Public speaking has become something so terrifying that the mere mention of it can cause a person to grow sick.
Even people who spoken several times can freeze up on stage or lose their train of thought due to fear.
In order to become a more competent speaker, it is important to follow several steps.
The first thing one can do is to understand the audience.
Is this a speaking engagement at a convention for business owners, or a presentation for a management class? The tone of the speech should be determined based on the audience.
A speaker should always speak in a way that will be effective in communicating with the audience.
All jokes, slang, or stories should be carefully tailored to fit the audience.
What is said to the board of directors should be entirely different from what is said to a high school class.
Another aspect of knowing the audience is by understanding the occasion and what that means when it comes to attire.
Dressing in a way that the audience will see as tasteful is important.
As a speaker, it's always better to be slightly overdressed, than under dressed.
A speaker should not wear gaudy jewelry that will jingle with every gesture of the hand or draw attention away from what is being said.
Women should avoid wearing low-cut blouses.
Speakers should wear clothes that are flattering but will not draw attention.
The audience should focus on the speaker's face and concentrate on his words.
This means if long hair or bangs are constantly falling into the eyes they should be pulled back.
Tucking hair behind the ears every five minutes gives an unprofessional impression as well and will irritate the audience.
Perhaps one of the most important things that can be done while speaking, is giving eye contact.
A speaker that looks only at the floor or stares with a lost expression at the back of the room, gives the impression of a terrified and trapped animal.
A speaker can put the audience at ease, and make them think she's confident, by giving good eye contact.
This does not mean staring at only two or three individuals.
Eye contact should be distributed across the room evenly.
Public speaking can be an exciting adventure.
Practicing these tips will prepare one to speak in front of large crowds without a problem.
Touring America due to speaking engagements can happen without the usual worry and anxiety.
The next thing the new speaker will want to do is install a home security system to keep her house safe when she's gone.