Three Keys to Improve Public Speaking Skill
We are all born with certain talents which enable us to do specific things. But to really shine at anything, we need to develop specific skills that relate to whatever we are doing. This is true for everything from art, writing and cooking, to playing sport or even working with people.
A person who is naturally good at public speaking has a talent and will find it easier to get up in front of an audience and talk. But anybody can develop public speaking skill, even if they are not particularly talented. And even really talented public speakers sometimes need to improve public speaking skill to be really successful in the field.
So what sort of skills do you need to develop to be good at public speaking?
Overcome the fear of public speaking
While this might come naturally to some, most people fear public speaking more than anything else in the world. This is not simply a psychological fear; it has physical symptoms as well. The heart starts to beat rapidly, mouth goes dry, hands start to sweat, and the shakes set in. It can be really hard to handle. But the good news is that it really is not difficult for anyone to overcome the fear of public speaking. You just need to know how to go about it.
At this point note that it does not necessarily mean you won’t feel scared or self-conscious, but the skill is training yourself to hide this fear from your audience. Learning this skill will give you the courage and confidence to speak.
Learn how to prepare a good speech
A good speech has content. So you’re thinking “of course it does”. But the thing is that many people think of a topic or a theme, but they don’t have sufficient content to make a speech work. They also don’t work out a structure before they start talking, and so everything falls apart.
Preparing a good speech does take skill. But this is another skill that really isn’t difficult to learn. And once you have mastered the skill of preparing speeches, you will find that they are also easier to deliver. This is because if you prepare properly – and thoroughly – you will feel completely at home with your topic.
Preparing a good speech does not mean writing an essay and learning it off by heart. That is not what public speaking is all about. Instead it is working out what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. It also involves identifying a good way to introduce the topic you have chosen and a good way to end the talk. If you know your topic well, it could be as simple as drawing a flow chart with key words that will remind you what you want to talk about.
Master delivery of speeches
There is something to be said for basic speech training because it teaches you how to breathe and how to project your voice. If you understand the basic physiology of the body and how our vocal cords work, you will understand how breath control affects the sounds that emanate from our mouths. If you sit reading a book your breathing will be gentle and composed. When you talk, you need to use your whole chest to breathe. This is particularly important when you are speaking in public because it directly affects voice tone.
You also need to be able to gather your thoughts. If you think clearly, you will speak clearly. This doesn’t imply dragging out the speech, but it is important not to gabble otherwise people won’t hear what you say.
Other public speaking skills that relate to successful delivery your speech include making eye contact with people in the audience and using body language in a way that it reinforces your message in a positive way.
What to Expect from a Public Speaking Coach
Anyone who is faced with the task of speaking in public for the first time may be forgiven for feeling absolute terror. After all doing anything for the first time can be more than a little bit intimidating. But if you have some lessons, and do some practice speeches, when you get up onto that stage for the first time, you will inevitably feel a whole lot more comfortable and confident.
Enter the public speaking coach. Here is someone who can help you, usually quite quickly, come to terms with what public speaking involves. Of course there are good coaches and some who are mediocre, but if you look at testimonials and talk to people who have had some public speaking coaching, you will soon sort the good from the bad.
But what can you expect to get from someone who coaches public speaking?
A good public speaking coach will assess your existing skills and help you to improve. A good coach will help you develop ways to feel at ease and show you how to approach a speaking presentation. He or she will explain why you feel fearful perhaps to the point of losing sleep days before you have to do a presentation or make a speech. More importantly this person will be able to show you a way to overcome this fear. They will also be able to show you how to make contact with your audience — and how to maintain their interest.
Anxiety and fear are what put most people off public speaking. Company directors who have established their own businesses and made billions, sometimes find they simply don’t have the self confidence and courage to talk in public about what they have lived and breathed for scores of years. They know the subject inside-out but can’t communicate with an audience. This is not something rare, in fact it is one of the most common reactions that people have to public speaking. It really can be terrifying to the extent that you become physically ill — nauseous, sweaty, trembling. It certainly isn’t abnormal.
Happily there are some simple techniques that an experienced coach will share with you that will enable you to overcome any level of fear. And it really is about mastering the fear. Here’s an example that applies as much to speaking to an audience as it does to giving someone bad news. Your tummy flutters and your mouth goes dry. Or you may have the symptoms mentioned above.
When we are nervous, hormones that our body secretes cause our muscles to contract. This makes our heart beat more rapidly and it makes our breathing shallow. It also makes us shaky. What you need to do is sip some tap water (not too cold) and take a deep breath. Keep breathing, allowing your chest cavity to expand fully. Sit quietly and focus. Concentrate on good thoughts. Breathe. Just before you speak take a deep breath and smile.
Athletes often feel the same way as speakers — unbelievably nervous. They also breathe deeply and focus. They just don’t always have the opportunity to smile!
