Public Speaking Basics

“There are two types of speakers: Those who are nervous and those who are liars.” This is one of my favorite quotes, attributed to none other than Mark Twain. He is known for his great works of literature but also for having given many memorable public lectures. He said it best, but it's worth repeating - Everybody experiences public speaking anxiety to some extent. You might think you're alone in feeling afraid of public speaking. Well, it might surprise you to learn that some highly influential and well-known individuals have also wrestled with public speaking anxiety. Icons in business, performing, and historical figures alike have dealt with this common fear. Here are just a few examples: “I was terrified of public speaking when I was in high school and college... I couldn’t do it - I mean I’d throw up and everything.” -Warren Buffett “I think the audience knew what was happening. It was a play, they bought tickets, I’m up there acting – and I can’t...

You tried to avoid this class but your advisor said you need it to graduate. You dread the thought of speaking in front of a large group. It’s too much to bear. How will you survive this public speaking class? I’ve learned a thing or two in my time as a student and instructor, so let’s break down this daunting subject with the hopes of making it bearable. You just may learn a thing or two to make the experience less painful. Let’s start with what’s likely to be your first concern. 1.) What to do about anxiety You may think you’re one of very few people affected by public speaking anxiety. This couldn’t be more wrong! It’s entirely normal to get stressed out or even paralyzed with fear before an upcoming speech. Anxiety is often a sign that you care, and that’s a good thing. Harness that anxious energy towards preparing your notes and rehearsing your delivery. In this way, anxiety can be beneficial. But public speaking anxiety is extremely uncomfortable and we...

I wanted to share some simple tips for managing speech anxiety, so I made this info-graphic. Hopefully you find it helpful! Feel free to check out my other posts relating to speech anxiety .

Chances are that if you are reading this, you are also breathing... It's so basic that we tend not to think about it too much. This may be why people tend to forget to breathe in speech. It's frustrating to have sat through countless speeches and to still see one recurring issue - people rush through their speech while hardly taking a proper breath. It's difficult to watch somebody push through their entire presentation while short of breath. I sometimes want to stop a speaker dead in their tracks and tell them to take a breath! It's hard to focus on what someone is saying if it looks like they're struggling to speak with such short breathing. Don't forget to breathe during your speech. Take a deep breath before you begin. Wait a moment before moving on to each of your next points. Avoid rushing through your entire speech. Breathe deeply throughout your presentation. Give your audience a chance to catch up to your message. Take one deep breath to calm ...

The day of a big speech is stressful, to say the least. I see the terror and fear in my classes regularly. I would like to offer some quick and easy tips for managing speech anxiety. Remember these three P's to avoid going into a panic before your next speech: 1.) Preparation.   Avoid procrastinating by breaking your work down into smaller chunks. Carefully review the speech instructions. You must know the structure of your speech, your main points, attention getter and overall theme. It's hard to mess up when you know your material well. Also, be sure to rehearse as much as possible. This will all help to alleviate your nerves. 2.) Presence. You can only prepare up to a certain point. When it's time for you to speak, you must approach the event with as much composure as possible. Bring your attention to the room and to your body. Remember to take pauses, and most importantly, to breathe . Preparation is key, but when preparation is no longer possible, calmly d...

Public Speaking is not about you, it’s about your audience. A lot of hang ups we have about public speaking revolve around the attention we place on ourselves during or in preparation for a speech. It should be a big relief to know that people don’t care about you nearly as much as they care about themselves. That’s why it’s important to shift your attention from the typical self-centered thoughts to how you can help your audience. Remember the saying that, “It’s better to give than to receive.” The concept of generosity certainly applies to speech. That said, there are two major benefits to shifting your focus from you to the audience: 1. Anxiety Reduction It’s very stressful, worrying too much about how good your speech will be. We naturally tend think about how smart we will sound, how good we will look, will they notice nerves etc. But instead of focusing on how much the speech matters to you, consider what your audience might have to gain from your speech? You m...

I can easily understand why any shy person would dread having to give a speech. It’s a lot of pressure, all eyes are on you and you must perform a really challenging task. I began my study of speech precisely because I felt that way when I was younger. But it’s important to remember that there’s nothing inherently wrong with being shy! Yes, it will absolutely hold you back in some instances. But you can learn to speak effectively despite being a shy person. In fact, this trait can even serve as an asset in speech. Susan Cain’s popular ted talk Thepower of introverts and her book Quiet shed much light on this subject, though more broadly. And I see time and time again how different personality types handle public speaking. I’ve seen many students give incredible speeches despite seeming quite shy. It’s possible that shyness can even drive some people to put more effort into their speeches. It may cause a person to care more about the assignment. I don’t reckon shyness eve...