Public Speaking: Practical Tips to Get Started and Develop Self Confidence

The rewards of being a confident speaker are great. You will be recognised as being of leader material. You can achieve more through 5 minutes of effective speaking than 5 years of grind. A few well chosen words on the subject under discussion will receive favourable attention and command respect.

Getting started in any field of endeavour is often the most difficult part. The tips given here outline an approach to getting started in public speaking that have proved successful in developing self confidence in speaking either in public or in conversation.

Your First Appearance

Your first appearance in public need only brief. No more than a few words is all that is required, e.g. stating your name and occupation. If you are tempted to fidget or wring your hands, clasp your hands behind your back.

You can still be a hit with your audience by acknowledging the fact that you are new to public speaking. Just avoid using the clichéd "unaccustomed as I am to public speaking." Instead say something like "This is my first appearance before an audience and I am very nervous. My name is ...... and my business is ........., and some day I hope to tell you more. Then sit down.

Practice Fields

To find somewhere to practice will require a little initiative. When practicing swimming you will need to find a swimming pool and when practicing public speaking you need to find a meeting. Fortunately there are thousands of meetings held every day that will give an ambitious speaker ample opportunity to be heard. Also there are two organisations that are great places to help you to become more confident speaker. They are Toastmasters International and the Dale Carnegie Institute.

Persistence

A little and often is the key to building confidence and improving your performance. A brief speech delivered often is more effective than a longer speech given infrequently. More than any other human activity confident speaking is learned by doing and improved by practice.

Preparation

Thorough preparation is of key importance. Self confidence will develop as a result of full preparation for your speech. With a full understanding of your topic you will radiate confidence.

Overcoming Stage Fright

Unfortunately there is no silver bullet to over the normal human anxiety of nervousness before speaking. There are techniques that can help with this such as - positive mental attitude, visualising success and deep breathing etc. In the end it comes down to exercising a little courage to make the decision to start and then stepping out and doing it. Your first appearance will open a bud of confidence that with proper care and attention, you can flower into being an effective confident speaker.

It is worth noting when making your initial appearances in public - that a part time speaker that knowing their subject fully and having something worthwhile to communicate can outshine the seasoned professional from the audience's viewpoint.

It is normal for people to be anxious before they speak. By persevering, practicing and preparing thoroughly the huge rewards of public speaking can gained, especially self confidence and recognition.