Throughout our lives we are faced with multiple unavoidable situations that require us to speak in public, either at work, at school, at the university or at a social event such as a wedding or any celebration.
Not all of us have to like public speaking, nor do they have to be good at it. However, if you are reading this right now, it is possibly because you consider that, at the moment, your skills when speaking in public are not very good, but, inevitably, you will soon have to speak in public and want to do it in the best way possible.
You have nothing to worry about.
On most of these occasions we are required to speak and transmit to the public even if we do not feel like anything, and although not all of us are born with the gift of public speaking, fortunately we can all perform this function fully effectively.
We review what are the techniques that the best speakers use to make their presentations fall in love with each of their listeners, and we tell you how you should put into practice a series of mechanisms and tools that will allow you to get closer to the listeners as you have never imagined before.
Speaking in public is not always an easy task, and what usually turns this task into a real nightmare is the fear or anxiety that causes us to expose ourselves to others.
This type of anxiety generally has to do directly with the degree of self-confidence and security with oneself, since it implies showing some personal capacities and the perception that we have of them before others.
The situation is usually repeated like this: In your head you go over and over all the words you are going to pronounce. You have thought about exactly what you have to say and when you have to say it so that exactly what you want to convey is understood. You have even considered some jokes so that your listeners will see that you are a funny person. However, as the moment of truth approaches, that uncomfortable feeling begins that runs through your entire body. Suddenly you see yourself in front of a group of people with their eyes fixed on you. Attentive to every word you can say and every move you can make. You start to block yourself and, in the end, you try to end that situation as soon as possible, ending with the feeling of not having transmitted your thoughts correctly.
How to deal with this?
You should know that the speaker is a protagonist who has the opportunity to create a scenario of attention to his speech, making listeners reflect and excite them with the art of the word.
It depends on him whether the conference he is giving is a bore or, on the contrary, an exhibition of legend from the first word to the last.
The speaker becomes an artist of the dialectic offering the audience a space for reflection and introspection, but trying to maintain their attention from the beginning to the end.
We can take the example of a movie. The story it tells us is relevant but what determines its acceptance by viewers is the way the story tells us. We can well see a movie with a very interesting plot but if the way of telling it is not moving and does not manage to awaken any kind of emotion, it will not be attractive and predictably we will never see it again.
On the other hand, if what he is showing us manages to connect in some way with us or makes us feel identified with some character or some situation in our life, it will be successful.
Types of speakers: do you know which one you are?
There are different types of speakers in an exhibition, each with its own characteristics and peculiarities.
Type A: Fear personified
In this first category, a large majority of individuals find that speaking in public terrifies them.
These types of people doubt their abilities and have minimal self-confidence.
When faced with a crowd they get nervous, they stutter, they just go blank, they just can't get a word out.
The speech is usually heavy and does not usually arouse any type of interest in the public, which stops paying attention shortly after starting.
Type B: The masters of the word
In this block are the leaders of public speaking.
They seem to have been born to preach to others.
These types of people express themselves with confidence, feel comfortable and enjoy talking, being very clear about what they want to say.
They are able to reach the audience by making them identify with what they are saying and evoking a series of feelings that create a connection between the speaker and the listeners.
The situation is very pleasant and positive.
However, we must bear in mind that no one is born knowing how to speak or with innate capacities for public exposure. This series of skills is a practice exercise that can be acquired by working on them and by gaining confidence.
And is that "An orator is one who says what he thinks and feels what he says." William J. Bryan.
The 7 infallible tricks for successful public speaking
The art of public speaking is not a gift, nor a quality that is born with it, but a skill that is acquired little by little with practice and perseverance.
1. Security in you
When you speak, you transmit the security you have with yourself, so it is important that you work on your self-esteem and value yourself in a positive way, identifying what your strengths are to enhance and take advantage of them. When you gain confidence in yourself, fear cannot stop you since you are stronger than it.
2. Accept fear
We must not flee from fear, but accept that it is part of us and is something natural biological.
When we expose ourselves in front of a crowd of people, the brain is activated in a way that believes that we are in a dangerous situation releasing adrenaline that generate physiological responses such as sweating or trembling.
Peace of mind, it is something normal, once we acquire a little practice it will gradually disappear.
3. Breathe
Try not to inhale quickly because this causes you to speed up and you can hyperventilate.
Controlling the breath makes us control panic and anxiety. Learn to breathe slowly and deeply, this will make you feel more relaxed and it will be easier for you to express yourself.
4. Get ready
Plan your speech being very clear about what you want to say:
- Use simple and short sentences to be closer and reach the audience.
- Change complex words for those that give you confidence when saying them.
- Organize by sections and main ideas that allow you to have a general outline.
5. The mirror technique
Stand in front of a mirror to rehearse. Analyze your gestures and the way you move in space. Look at the tone of voice you use if it is constant, if there are variations in intensity and where you do them.
Repeat over and over again trying different shapes and changing some details that you consider appropriate. You can also record yourself while you rehearse and then see yourself as a spectator.
Another option is to rehearse it in front of a family friend to get their opinion. When you have repeated your presentation several times, you will feel more comfortable as you will be mastering it.
6 Maintain eye contact
Looking the audience in the eye represents confidence in your speech. Convey truthfulness to your words because you believe what you are saying.
For many it can be very difficult to direct the gaze towards the public, however this helps to connect with them and is a very effective technique.
At first it may seem impossible but with a little practice you will achieve it without any problem.
7. Learn from the masters
Watch videos of talks or lectures by good speakers. See how they express themselves and how they address the public. Having good references is ideal to carry out our exhibition successfully.
