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Sure you have catecholamines
– all speakers do. (including Sir Winston Churchill and
Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.) Those are the
chemicals that make you sweat, make your heart beat fast
and make your hands shake. Get rid of those chemical and
psychological reactions by becoming message-centered and
audience-centered, not self-centered.
1 Replace fear and negative
noise with positive affirmations. Create new beliefs that
nurture you and support you with new ways of thinking. The
New Adult You! example: “I am well prepared, and the
audience wants me to succeed.”
2. Do a quiet meditation,
visualization, or exercise before you speak. Breathe
deeply. Deep breathing sends a message to your brain that
you have nothing to fear. It calms you down.
3 Who cares if you’re
nervous? Researchers have found that most people report
noticing little or no anxiety in a speaker. If you are
thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness seldom
shows. Prepare 150%.
4.Rehearse, rehearse,
rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk around while you
practice. Use the same physical energy you plan to use on
the day of your presentation.
The Coach sez. . . practice
in front of your mirror .Practice in the car. If you can
concentrate while driving, you will be able to pull it
from your unconscious when are you in front of the group.
Make your points sound spontaneous and conversational.
5. Exercise is an antidote
to stress. Arrive early and take a brisk walk for at least
five minutes. If it is raining or snowing outside, you can
still do some body stretches.
6. Abstain from caffeine
and alcohol before you speak. You don’t need more
jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit and use
attractive colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid
too much black and white.
7. For trembling hands,
place your hands on the side of your chair, and, count to
10 as you try to lift the seat. This is an isometric
exercise that works and nobody will notice you doing it.
8. Don't be perfect. Give
yourself permission to make mistakes. No one is perfect in
real life. Get the butterflies in your stomach to fly in
formation. That’s how you convert your stress into
speaking power!
9. Reduce your nervousness
by taking several deep breaths immediately before you 're
introduced. And for you chocoholics, eat some chocolate to
relax your vocal chords.
11 If you experience dry
mouth, chew your tongue to increase saliva flow. Singers
do this. Close your lips and bite down on the entire
surface. Always have a glass of tepid (not cold) water
nearby.
12 Focus on a friendly face
in the audience. Pretend you are having a conversation,
rather than giving a speech. Just be yourself.
13 The Coach sez. . .Most
of all, enjoy yourself and have fun. SMILE. After all,
aren’t you glad to be there? The sign of a mature adult
is one who does not take himself too seriously.
14 Here is a vocal warm-up
exercise used at the Ryal Academy of Dramatic Arts in
London. Say:PaPaPaPa, BaBaBaBa, TaTaTaTa, DaDaDaDa,
KaKaKaKa, GaGaGaGa Then do it backwards. (from Robert and
Rande Gedaliah)
Get more speaking skills at
our "Summer Sizzle" webpage: http://www.schrift.com/summer_sizzle.htm
©2004 by Sandra Schrift.
All rights reserved
Publishing Guidelines: You
are welcome to publish this article in its entirety,
electronically, or in print fre*e of charge, as long as
you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web
site address (http://www.schrift.com)
in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link
or email where you publish to sandra@schrift.com.
Thank you.
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About
The Author
Sandra
Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and
career coach to emerging and veteran
public speakers who want to
"grow" a profitable speaking
business. I also work with business
professionals and organizations who want
to master their presentations.
To find out
How to Become a Highly Paid Professional
Speaker, go to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/
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