Many organised business networking meetings involve standing up in front of the room and speaking. Whether it’s a 60 second pitch or making a presentation of your business, it can be a bit daunting.
It seems that most people are perfectly capable of speaking when sitting down. Get them to stand up and talk, even for just a minute, and their legs turn to jelly! I can remember when I first started to speak in public my knees knocked so loudly no one could hear what I had to say.
I thought I would share three techniques that I have picked up along the way that have helped me to feel confident when speaking in public. Back in those knee knocking days I never believed that people would pay me to come and speak at their conference!
Breathe Deeply
The way we feel is influenced heavily by our posture and breathing. I always say that breathing is a good idea! Its where we breathe from that makes the difference. Slow, deep, breaths from the stomach area is much better than short, shallow breaths from the chest. Your posture will make a big difference too. Stand up straight with your shoulders back and head up and your feet planted firmly on the ground. I like to move around a bit so standing behind a lectern does nothing for my confidence. Movement combined with posture and breathing makes a big difference.
The magic wardrobe
This is a great technique I learned at Andy Clark’s Speakers Academy. You imagine you have a magic wardrobe and before going out to speak you pick out your invisible speakers jacket. Mine is gold and sparkly. When I put it on I transform from someone who would rather sit in the audience and hear other people speak to the showman. Its show time and I am out to entertain. Sometimes I forget to take it off!!
Preparation
When I was new to public speaking I thought that preparation was obviously important but the comment that it would calm my nerves was a platitude. I prepared and I still felt nervous! The problem was that no one told me HOW to prepare other than just learn my lines. I rarely use notes now and yet I never learn my lines. I do not have any! What I do is learn my material very well and prepare the structure of what I am going to say and consider the timing. I will rehearse stories and important parts of the speech but I never learn to speech parrot fashion as was suggested. I would be worrying to much about remembering the sequence to pay attention to the audience!
Good luck with your presentation. Believe me, the more you do the better it gets.
Richard White is The Author of 