A confident speaker is first and foremost someone who is confident in his or her abilities to deliver a good speech or give a good presentation. You cannot receive security from others, nor can you buy it. It is acquired step by step, thanks to our positive experiences, and can be increased and improved over time. How is it built and increased? Not missing out on opportunities to practice. If you mess up or make mistakes on your first few attempts, learn from your mistakes and move on. Remember that even the most famous speaker started from scratch. Therefore practice alone, in front of the mirror or by filming yourself with the video camera. You can then practice in front of a small audience. You can even practice in front of your dog, in the absence of an audience of trusted people. Anyone could become a good speaker, as long as they are willing to commit. The article below offers some tips for achieving this goal.
Steps
Step 1. Choose the appropriate topic on which to give a speech or make a presentation
If you have to give an informal speech, without constraints on the subject, it would be useful to choose a topic that interests you, rather than one in which you are not well-versed. Of course, it would be preferable if the topic was captivating enough to attract a greater variety of people, so that it is easier to capture their interest.
Step 2. Choose your audience
For the first few times you practice to become a good speaker, you should choose those who share your point of view on the subject matter. These could be your colleagues, acquaintances, members of your community, or other groups that you think are appropriate. As you gain more experience and confidence, you should be able to master the techniques to attract and engage an audience that is listening to the topic you are talking about for the first time.
Step 3. Research your topic
It is essential that you have an in-depth knowledge of the topic you are talking about, because it is assumed that, as an expert, you know more than the public, and that you are willing to share knowledge and information that they ignore. There is nothing more embarrassing than an unprepared speaker. If you do research and prepare yourself properly, your confidence will automatically increase and your anxiety will decrease.
Step 4. Test and prepare several versions of your presentation
Depending on the reaction of your audience, which you will not know until the moment you start speaking, you will have to adapt your speech to their needs, therefore you will have to have prepared different versions: one shorter, one more detailed, one for interested people and one for those who seem uninterested. This will allow you to engage the audience.
Step 5. Always prepare a hard copy of your slides
This way you will always have a copy to refer to, and which you can also distribute to those present if you wish. Even if you have a good powerpoint presentation, you never know what might happen during your speech. Could it happen that the guy in charge of the technical organization is unable to see your presentation on the screen? It is always important to have a contingency plan, so as not to be at the mercy of someone else. Being faced with these situations and not having a back-up plan will not make you more confident.
Step 6. Find the right ways to connect with your audience
Be pleasant and cheerful during the speech and maintain eye contact with the audience. In this way you will be able to relax, because by establishing contact, you will be able to see those present as human beings, just like you, rather than as omnipotent people who want to scare you.
Step 7. Remember that they are there because you have already made the right move:
maybe you wrote a catchy draft of your speech, or you have great credentials and an interesting bio and that prompted them to attend your speech. Engage them by inserting ironic jokes and personal anecdotes. In this way you will make your speech less rigid and formal and will attract the attention of your audience. If you understand that attention is waning, shorten your speech and leave with the section devoted to questions for the rest of the time. People become more passionate when they interact with the speaker.
Step 8. If someone from the audience asks you a question you don't know the answer to, don't panic
Take the time to write down the question with the utmost consideration, ask for the name and information (including e-mail address) to contact the person concerned, and assure him that you will send him the answer within a couple of days. Of course, stick to your commitment, even if you think the question is stupid.
Step 9. Show your audience that you admire their intelligence and respect their opinions
Regardless of how problematic your audience may be or even when they don't approve of what you say, never lose your temper. Remember that you are the speaker, so you should be in control of the situation. You must be courteous and calm at all costs. If you address those present in an adequate and dignified manner, those who are raising problems will end up sounding off-key, while you will give the impression of being a kind, patient and magnanimous person. You will have plenty of time to vent your anger and express your regret for what happened when the speech is over.
Step 10. At the end of the speech, don't forget to compliment those present
Thank them for taking their time. Each of them will like to think that compliments are addressed directly to him.
Step 11. Don't forget to smile
This is a very important step, despite the stress you are subjected to during your speech. People are incredibly attracted to a smiling face, and the smile will have a positive effect on your speech.
Step 12. If you stumble in speaking or make mistakes, laugh it off and don't give too much weight to what happened
You may have been wrong, but your audience probably didn't notice. Remember that mistakes are an integral part of the learning process and will help you hone your speaking skills.
Advice
- Learn more about the topic, but don't forget to express your opinion on it. If you tell a story or two from your own experience, it will seem more natural than when you just state the facts.
- Always be honest. If you don't know something, admit it. It will always be better to give an elusive answer.
- Use humor whenever possible, but don't overdo it with classless jokes. It would indicate a great lack of professionalism on your part.
