Speaking Tips

Speak Out!

Tell your Story and that of the VHL Family Alliance in your own community.

Contact Jay for hints: SpeakerTips@jayplatt.com

Quick. What fear ranks as number one in the minds of the majority of people? Some of the most common answers, in no particular order, are: snakes, spiders, heights, cancer, and death. But none of them is number one. The number one fear is (drum roll please): the fear of public speaking. That’s right. Far above the fear of death and disease, comes the fear of standing in front of a crowd.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld says that this must mean that at a funeral most people would rather be the one in the casket, than the one giving the eulogy.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

I hope your fear isn’t that great. But, if you do have this most common fear, at least now you know that you aren’t alone. Thankfully, this is a fear that you can overcome with a little work. As a matter of fact, some of the world’s greatest speakers and entertainers once felt like you. Celebrities such as TV weatherman Willard Scott and comedienne Lily Tomlin confess to a powerful nervousness before stepping before the cameras. And, probably the greatest actor of our time, the late Sir Laurence Olivier, developed an almost disabling case of stage fright at the age of 60!

Following is a list of various tips that you can use to help reduce your anxiety. Although you’ll probably never fully rid yourself of all the "butterflies" in your stomach, you can get them to fly in formation.

Never rise until you have something to say; and when you've said it, cease.   -- Calvin Coolidge

 

1) Being nervous is natural. Being nervous means you care about giving a good presentation. Your nervousness produces adrenaline which helps you think faster, speak more fluently, and add the needed enthusiasm to get your message across.

2) Don’t try to perfect. Much of the fear surrounding public speaking comes from the desire for perfection. Accept the fact that no one ever gets it perfect and neither will you. Besides most of your "mistakes" will never even be noticed by your audience unless you make a big deal of them.

3) Visualize success. Before your presentation, close your eyes and visualize yourself giving the talk of your life. See the audience responding to you, hanging on your every word. This is the same method Olympic athletes use to perform at their peak. It works!

4) Know your topic. This should go without saying. You need to become an expert on your topic. The more knowledge you have on a particular subject, the more relaxed you will feel when discussing it.

5) Relax. Remember, it’s not so bad. Have fun. A great way to stay relaxed even while speaking is through deep breathing.

6) Practice makes perfect. Alright, you caught me. Didn’t I say earlier that you don’t need to worry about being perfect? Well, yes I did. And you don’t. But, that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to practice as if you’re trying to be. No matter how many of the other tips you use, if don’t practice (or rehearse) you won’t be as effective as you could be.

7) Let the audience like you. They want to. Most audiences really want you to succeed. Why? Well, mostly because they know how they’d feel if they were up there speaking.

8) Make eye contact. Eye contact endears you to the audience. It makes each member feel special, as if you’re talking to them. It also makes you feel better. Always begin your speech by looking for a few friendly faces. Bonus tip - If you add a smile, you’re sure to get one in return.

9) Involve the audience. Ask questions, play games, etc. Not only does this keep your audience interest level high, it also allows you to relax.

10) Focus on your message. It’s important to believe that what you have to say is important. It is! The audience needs to hear what you have to say. If you focus on that instead of how nervous you are, you’re bound to do great.

For further tips on becoming a more effective speaker, contact Jay at: SpeakerTips@jayplatt.com.

As printed in the VHL Family Forum  9:1, March 2001.  For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.