If you think your material is interesting and meaningful, your audience will catch your enthusiasm and appreciate your sincerity. For instance, if you are interested in a complex scientific theory, your enthusiasm can make a speech about this theory more engaging and can clarify why the theory is important for an audience.
When researching your topic, its important to do preliminary work to understand the basic subject overall but then focus in on a specific subject you can talk about. For instance, if you may want to talk about Shakespeare’s plays you should know general information about them overall but you should narrow your focus to 1 or 2 of his plays for your speech. Also think about questions that might be asked about your subject. Preparing answers to likely questions will make you feel more prepared, and thus less nervous. Also prepare an “I don’t know” answer if people will be asking questions. You can say something like, “That is a great question. I’ll look into that. "
If you are giving a short speech in class, consider writing it a week ahead of time. This will give you a few days to edit it and a few days to practice the final draft. If you are giving a long speech in front of hundreds of people, such as an hour long lecture, you should begin writing your speech several weeks before you are set to give it. Depending on your subject, if you write your speech in advance, be sure to look for updates on the material that come after you write your speech but before you deliver it so you information is up to date.
Practice your speech in front of another person. Having an audience will get you used to giving your speech in front of an audience. Consider setting up a camera and practice on camera. Play it back and watch it to see what you can improve or do better. It’s always good to fix your problem before doing your speech!
This is not to say that you can’t make small changes, such as adding an example or 2 or changing a sentence here and there. You simply shouldn’t make large substantive changes right before the speech. It may be necessary to update statistics or ideas that may have changed since you wrote the speech. However, if these changes are drastic, it may be better to address the changes at the end of your speech, depending on the topic.
Remember that all good speakers started out as not-so-good speakers. They improved because they resolved to do better the next time and they learned from their past mistakes. If a past incident is the basis of your fear, visit a therapist or counselor who specializes in phobias. Contrary to popular belief, many phobias can be cured with a lot of work and regular therapy sessions.
Mentally rehearse that you are speaking confidently with a smooth delivery to an appreciative audience. Hear the words coming out of your mouth in a flowing cadence. See yourself with an erect posture, breathing free and easy. By visualizing this way, you are programming your mind and body for the results you want.
You can even make those scary images seem silly and laughable by imagining your audience in clown costumes or in their underwear.
What specific music you listen to depends on what music you like and what type of speech you are giving. If you are giving a motivational speech, you may want to listen to music that will amp you up. If you are giving a more somber speech, such as one that describes societal problems, you may want to listen to calm music.
The secret is to accept that mistakes are going to happen sometimes, and to develop the ability to recover from them quickly. One way to let go of the need for perfection is to view future mistakes as opportunities to improve.
If you have trouble falling asleep, drink some warm milk and think some pleasant, relaxing thoughts. It may also help to listen to a relaxation tape or soft music, or to do some light reading before going to sleep.
One problem with taking mood-altering substances before a speech is that you can’t necessarily regulate the dosage. You don’t know how much is too much and, once it is in your bloodstream, there is little you can do about it. Your relaxation may turn to sluggishness. Your pep may turn to jitters.
For example, you could do a gentle yoga class or go for a walk a few hours before your speech to get you relaxed and ready.
If you aren’t sure what looking good is all about, talk to friends and family members that have good style. Talk to them about the colors and styles that look best on you. If you are giving a very important speech, you can hire an image consultant or a stylist to tell you what to wear. A good image consultant can tell you how to look fantastic without spending a fortune.
Don’t drink soda or other drinks that could make you jittery or make your energy crash right before your speech. Carbonated beverages can also give you dry mouth, which can make it hard to give your speech. Any nervousness can make digestion difficult. You don’t want a belch or a gurgling stomach interrupting your speech.
It is much better to take a moment to calm yourself than to continually struggle through the speech. You can even walk up to your speaking location early to give your nerves time to calm down.
Throughout the speech, take a moment to breathe every once in a while. Mark moments when you should breathe in your script if necessary. After every few paragraphs include the word “Breathe,” so that you are reminded to do it.
Try focusing on someone in the back of the room. This has a calming effect on some speakers. It feels weird, but it doesn’t look weird. If you can’t see anyone’s face, due to bright lights or a dark room, pick several spots out in the crowd and look at them in turn throughout the speech. This will help keep you from looking down at your page or screen throughout the speech. If there is a microphone and you can’t see people’s faces, try pretending the microphone is the only person in the room. Forget that the audience is looking at you and focus on speaking into the microphone.
It’s okay to forget a line or 2 in your speech. No one’s going to eat you up or yell at you. Just continue with what you know, no one in the audience knows the content of your speech.
