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Talking
your way through
Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and healthy.
It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can
be detrimental. Here are 10 tips on how you can control your nervousness
and make effective, memorable presentations:
o Know the room
Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early,
walk around the speaking area and practise using the microphone
and any visual aids.
o Know the audience
Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It's easier to speak
to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
o Know your material
If you're not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with
it, your nervousness will increase. Practise your speech and revise
it if necessary.
o Relax
Ease tension by doing exercises.
o Visualize yourself giving your speech
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured.
When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
o Realize that people want you to succeed
Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and
entertaining. They don't want you to fail.
o Don't apologize
If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problem you
think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience's
attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep silent.
o Concentrate on the message - not the medium
Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly
toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
o Turn nervousness into positive energy
Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
o Gain experience
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
A Toastmasters club for instance, can provide the experience you
need.
Toastmasters
is an international organization committed towards improving listening,
thinking and speaking skills in individuals.
Educational
meetings are held twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday
of each month at 5.30 p.m., at the Trans Asis Hotel.
Those interested
could contact the Club Secretary, Toastmaster Kumari Grero on Tel:
822387. Entries are also now open for the 12th All Island Best Speakers'
Contest. Entry Coupons appear in the Sunday Times (elsewhere in
this paper) and the Mid-week Mirror.
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