3 Tips for Clear and Comfortable Public Speaking

Public speaking is always considered one of the most common fears among all people, no matter who you are. Most of the time, fear is more prevalent than the fear of bugs and reptiles. Because of this fear, nervous speakers can sometimes slur their words or speak more quietly, to the detriment of themselves and their audience.

Clear and concise public speaking comes much easier when the speaker is calm and collected as they speak. Concentrating on your connection with the audience while taking steps towards reducing the amount of anxiety you get about public speaking will all help with a careful and casual enunciation of the words you use. Your audience will better understand you and you will become a stronger public speaker.  

Understand Your Audience and Be Aware of Your Environment

Audiences are all different and you need to alter your speech, and your voice, to suit them, not yourself. You should have figured out who your audience is, exactly, when you wrote your speech. Now, your tone should be one that matches your audience. Though your word usage may be either casual or formal, you will be more relatable, and more comfortable, if you are straight with the audience and speak to them as human beings. If you talk with the group as if they are all friends and/or peers, they will pay more attention and better understand the words you choose to share.

Use Your Language and Believe In What You Say

When you use the words you normally use every day, concentrating on the smooth enunciation of the token words that you do have to incorporate will become effortless with just a bit of practice. If you are teaching something to an audience, adopt the tone of a teacher and know your subject. If you are accepting an award, be grateful and speak from the heart. However, be aware of your audience a speak to them, not at them. Employing a simple sentence structure and maintaining strong eye contact can help bring your humor and kindness to the surface and will put your audience at ease as well. There will not be many times where you are asked to speak on a subject that you know nothing about. 

Practice the Speech and Rehearse With an Outline

Practice the entire speech to yourself and continuously edit for clarity. The purpose of this is to burn the main points and direction of the speech in your mind and to get rid of the words that you know will confuse the audience. They may not be as well versed as you are in your topic. Don't simplify the language so much to sound insulting, but just enough so that everyone may follow along. Grab a friend, or family member, and read it to them. Take in their advice and modify your approach. 

Don't rehearse with an entire speech. After practicing, and editing, create an outline you can follow. A short and organized layout consisting of your token words and statements, instead of sentences will help you keep focus. Tiny reminders are all you should need. You know the information; you wrote, edited, and practiced it over and over. The entire speech shouldn't be in front of you. Hold your head high, smile, and share what you know. Glance at a notecard for direction if you need, once in a while, but speak to the audience, not at them. Have a conversation.

You Aren't Perfect; No One Assumes You Will Be

No one is the perfect public speaker; you are the only one who expects you to be. If the fear of speaking is one of the most prevalent phobias, then everyone understands your situation and they sympathize. At the same time, you should be able to be understood clearly by your audience. Take measures to put a damper on your fear, prepare your speech, and practice it. Then you can create your outline, rehearse, and knock it right out of the park. You have to ability; you just have to know it and go for it.

Conclusion

If you have any questions or need further advice, contact us and we will work with you to solve your public speaking concerns.