Get Rid of Your Speaking Fear
You can reduce your fear of speaking in the public by simply adopting some of the following tips.

1. Conduct a thorough research on your topic. To meet the expectation of the audience, visit or call the key participants and have a chat with them. Get to know what they expect from your presentation, what they want to learn and what do they already know. Then prepare your presentation accordingly so that it benefits them. These sorts of conversations help you learn and know what your audience expects from you and thus give you the advantage of preparing accordingly beforehand.

2. Prepare well. Don’t write down the whole speech, but a rough outline with the help of the keywords. Then rehearse as much as you can. Be assured that you are able to deliver your speech in a conversational manner without reading the script. Do not memorize it word for word. It will make it sound robotic and dull. Moreover it makes things complicated. Just in case you forget a point you may keep on stumbling in your speech. So avoid it. Keep practicing your speech anywhere and anytime you find it possible.

3. Rehearse well for it. Keep on practicing your speech among a group of friends or coworkers and if possible even with your boss. Ask them about their views on your speech and try to improve accordingly. Also take advantage of this opportunity to get familiar with the room and equipments. This helps you face the audience confidently.

4. Always play a gentle and an amicable host. Get friendly with your audience by arriving early at the venue and greeting them beforehand. Some simple gestures such as shaking hands with them and thanking them for coming can help you build up a warm rapport with them. Try to engage them in a simple talk with you by introducing yourself and asking them about their well being, etc. Convert the strangers into friends and make them feel comfortable.

5. Always expect success. If you expect it, then you will definitely work hard to achieve it too. Fantasize yourself doing a wonderful job with perfection. Never scare yourself with nightmares. When you expect yourself to do well, you gain confidence. Remember that everyone expects you to do an excellent job.

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Handling Public Speaking Questions

The deciding factor as to how your presentation is received by the audience is how you handle the questions put up by the audience. It becomes all the more important if you are pitching for business.

1. Always be prepared for the questions. When you are preparing for your speech or presentation, think about the questions that are likely to be put up and then prepare your answers.

2. Make it clear in your mind as to when do you want to take up the questions, along with your presentation or at the end of it. Choose whatever suits you but then don’t change, once you have decided.

3. Never end your presentation with questions. Always ask for questions at least five to ten minutes before the end, deal with them and end by summarizing because if you don’t get any questions then the end of your presentation becomes a bit flat.

4. Whenever a question is popped at you, listen to it carefully and do look like you are listening. You might have faced the same questions innumerable times before but remember to treat your questioner with respect and don’t play down their question.

5. Always thank your questioner. It’s polite and shows respect. It also lends you time to ponder upon your answer.
6. Repeat the questions aloud as many of the people in the audience might not have heard and thus it may not make any sense to them. It also makes you look in control and clever.

7. Answer to everyone in the audience and not just to the questioner. Most of the time what happens is, if the questioner is in the front, the speaker ends up having conversation with him/her and excludes everyone else.

8. Always try and keep it simple. By the time you reach the question part of your presentation, most of the audience have become relaxed and thus might drag the session with too many questions.

9. Don’t try to bluff your audience. If someone asks you a question to which you don’t know the answer, simply tell them and assure them that you will get back to them after you have found out the answer.

It might be possible that no one from the audience asks any question which leaves an awkward silence. People might need some time to get what you have said and then ask. But to avoid that awkward silence you may ask some questions to yourself and then head for the summary and closing statement.

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Introduction to Public Speaking

Can you think of any memorable talk or presentation you have ever attended? It is sad to know that most of the presentations are easy to forget, especially when the main reason behind the presentation was to communicate something to you.

But if you remember these four basic things, then be assured that your verbal messages will be understood and remembered for long. Though these things may sound somewhat obvious and deceptively simple, they are of immense importance.
1. You should understand your presentation’s purpose.
2. Don’t confuse things; keep your message clear and exact.
3. Be prepared well to face the audience and their questions.
4. Don’t be monotonous; instead be vivid while giving the speech.

Always be clear about the idea that what do you want to achieve. It is very essential for you to know and understand, before you start working on your presentation or speech, what you want to say, whom you want to approach as your audience and why is it important for them to listen. Ask basic questions to yourself such as whom do you want to speak to, what are their interests, their beliefs and principles, what is common between them and others and how do they differ.
What is the message you want to convey to your audience? You can answer this question by asking yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How will you come to know whether and when your message has been successfully communicated?

Which is the best way to put across your message? Here non verbal cues such as your expressions and body language play a vital role along with the language. But keep your audience in mind while deciding your words and non-verbal cues. Plan your presentation from its start to the end. If you can add, then prepare audio-visuals to grab the audience’s attention.
The timing is also very important. Your contributions are seen and heard as relevant to the issue only if you develop a sense of timing. You should know when the time to speak is and when is it the time to be silent.

Next important question is ‘where?’ You should bear in mind the physical context of the communication. In case you are using audio or visual aids, then check for availability and the visibility. Visit the venue if you can.

To ensure that your audience listens to you and not just hear, you must know why they should be listening and tell them so if it is necessary.

Maintain simplicity. When you are conveying your message, use less but powerful words to leave a better impact. When you start giving too much of the information to the audience, they get overloaded and thus, tend to get bored.

In case you are using slides, use simple single statement or a diagram to convey your message, limit your content.

Be thoroughly prepared. If you fail to prepare, then you are prepared to fail. It is indeed an important aspect that decides your success as a speaker. In order to give yourself time to prepare your speech, set timing for meeting, speaking and presentation well in advance.

Since all communications cannot be scheduled, preparation may lead to good and thorough understanding.

How to achieve successful delivery of speech? How you represent yourself, your speech and the presentation leave a long lasting impression up on the audience. Only way to achieve success here is by practicing hard. Here are some tips to hold your audience’s attention:
1. Associate your speech to the life by stating instances and citing examples.
2. Don’t just stand and give your speech, bring in some animation, use your body language.
3. Give pauses where ever you can. Don’t talk too fast or else the audience won’t be able to understand you.
4. Use voice modulation. Stress on main points and use various tones of voice.
5. If possible, use audio and visual aids.
Though public speaking and presentations appear to be a daunting task, but they can be turned into an enjoyable and a rewarding experience once you have practiced and rehearsed well. Always be a confident and an enthusiastic speaker.

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