<B> 1.Preparation </B>
The most important step in public speaking is preparation. It is the
No. 1 key to success in every endeavour and this applies especially to
speaking in public. To make a successful speech requires in depth
research of your topic. For every minute that your speech lasts you
will probably have to spend one hour in research and preparation!
If you think that 10 hours is a lot of time to devote to a 10 munute
speech then consider <a href="http://mastermind-
strategies.com/muhammad-ali.html" target= Muhammad Ali- The Master of
Preparation </a>. Some of his fights only lasted 10 minutes but he
spent several months in preparing himself. He knew that preparation
creates confidence:
- Confidence in your abilities
- Confidence in your knowledge
- Confidence in a successful outcome
- Confidence to overcome fear
- Confidence to take action
<B> 2.Practice </B>
Training and Exercise is the next simple step in developing confident
public speaking. If you want to become physically fit then you need to
engage in training and exercise. It is the same with public speaking.
Be prepared to feel foolish, awkward and nervous while you are learning
and trying out new skills. Just do it anyway. The more you practice in
public the more and quicker you will learn. So take every opportunity
to speak in public. Remember, while you are learning you don't have to
be perfect, just use those occasions as learning opportunities. One
way to get practice is to join a speaking club, as I did. That way you
are working together with others who are also learning. You will
receive lots of constructive feedback, which is what you need while you
are learning.
<B> 3. Perseverance </B>
This is simply a matter of being determined to master the art and
skills of public speaking and deciding never to give up. No matter how
badly you think your last speech went or how badly you feel about it,
give it one more try, then another and another. Improvement is
incremental, if you keep on trying.
TRI, TRI again. <B>T</B>ake action. <B>R</B>eview it. <B>I</B>mprove
it. Then TRI again.
Alan Moreton
<B> 4. Plan a Simple Structure </B>
Introduction: Tell them what you are going to tell them.
Body: Tell them two or three clear ideas.
Conclusion: Tell them what you have told them.
Nothing could be simpler.
<B> 5. Pleasure</B>
Speaking in public is a pleasurable, exhilarating experience. It
provides an opportunity to share your experience and your knowledge.
You may not feel that speaking in public is a pleasure at first. You
may feel absolutely petrified. Many people do. This is only natural.
But once you have had the opportunity to learn a few skills and have
learnt how to control your nerves then you will experience the
satisfaction of confidence in your abilities to speak in front of an
audience.
<B> 6. Personality </B>
You are invisible! Until you express your ideas and make them clear to
others you are invisible. To make an impact on other people you must
express your personality. Speaking in public is a wonderful way to do
this. You have to make the invisible part of you visible. By sharing
your real self, the hidden part of you, your feelings, your attitudes,
your dreams and aspirations with your audience you connect with them in
a very real and dynamic way. They see the real person and they are then
able to enter into your world and empathise with you. By
expressing yourself, your opinions, your ideas and your beliefs and
expressing them in your own unique style you make your personality
visible to others.
<B> 7. Projection </B>
When tackling the art of public speaking one of the strategies you can
use is to see yourself as successful. Use positive <a
href="http://mastermind-strategies.com/self-talk.html" target=new>
self-talk </a>self-talk to enthuse yourself with confidence. Walk up to
the podium with your head held high and with a confident air. No one
can see what you are feeling inside. Act confident even if you don't
feel it. You will soon feel confident as your feelings catch up with
your actions.
<B> 8. Passion </B>
To be at all convincing you must have a passion for your subject. It
must be something you are vitally interested in. You must exude
enthusiasm and you must communicate this excitement to your audience.
So concentrate on this one thing until it becomes an all-consuming
obsession. Then you will speak about it with conviction and your
audience will be convinced of its importance to you and they will sit
up and take notice.
<B> 9. Progress </B>
After you have made a few speeches take time to reflect on how far you
have come. See the progress you have made. Begin to appreciate that you
are feeling more confidence and that you are communicating more
effectively. This will provide even greater motivation and it will
renew your determination to keep on trying.
<B> 10. Perfecting </B>
By putting these simple steps into effect you will learn how to become
a
confident
speaker and by continually thinking about them and practising them you
will desire to perfect your skills. There are many resources available
to enable you to improve your abilities. There are speaking clubs,
professional speaking organisations, books, courses and articles
available. You may wish to avail yourself of some or all of these
resources.
Alan Moreton is an International speaker, writer, editor and businessman. Article reproduction permission is hereby granted providing the article is republished
in its entirety, with author's information and any links intact. Copyright 2005 by Alan Moreton
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