Since last year we’ve seen a consistent growth in people wanting information about how to overcome their fear of public speaking. Check this graph to see how our list has grown.

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Feeling nervous before giving a prepared speech is natural and can be beneficial. To create a create performance and deliver well you’ll need to get those butterflies under control. Here are some tips to help:

Know your material.

Pick a topic you are interested in. Research the topic so that you know more about it than you can or want to include in your prepared speech. Use of  humor, personal stories and conversational language to tell your story (deliver your speech). This approach will help you to remember your speech.

Practice…

Practice. Practice. Practice!

There really is no substitute for rehearsing out loud with all equipment you plan on using. I personally use and recommend the use of a video camera to record myself and review my performance (in private of course!).

Amend your speech and performance as needed. It’s amazing how you’ll be able to control those, er, erm, filler words;

Practice pausing at relevant points in your speech and PLEASE remember to breathe. When practicing use a timer and allow time for the unexpected. Speeches are usually allowed a minimum, mid and maximum time, like 5 to 7 minutes. For a 5 to 7 minute speech I aim for just over 6 minutes. The lights usually at the back of the room (Green Amber & Red on 5, 6 & 7 minutes really help)

Know your audience

Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.

Know the room

Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone if there is one and any visual aids like flip charts, props and computer presentations.

Relax

Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. (“One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

Visualise yourself giving your speech

Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualise the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.

People want you to succeed

Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.

Don’t apologise

for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.

Concentrate on the message

not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.

Gain experience

Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

Over the past year I’ve been improving my speaking skills through the Competent Communicator manual that Toastmasters provides and with the help of fellow members at our club.

Various members at the club talk about improving listening skills along side the speaking skills. I’ve never really paid that much attention to the listening skills and thought is was just a thing “experienced toastmasters rattled on about”.

How wrong I was.

Just this morning I attended a breakfast networking meeting and listened to a presentation from a local charity. There were three presenters aver the 15 minutes and although the information they gave us was very good to hear, the delivery left much to be desired.

This is where my own “now improved” listening skills have come into their own. The amount of advice I wanted to give these presenters was huge. But what to do without offending them.

I resolved to congratulate them on a great presentation and tell them about my nervousness from a year ago when I started to give public presentations and told them about how I’d overcome my “umms and Ahs” and am now almost free from using those “filler words and sounds” and all due to the excellent guidance I get through Toastmasters and Brighton and Hove Speakers Club members.

So, if you have a fear of public speaking or want to take the step up to the next level of professionalism in your presentation skills, I urge you to come along to our next meeting and see how Toastmasters and Brighton and Hove Speakers Club can help to get you there.

When you join Toastmasters through Brighton and Hove Speakers Club you’ll receive two manuals that lead you through 10 speaking and 10 leadership projects in a caring and supportive environment where you can improve and get advice all at your own pace.

Welcome to 2012 public speaking!

If you’ve been wondering what to do to overcome your fear of public speaking then why not make a new year resolution to make progress in 2012. Of course you’ll need all te help and support you can get and that’s where Brighton and Hove Speakers Club comes in.

As part of Toastmasters International we offer a very supportinve environment for people at all levels of public speaking weather it’s your first time ever in front of a group of people or you’re preparing for an important or critical speech at work or in your social life then we can help you to make your speech better than you ever imagined.

Visiting the club meetings is free no mater how often you come along. We’re always very welcoming to new people visiting the club. Becoming a member works out to around £2 a week.

What are you waiting for? Come along to our next meeting at the Imperial Hotel First Venue Hove.

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month. Check out our home page for the next meeting date.

1. Structure

Your presentation needs a clear introduction which case the audience interested, the middle where you explain your ideas, and the conclusion that summarises the main points you want the audience to remember.

2. Magic threes

When possible tricyclic RDAs analysts in threes. This is because audiences can more easily remember groups of three ideas.

3. Humour

If appropriate, are there any funny stories objects you can include?

4. Personalise

Audiences like to hear about personal experiences and opinions.

5. Speak up

Speak clearly and loudly enough to make sure the people at the back can here.

6. Vocal variety

try to vary your voice so that it’s interesting for audience to listen to. If you’re speaking to speak annual volume, sometimes speaking loudly or softly. Try to pause sometimes to add emphasis to a point.

7. Eye contact

Make eye contact with the audience. People trust speakers more if they make eye contact with them. If you have notes, look up from them so you make eye contact.

8. Body language

Stand firm and don’t fidget. Use gestures and body language to help you get your message across, take care not to overdo it though!

9. Practice! Practice! Practice!

This will help you feel more confident and to give a better presentation.

10. Be yourself! Smile!

A big thank you to Linda Hooper for providing these top ten tips!