Do you find yourself rambling when asked to speak in front of your colleagues or senior management? Do you find yourself struggling to find the right words or speaking too quickly? Does your core message get lost in the anxiety caused by speaking in front of others?
Whether it’s giving a sales presentation, pitching an idea to a committee, or presenting your ideas to a prospect or client, the ability to speak in a clear, engaging and confident manner in front of others is essential to advancing your career. Unfortunately, many people find speaking in front of a group intimidating or anxiety provoking, which can negatively impact their communication abilities. Learning to overcome your fear, gain confidence, and master the art of public speaking is essential to professional success. Check out our three simple tips below to conquer your fear of public speaking, and present with clarity and confidence!
- Before you begin, take a few minutes to warm-up. Find a quiet place and do a few vocal warm-up exercises, like lip trills, tongue rolls, and humming. They’ll help to relax you and make your speech more fluid. Add in some neck and shoulder stretches as well to decrease physical tension and move more fluidly as you speak.
- Don’t forget to breathe! Taking a deep breath is an easy way to relax and calm down. Before you begin your presentation, close your eyes and take a deep breath or two, focusing on the movement of the air. As you speak, continue to take deep breaths throughout your presentation. In addition to helping you relax, the pause will give the audience an opportunity to absorb your message.
- Practice, practice, practice! Knowing your presentation like the back of your hand is the best way to ward off anxiety. If you’re completely confident in the content of your presentation beforehand, you’ll be much more relaxed when the big day comes, and free to focus on the quality of your speech and your presentation style.
At Corporate Speech Solutions, we provide speech and communication training that will give you the ability to present with clarity and confidence. Want to learn more? Give us a call and see how Corporate Speech Solutions can take your career to the next level! Call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
If your communication skills are holding you back from professional success and you want to make your communication skills your most powerful professional tool, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.