By Emma Bannister
Public speaking is an essential life skill that is used in all areas of work. Though public speaking may be intimidating at first, there are ways to prepare yourself before the presentation. Speaking in front of people alone was always a fear of mine. I never wanted to be cold-called in class, and I certainly did not want to give a presentation. These are things that we cannot avoid, but there are things that we can work on. Through my time in high school and college, I picked up tips and tricks that prepared me for public speaking to lessen my nerves.
Key Concepts
When you are presenting a project or giving a speech, one thing to keep in mind is the message you are trying to leave everyone with. At the end of your presentation, there should be at least one takeaway message that you are leaving to people. But, to get to your call to action, there is a story you need to tell.
Think about your speech. Pull out a few main topics that you will be covering and how they lead to your main point. This is the basis of your speech. With these topics in mind, it is important to be comfortable with what you are talking about. Before presenting, have your topics in mind and a few things about each point. As you go about your speech, you not only will be emphasizing these points, but you will also be using them as momentum. As an expert, you have the ability to expand upon what you are explaining and convey a deeper meaning. Knowing your material thoroughly will always give you something to talk about! You don’t want to ramble on, but if you have your key concepts and a few details in mind, your thoughts and execution will tell the story.
Practice
We’ve all heard the classic phrase, “Practice makes perfect.” But, don’t let this stress you out. Your speech does not have to be perfect. Many times, your audience will feel engaged if you are relaxed. Bring your creativity to your presentation! Asking questions and providing visuals are other ways to keep the attention of your audience. Depending on the topic, a stern approach may not be the most effective way to go about it. Practicing many times beforehand will give you a sense of calmness when the time finally comes to hit the ground running.
My favorite way to practice is to speak out loud. Not only does this help prepare me for what it may feel like when I am up in front of a group of people, but it gives me the opportunity to hear what I sound like. This could be in a setting that may resemble where you actually will be, like a classroom, and you can even ask your friends to practice in front of them too. The beginning may be the hardest part, but speaking combined with listening gives you two simultaneous ways to practice. You may even pick up on words or phrases that don’t sound as well together when spoken. Don’t forget to include your personality! This is important because you want your audience to not only understand the message you are sending, but they want to see your passion for the subject. This helps keep the audience engaged and interested in what you are discussing.
Be Confident
Be confident! It’s easier said than done, right? When it comes to public speaking, it really is important to go in with confidence. Only you will know if you mix up a few words or phrases. If you stay confident your audience will only pick up on the emotions and your reaction and not the mistake itself. Before your presentation, remember the hard work you did to prepare for this moment. From taking notes, gathering information, and the time spent practicing, you have earned your confidence; not only in the topic, but also confidence in yourself. Before stepping out in front of a large audience, take a few deep breaths to stay calm. Sometimes, I close my eyes to remind myself that I have been waiting for this moment. All of the time spent practicing prior to this moment is about to pay off. Remember this before it’s your turn and use your confidence as momentum as you go about presenting.
Conclusion
Public speaking does not come naturally to everyone, but over time it will only get easier. The next time you have a presentation to give, you will be well prepared with these extra tips in mind. Take a breath, reflect on your work, and show everyone what you know!
Happy Valley Comm 