Are you envious of how good TED Talks speakers can present with such ease and confidence?
Like any talent, excellent oratory skills need to be developed and continuously improved.
Let’s look at the ways you can learn to speak better in front of a large group of people.
Expect nervousness
If presenting is not something you do daily, it is normal and expected that you would feel nervous.
Your hands are going to get sweaty, and your heart will be racing – but, it is normal as you are not the only one. Public speaking is not a popular activity, and most people will usually shun it.
But if you do have to present, tell yourself that you are going to talk for 10 minutes about this topic, and before you know it will be over.
And, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Excellent oratory skills take years to build, so focus on the small things to improve first like pronouncing clearly, sticking to your content, or avoiding going off-topic.
Prepare and rehearse
The first time you rode a bicycle, you probably fell and felt very scared. By the 10th time you did it, you probably just zoomed past like a pro.
With public speaking, preparing and practising are two essential factors to succeed.
Firstly, what are you going to talk about? What are the key messages you want your audience to know? By knowing so, you can prepare a speech that fulfills the goal of your presentation.
Secondly, you should take the time to rehearse your speech a few times to get the kinks out and adjust the flow.
You are already the subject matter expert, so you need to focus on improving your delivery.
When you have done it many times, presenting it to a crowd will become easier.
Presenting tips
Most people will feel uncomfortable being stared at, and when it is your turn to speak, you might start to feel some symptoms come up that make you want to stay off-stage.
If you do encounter them, simple breathing techniques are good way to soothe the nerves.
If not, before the start of the presentation, you can go to the arena or platform to get comfortable in your surroundings.
It is important to remember that people are interested in what you have to say and that your presentation will enrich them in knowledge. By keeping focus, it can help you get the job done.
Also, there are many great speakers you may wish to emulate – but, it is not necessary to be like them.
Be authentic and find your style of presenting, such as using visuals, adding music, or go hands-free.
So just try these three simple tips first – stick to your topic, speak clearly, and be yourself.
Main image from Pexels
