Public Speaking Tips

PUBLIC SPEAKING CONSULTANTS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS!

T.B., a presentation skills consultant writing at http://www.allsands.com, advises:  

“Many professional actors and public speakers find that doing light callisthenic exercises in their dressing rooms or a private area can relieve the excess energy. Try running in place, or shaking your arms and legs. Go out for a quick run somewhere, or punch a boxing bag. The trick is to release enough nervous energy to calm your anxieties, but not leave you so stress-free that your speech suffers.”  

This is one of our favorites!   

Problem: When we're engaged to do public speaking, we often have to wear a suit and tie.  It's been our experience that going out for a run just before we go on stage can often work up a good sweat!  If you can help it, in public speaking you really never want the audience see you sweat. And the punching bag idea is not always a convenient one.  If you’re giving your presentation out-of-town, a full-size Everlast bag does not fit in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you, and can really slow you down when running to catch a flight.  

Public Speaking Skills Solution: The excess energy people experience while public speaking results from adrenaline pulsing through the body, brought on by the classic fight-or-flight syndrome that accompanies fear.  The fear needs to be dealt with, not the energy.  In our public speaking skills seminars, we show participants how many presentation skills they learned in their public speaking "education" actually create, build, and compound normal levels of anxiety.  

While public speaking, almost anyone can minimize the fear factor through proper use of the presentation skills we teach: eye contact, gestures, and voice, coupled with proper presentation design. And instead of allowing public speaking to be a source of anxiety, presenters become more interesting and passionate speakers in the process.