Public Speaking

Sooner or later in life, everybody has to have a go at public speaking, be it for a business presentation or a wedding speech, in fact all manner of occasions.
For some, this comes as second nature and they just get on with it.
For others it can be a daunting, almost frightening, prospect especially when nerves kick in.

Here are just a few tips that may help you get through it.

Breathing exercises
Inhale slowly - for 20 seconds, hold your breath for 10 seconds, exhale slowly - for 20 seconds.
Repeat this for a few minutes at a time to develop a deep quiet breathing operation.
Practice frequently - at your desk, on the train, in the bath… but don’t overdo it.

Relaxation
Even the most experienced speakers can feel tense and nervous before making a speech but they learn not to show it, by relaxing.
Completely relax your body. Close your eyes and try to forget about any worries. Let your jaw hang loosely, lips lightly touching.
Inhale for 10 seconds, pause for 5-10 seconds, Exhale for 10 seconds. Repeat this several times - just remember not to fall asleep!

Expression
Practice reading out loud. A book, a newspaper article, anything will do - it’s just for practice.
Pitch your voice high and unrestrained for words like “hello” and “success”.
Pitch your voice low and deliberately for words like “doom” and “gloom”.
Practice gestures and facial expressions to illustrate key words and phrases.
Learn to use emotion to deliver your message and practise placing a different emphasis on key words.

For example try reading the following sentence placing the emphasis on the highlighted word in each case:

“I can’t believe you just said that!”
“I CAN’T believe you just said that!”
“I can’t BELIEVE you just said that!”
“I can’t believe YOU just said that!”
“I can’t believe you JUST said that!”
“I can’t believe you just SAID that!”
“I can’t believe you just said THAT!”

Try to animate your speech by raising your eyebrows, staring, even thumping your fist - let yourself go.

Script
If you need to use a script then write it well in advance and remember that writing something to be read is different from writing for the spoken word.
Leave it alone for a day or two then revisit it and edit it accordingly.
Practice reading your script out loud. If you can, practice reading it to a colleague, a friend or relative.
Try to learn it, try to make it flow, you want it to sound natural so try to avoid having to read verbatim from it “on the day”.

Projection
Finally, practice projecting your voice, clearly and distinctly.

Remember, if your audience can’t hear, it can’t listen!