Ask people behind the scenes not to come and speak to you or ask you questions 30 minutes before you go on stage. Practice box breathing, throughout this time for calm and focus.
The most common advice given to budding speakers is to turn your speech into a story. What's missing from that advice is explaining the structure of great storytelling. Gustav Freytag studied all the great written works available in his time and in 1863 published his discovery. What we once learned in grade known variously as Freytag's Pyramid, the Plot Mountain, or the Plot Pyramid. This is the #1 tip I attribute to my success as a professional speaker / educator and the most important module in my public speaking training program. The entertainment, advertising, and journalism communities have universally adopted this technique. It's time the common public speaker does the same.
The best way to overcome your fear of public speaking is to practice your speech out loud. You can use a mirror, a recorder, or a friend to give you feedback. Focus on your voice, posture, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions. Try to sound natural, confident, and enthusiastic. Avoid filler words, monotone, and distractions. Practice in front of different audiences and situations to get used to different reactions and environments.
Although practice is a key piece of delivering a strong presentation it doesn’t do any good to practice something that is sub par. Work on delivering an extremely strong opening. Take the time to craft your opening message, the rest of your story will follow. Delivering a strong opening engages the audience, captures their attention and gives you the confidence you need to make sure you don’t choke during your presentation.
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Here is the most Important thing to practice your delivery: While making that opening statement, sometimes we speak it in our mind and think that we are good to go! NO you're not! Speak It Out - LOUD Take a deep breath - inhale before starting with the first statement Get yourself comfortable on the stage Take a look at the audience, make 3 seconds of eye contact with any 2 people Smile :) and then start This will show your audience that you are confident and comfortable This may sound a bit lengthy but it's very easy and comes naturally with practice You're good to go! Thanks, see you in the next one!
Practice is more about you feeling confident and comfortable with yourself and your content, but be warned, it can destroy your authenticity and your emotion. More important is to know the end result you want from your delivery, and understand the topic you're speaking on inside out. Then set yourself up with what questions you're answering during your talk, learn those questions, and then simply follow the journey of answering them during the time you have. Doing this will keep what you say fresh in your mind and you'll be much less likely to sound like you're reading a script. Feel free to actually ask the audience those questions, in a rhetorical sort of way, not expecting an answer, because you'll be giving the answer yourself!
I gave a webinar presentation last year for the Midwest Invasive Plant Network having about 4 months prep time. My outline covered the material but I kept it open enough to not lose emphasis or inflection with it.
Naturally, being in front of a large audience can definitely be intimidating. But, I’ve found a valuable technique I use is embracing pauses. Rather than rushing through your sentences, take deliberate pauses to breathe and maintain a pace that doesn’t feel rushed. There is a lot of power to be found in using a pause with intentionality, particularly to highlight key points during your delivery and make impact where you really want to ??
Make sure you have everything you need for your speech, such as notes, slides, handouts, or props. Check your equipment and venue beforehand to avoid technical glitches or surprises. Keep your materials simple, clear, and relevant. Don’t rely too much on your notes or slides, but use them as cues or aids. Have a backup plan in case something goes wrong.
To prepare the material for your speech, begin by conducting thorough research from reliable sources to gather supporting information. Organize your ideas into a clear outline that flows logically. Craft your content to be engaging, using stories and examples to illustrate your points. Consider using visual aids to enhance your presentation. Practice your delivery to become familiar with the material and refine it based on feedback. Continuously edit and refine your content for clarity, conciseness, and relevance. By following these steps, you can effectively prepare the material for a compelling and impactful speech.
Prepare thoroughly, rehearse and record yourself. Understand your audience to tailor your speech. Use relaxation techniques and positive self-talk to boost confidence. Speak slowly, use notes for guidance, and engage with your audience. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes, just keep going.
Prepare your materials, yes, but don't over prepare anything - you are sure to have heard the phrase, 'Death by PowerPoint'? Who hasn't? The last thing anyone needs is a PowerPoint presentation that is simply read by the speaker - it's unprofessional, boring, and likely to turn your listeners straight off. Instead, focus on the stories, the case studies, the real world, and illustrate your expertise with reality. If you must use slides, be sure they are only bullet points that will help people remember the rest, but do not just read them off parrot fashion, use them as a prompt if you must but that's all.
I lead several events where I work, and I ensure that all speakers have an event script. This should reduce nervousness and clumsiness. I saw where a speaker at one of my events got stage fright, and recovered by looking down and reading his remarks. Imagine if he wouldn't have had a script.
Before you go on stage, take some time to calm yourself down. You can do some breathing exercises, meditation, or positive affirmations. You can also listen to some music, talk to a friend, or do something that makes you happy. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or drugs that might affect your performance. Remember that some nervousness is normal and can help you stay alert and motivated.
"Before you go on stage, take some time to calm yourself down. You can do some breathing exercises, meditation, or positive affirmations. You can also listen to some music, talk to a friend, or do something that makes you happy. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or drugs that might affect your performance. Remember that some nervousness is normal and can help you stay alert and motivated. "
Think of your favorite Rock Star performers. Before they go on stage, they have a warm up period (usually 30 mins before showtime). You too should have a pre-show warm up routine and time. Visualize your presentation. Take time to breath, calm your mind, & focus. Remember. Even with a packed audience, you are connecting with that one person. When you take the stage, smile, have fun, & channel your inner Rock Star!
Here is was has helped me: If you get a chance to, walk on the stage when the venue is empty. Stand on the lip of the stage (yes!). Close your eyes and just listen. Drop a coin, (yes!), on the stage to hear the reverberation of the sound. Now when you go back on the stage to actually do the presentation, this will be the 2nd time there and you will feel more comfortable. There is a reason for standing on thr lip of thr stage; it makes you feel uncomfortable and makes your mind adjust to the uncomfortable situation. When you actually do the presentation, you won’t be on the lip of the stage and you will feel more comfortable. This has worked for me for years.
Peripheral vision is a powerful speaking tool, practise it every day! If you think you can't, imagine yourself driving a car and you'll realsie you're doing it naturally. Spend 5 mins before you speak in peripheral vision, and your anxiety will drop, your mind will open and all that you want to say will return to your brain. Should you forget something you wanted to speak on, or lose your way, ask a question to prompt yourself, something like, 'Now here's the thing....', or , 'Why do I say that?' and again, you will bring back to mind what the point was that you wanted to include.
Think of a moment you enjoyed while you were feeling relaxed. I like to picture myself at the beach laying out in the sand just listening to the waves. This gives me peace and makes me feel at ease. It's ok to breathe in and out a couple of times before the speech.
Once you’re on stage, don’t forget that you’re not alone. You’re having a conversation with your audience, so try to connect with them and make them feel involved. You can use rhetorical questions, anecdotes, jokes, polls, or quizzes to spark their interest and participation. You can also use eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions to show your emotions and reactions. Be respectful, polite, and responsive to your audience’s feedback and questions.
It's true that you're having a conversation with your audience, but it's you who is asking, and answering, the questions, so making sure you know your audience well, and that your topic will be one that the majority are interested in is vital. Check in with them regularly, by using questions like, 'Does anyone else feel like this?' or, 'Do you remember.... '. Or use phrases that stress the importance of a point, such as, 'Now write this down, it's important.' (And then give them time to write by repeating the point) or, 'Here's the thing,.......', or, 'Remember, this is crucial,....' In the right audience, you can call for a hand raise or ask listeners to shout answers out if you're gathering information and writing it up on a board.
Humor is a great tool. But you use it wisely. Too much of it or at the wrong time won't help. Speaking to and listening to the audience is critical. Watching facial expressions and interactions helps you gauge the audience. Ask good questions and provoke thought. Never demean anyone and always be respectful. But maintain control as things can occasionally get off the rails.
Always have a supply of appropriate anecdotes or stories to bring your content alive. Allo your self to be vulnerable by sharing a dark time with your audience, but don't leave them there too long; have a light touch way such as a gentle joke ainmed at yourself, to lift them back out again,
I have found that it is very helpful to channel my nervous energy into excitement for what I will be sharing with my audience. I tell myself not to focus on me but how grateful I am to have an incredible opportunity to share with my audience. I visualize connecting with my audience and making a positive impact on their lives. The nervous energy is now the enthusiasm that allows me to connect with my audience.
When stuff goes wrong, your smile, your humility, your cool will be remembered more that much of what you have said. Slip-ups are an opportunity to build positive emotional connections with your audience. They make you real :)
End with more than just "Thank you for your time, now I'll take your questions." You spent your valuable time preparing. The audience sacrificed their valuable time to listen when they could have been doing a hundred other things. Don't skip the opportunity to make a request or an offer. Even something as simple as a talk about your project's status a technical symposium can be capped off with: - "We have some openings for engineers, please come talk to me in the hall if you're interested in a job change." or "In the next phase, we need a company that makes great "flux capacitors. Please give me your business card if that's where you work." Align the purpose of your talk with your "ask" at the end.