“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and the liars.” – Mark Twain

Most people fear public speaking more than death, thereby limiting opportunities to communicate their thoughts and ideas and stifling personal growth. Only if forced to give a speech do they practice and then they will procrastinate until the last possible moment. Public speaking is like walking instead of crawling. It is a natural progression, but requires practice and, when mastered, it greatly expands one’s view of the world.

So how does one embark on this courageous journey?

Speaking in public ranks high on the list of people’s fears, and that leads to a lot of missed opportunities. Anyone who has ever been in the audience when a good speaker took the stage knows what power lies in this skill. It can change minds, inspire action, and launch and cement relationships in a way that no other form of communication can.

The trick to learning the art of public speaking is much like anything else that requires practice and nurturing. The more you practice the more confident you become and this is what will make the difference and set a good public speaker apart from the rest. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to stammer and stumble.

Good speakers aren’t just talented or lucky — they work hard.

Start practicing your speech well ahead of time within the comfort of your home. Try to get comfortable with the material and learn where you should exert emphasis and where you should use a lighter tone. Above all, you should prepare to be yourself. Often when someone delivers a speech that was written for them by somebody else — politicians come to mind — it sounds too suave and premeditated.

The key is to understand your message, put your own personality into it, and convey it in your own words. Remember, not everybody has a huge vocabulary. Often a short word will work much better than a long one that you may mispronounce anyway. Often overlooked when building your speaking skills are the tremendous personal advantages one gain from embarking on the journey of conquering the fear of public speaking and leading to self-discovery. When one continuously exchanges thoughts and ideas with others about what is important in life, it helps to clarify one’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.

To be an impressive public speaker, you have to believe in what you are saying. And if you speak with conviction and you’re passionate about your subject, your audience will be far more forgiving of your mistakes because they’ll have faith in you and believe that you are telling the truth. Perhaps more important than what you say is how you say it. Confidence–and practice–can go a long way toward wowing your audience time after time.

Public speaking is an essential skill for building a personal and corporate brand and advancing your career to greater heights and it need not be a nightmare. All too often, the very best stories in organizations and companies go untold because of people’s reluctance to take the stage.

Yet, for all its power, the “public” part of public speaking makes many people pause. Even a friendly, interested audience can be a frightening prospect to some executives, who would rather let great opportunities pass them by than be judged by an audience. But every time we speak- whether to an audience of one or 100—we run the risk of being judged on whether we’ve got something to say that’s worth listening to.

Think positively

Instead of thinking about the risk of being judged by 100 people (or however large the audience is), think about the chance you have to influence them.

Getting Started

Remember that even the best orators needed practice and training. Public speaking is a learned skill and you will improve with time if you take the initiative. With preparation and practice, you can learn to wow an audience, strengthen relationships, and reach people you otherwise couldn’t have.

Find people/movements from whom you can learn and interact with, a safe and encouraging an environment to practice in, and then put in the necessary mileage. From the start, it is surprising how quickly one will grow in confidence.

Here is a few strategies to build your next great speech

• Shift in mind – be there to serve others, Turn nervousness into excitement.
• Know your subject (research and preparation)
• Know your audience
• Have a good opening, body, and mesmerizing end with a strong punch line (message and proper flow/structure)
• Pace your speech, tone, and voice projection
• Honing your Message/use the right language/keep it simple
• Smile/engage/interact with your audience
• Add humor- A good joke will not only help you connect with the crowd but help you relax. If you loosen up a bit, the words will flow more easily
• Storytelling – Add color, pictures, and imagination to your audience’s minds
• Use quotes and personal experiences to add context to a speech
• Don’t talk right away, Take deep breaths,
• Speak slowly, pause for clarity
• Watch online videos/Read motivational books or autobiographies
• Join debate club/toastmasters/social circles
• Find a toastmasters club near you – https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club

( you could walk in as a guest in most clubs the first visit)

• Find a mentor – this is a game changer
• Dress well to feel confident ( Professional than casual) as the audience remembers your look and your wordTop of Form

“If you can speak, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives.” – Rob Brown