Knowtheroom.Befamiliarwiththeplaceinwhichyouwillspeak.①Arriveearly,walkaroundthespeakingareaandpractiseusingthemicrophoneandanyvisualaids.
Knowtheaudience.Greetsomeoftheaudienceastheyarrive.It’seasiertospeaktoagroupoffriendsthantoagroupofstrangers.
Knowyourmaterial.Ifyou’renotfamiliarwithyourmaterialorareuncomfortablewithit,yournervousnesswillincrease.Practiseyourspeechandreviseitifnecessary.
Relax.Easetensionbydoingexercises.Visualizeyourselfgivingyourspeech.Imagineyourselfspeaking,yourvoiceloud,clear,andassured.Whenyouvisualizeyourselfassuccessful,youwillbesuccessful.
Realizethatpeoplewantyoutosucceed.Audienceswantyoutobeinteresting,stimulating,informative,andentertaining.Theydon’twantyoutofail.
Don’tapologize.Ifyoumentionyournervousnessorapologizeforanyproblemsyouthinkyouhavewithyourspeech,youmaybecallingtheaudience’sattentiontosomethingtheyhadn’tnoticed.Keepsilent.②
Concentrateonthemessage—notthemedium.Focusyourattentionawayfromyourownanxieties,andoutwardlytowardyourmessageandyouraudience.Yournervousnesswilldissipate.
Turnnervousnessintopositiveenergy.Harnessyournervousenergyandtransformitintovitalityandenthusiasm.③
Gainexperience.Experiencebuildsconfidence,whichisthekeytoeffectivespeaking.AToastmastersclubcanprovidetheexperienceyouneed.