Published on March 18, 2010 – Updated on April 19, 2013
Learn to speak in public
Each of us is afraid to speak in front of a certain audience. At many times in one’s life, one has to speak in front of one’s boss, a teacher, a class, a client or more simply in front of members of one’s family and this generates fear in one’s home. Even great actors, politicians or big bosses have been afraid to speak in public.
Summary
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Know that a certain preparation allows you to speak easily and to be heard and understood easily. Here are the main tips you need to know to learn how to speak well in public, overcome fear and apprehension and convince your audience.
1 – Define or frame the subject well
It is better to speak for less time and have an impact.
2 – Clearly identify your audience
It is a question of clearly identifying who you are going to address and their knowledge of the subject you are going to address. By targeting your speech, you limit the risk of not captivating your audience.
3 – Identify the objective of your public speaking.
Here are some examples of goals:
- present a product;
- convince his management;
- make a presentation;
- to sell ;
- start a discussion or debate.
4 – Prepare the first 3 sentences that allow you to “launch the machine”
The objective is to avoid the “diesel” effect, that is to say to give the impression to your audience that you are looking for your words. The important thing is to start out loud, knowing the first 3 sentences (of your speech, presentation, argument, etc.) by heart.
5 – Write your plan and the 3 strong ideas that you want your audience to remember
Resist the temptation to write everything down. Write only the main ideas so as not to give in to the temptation to read your material. If, however, you feel more comfortable writing your entire speech, underline the important words and concepts in your text. During the presentation your gaze will stop on the underlined words and your memory will allow you to restore the rest of the text without you needing to read everything.
6 – Visualize your audience
Show yourself happy with what you have brought them and show it with a smile, applause.
7 – Get ready vocally
By warming up your voice through vibration exercises: Hummmm.
8 – Prepare yourself physically
Shaking your joints, breathing slowly through your belly for about 5 minutes.
Move your whole body by making sounds with your mouth to relax as much as possible.
9 – Exhale deeply before speaking and stay still
Remember to breathe through your belly. Plant both feet firmly on the ground. Resist the temptation to move while talking.
10 – By your gaze, make good contact with your audience
It is important to take a good look at the people you are talking to.
Look for sympathetic looks in the audience. If you have trouble finding it, fix the eyebrows, the foreheads.
11 – Forcefully launch your first 3 phases that you have repeated
Either way, public speaking comes with time and practice. Know that there are public speaking training courses for which you can be accompanied by a coach who will make you progress faster.