Paul* always dreaded the last Friday of every month when he had to stand in front of the CFO and board of directors and handle a presentation. As a senior finance manager, he had no confidence when presenting his findings and recommendations for the company.
“While my financial technical skills were exemplary, my public speaking skills were flawed. I knew I needed to do something about it,” he adds.
As a professional who is currently struggling with the confidence to speak in public, you need to eradicate the fear, and focus on how you can deliver your speech in an effective manner.
How can you do this?
Prepare & Focus On Your Strengths And Weaknesses
Spend an ample amount of time putting your speech together for flow and clarity. Add a story, an example or an image to make your speech more interesting. Consider watching great speakers on video for inspiration on how they crafted their speeches. Once your speech is done, practice out loud until you are comfortable. This helps to build your confidence.
What are your weaknesses and strengths as a speaker? Evaluate and focus on what you do best. It could be humor or a story telling skills.
Get Comfortable
Are you familiar with the environment where you’ll be speaking? Familiarity helps you feel more comfortable and secure. Alternatively, you can have someone in the audience who supports you and can throw in an encouraging look as you speak.
The next thing to check is your attire. Think about what you will wear. Are you comfortable in your crisp suit and do you feel great when wearing it? An audience initially judges you on your appearance even before you speak. Make an effort to dress in a way that speaks confidence and comfort.
Start With A Smile
Extensive research has shown that smiling makes a person feel happy and at ease. Before you start your speech, smile. Most probably 80% of the audience will smile back at you consequently making you feel relaxed, confident, and connected.
Furthermore, smiling calms your mind and body. If the audience smiles back at you what happens? It reassures you that you will make a great speech.
If you are focused on building your confidence while speaking, the above tips are used to master the art of public speaking. Ready to improve your public speaking skills dramatically? Sign up for our next public speaking class in Kenya.
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