Master the Art of Public Speaking

"All the great speakers were bad speakers at first." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do you know that people like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Tiger Woods, Thomas Jefferson, Oprah Winfrey were all bad speakers when they started their respective careers?

As a college student, Warren Buffett was "terrified of getting up and saying his name," He spent much of his college years avoiding courses that would require him to speak in front of the class. At the age of 21, he realized that he had two choices: either force himself to face his fears or avoid them and never reach his full potential.

Buffett finally decided to take the first path. He got over his fears by teaching investing principles to people twice his age. He forced himself to talk to people. He practiced these skills over and over again. Currently, Buffett is the third richest person on the planet, with a net worth of $65.7 billion.

Remember, Public speaking is a skill and it comes with practice and perseverance. Great Public Speakers Are Made, Not Born.

Meet Laksh Sharma! He started his journey as a reserved and introvert speaker. Today, he is working as a successful Relationship Manager with a well reputed organization and his job profile includes innumerable customer interactions throughout his working day.

Similar example is of Akansha Gupta, who couldn't perform well in her first presentation task. Today, as a working professional with a Multinational Corporation, she finds it quite easy to speak with other professionals.

Follow these 7 Super-Tips to master the Art of Public Speaking,

(1) Know Your Topic. The better you understand what you're talking about, the less likely you'll make a mistake or get off track. Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready.

(2) Get Organized. Ahead of time, carefully plan out the information you want to present, including any props, audio or visual aids. The more organized you are, the less nervous you'll be.

(3) Prepare Thoroughly. Practice your complete presentation several times. Consider making a video of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement.

(4) Visualize Your Success. Imagine that your presentation will go well. Positive thoughts can help decrease some of your negativity about your social performance and relieve some anxiety.

(5) Engage Your Audience. Make your talk a two-way interaction with questions and participation to reduce boredom and speak with ease.

(6) Record Yourself. Record your speech on your phone or video camera. Record yourself giving the talk from beginning to end. Then listen to it or watch it, and make notes on how you could make it better.

(7) Lightly Exercise Before Speaking. Exercising lightly before a presentation can get your blood circulating and send oxygen to your brain. Take a walk before a speech or do a few knee bends.

“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.” – Alexander Gregg