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Yesterday, I had to do a presentation at my university on stock market performance, and tomorrow I have to deliver another speech regarding the changes in tax structure.
Yet, sometimes the necessity overcomes our preferences and leaves us with no choices but to follow the requirements. Speaking in front of a gathering is something which used to give me creeps.
2 years ago Just the thought of it used to leave my mouth dry. Yesterday was a whole different story. When Considering how smooth the whole thing went on, it made me rethink of how this transition happened. From a very nervous, shy guy to a confident speaker. I am no Martin Luther king or Nelson Mandela. But the little things I adopted helped me overcome fears and stand up like a man in front of a crowd.
As an emerging businessman, you should have the ability to speak to a crowd. Who knows, may be one day you will run a company with 500 people. You might think, I run a online business, Why would I ever want to address a staff? Come out of the box people, Larry Page and Sergey Brin start out their small internet venture in a friend’s garage 10 years ago; eventually it turned out to be what? Google Inc. If you plan on living the rest of life in front of a keyboard then this is not for you. But if you are ambitious, not afraid to do new things, dreaming of building companies, getting hundreds of less smart people to work for you :-).then you should definitely master your public speaking skill.
Say, If you are a blogger, and you met an old friend at a near by cafeteria and after a little chit chat imagine suddenly the topic changes to blogging. I bet you can talk about it for hours. Correct?
When you consider the above little example, it tells you 3 things which will make you a good public speaker. If you can apply these 3 little things when you are about to do a speech, rest assured it will be one smooth ride. You are a master of what you are talking about (in this case it is about blogging), and you know the person you are talking with (he is your friend) and the place is a familiar, comfortable place to you. (a nearby cafeteria)
Create the same environment before going in front of the crowd. Be very well prepared about the topic. Do you need notes to talk about blogging? The same should be applied about the topic you are covering. When you are very well prepared and knows about the subject matter, then there is nothing for you to worry about. If you’re not familiar with your material or if are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase.
Get to know the audience like you knows your friend. This part may be the hardest. But it is possible. Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers. They don’t want you to fail. Unless they are sick. Realize that they want you to succeed. So just imagine they are here to see your accomplishments and to wish you all the best. In your mind treat them as your friends. Add humor whenever appropriate and possible. Remember it is always easier to listen to an interesting speech and the time will fly, but a boring speech is always too long to endure and will always be boring.
Get to know the place like you know your near by cafeteria. Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Come early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids. And visualize you finish a successful speech there, and getting off the stage to a stand up applauding. When you visualize things as they are already finished, when the time comes for real action it is much easier to perform. The reason is, in your mind you have already gone through the process once or twice and your mind is very confident that you are able to do this. Your mind will not let you down. It will not play tricks on you. When you cover these 3 little things you will definitely be able to stand up in front of a crowd and deliver a speech. C’mon You have done way harder things than this in your life. It is just a speech. Relax. No one is going to eat you Or no one is going to laugh at you. Only thing which can happen is you get off the stage with a feeling that you own the world. Happy and confident. That can’t be bad. huh?
And do not worry, Once you complete the all important first speech it will give you all the confidence you need for the next one. And for the one after that. And to carry on as many speeches as you want. Believe me you WILL NOT fail !!!
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