Why Fear Speaking in Public?

This article may be published if the resource box is left intact. It would be appreciated if you would notify me when you do at lynn_b2@yahoo.com. Total words 697.

An excellent way of being recognized as an expert in your field is to speak in public. Unfortunately most people are terrified at the thought of it. They may also be afraid of using improper grammar, or forgetting what they wanted to say.

Some speakers sound like they have something to say, and some sound like they have, to say something. I believe this is the key to overcoming your fear. If you focus on getting your message across it will take your mind off being in front of all those people. Write out what you want to say on a wordprocessor
and check the grammar. Speak it out loud several times. Record it and listen to how you sound.

One of the difficulties of public speaking is learning how to use notes. What works for one may confuse others. Some speakers put the notes on cards they hold in their hand. This works best if you are going to roam with a wireless microphone. Others write it out. If you go over it enough, you can memorize most of it. The main purpose of notes is to remind you what comes next. Sometimes you can write down a word or more for each point you wish to make. Seeing the word will remind you of the rest of it. If you are going to be behind a podium stand, you can print it all out and put it in a notebook. Keep your finger on the paragraph you are on and move it to know where you are. If you forget what is next, you already have your finger on it.

A little fear can be channeled to emotion that will emphasize points. The trick is not to be paralyzed by fear. Take several deep breaths before you start. This will help to calm you down.

I overcame my fear in High School plays. The first time I got up in front of people; I couldn't hear my knees knocking for my teeth chattering. I did, however, manage to say my lines. We presented the play on Friday night for rehearsal, and again on Saturday, but many came each night. After the first night I tried to reason why I was afraid. I thought, "Either I can do this or I can't, and I know I can, so why all the butterflies?" I decided to go out there and do the best I could and not worry about it. I had such a ball that I wanted to be in more plays.

Ask yourself why you are afraid. The usual reason is just panic clouding your mind. Almost everyone can talk. That's all you have to do in public speaking. If you are not a professional speaker, no one expects you to be a great orator. The main thing is to get your message across in a manner that can be understood. Pronounce your words slow enough and loud enough for everyone to understand them. Most people have trouble understanding someone speaking
fast. Take your time. Talk in your normal tone and place emphasis on important things to get your point across. You can make gestures with your hands to emphasize points. Some speakers lean forward slightly for this purpose.

Speak into the microphone so that you can be heard distinctly. Speaking too close will pop your p's and too far will result in not being heard. Different setups may require different distances from the mike. It is best to test it before anyone else arrives.

My Links : Ducane Gas Grill

Interview With Steven Wilson Of Porcupine Tree At The Palace Theatre, Melbourne - Part 2 of 4

Part 2. Speaking with Dwayne and Nobby of Edge Radio 99.3fm (Hobart) on the final day of Porcupine Tree's Australian tour of "The Incident". Steven talks about Aussie fans, life on the road, the concept behind "The Incident", his love of vinyl and the death of Michael Jackson. Part 3 - www.youtube.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP5KHCJLeLk&hl=en

See Also : Reed Bulletin

Successful Public Speaking: Interact With Your Audience

One of the things that public speakers fear the most is losing the attention of the audience. When the audience drifts off into daydreams, it can be difficult to bring them back. How do you keep them from drifting off in the first place?

The key to grabbing and keeping the attention of your attendees is to involve them - to make your presentation interactive. Your purpose may be to market your business, to persuade them to buy your product, to persuade them to save the world. But if you're not involving them, paying attention to their needs and interests, you're going to lose them, and they won't come back.

Here are some pointers for incorporating interaction into your presentation, and keeping the audience focused on your message.

Pointer #1: Start with a question

You may or may not have had the opportunity to gather information on your audience in advance. Whether or not you've researched your attendees, it's always effective to start off with a question or series of questions. Some questions I've asked of past groups include:

"How many people in the room exercise every day? How many people would like to exercise every day?" I made a note of the people who said they exercised every day and came back to them later to have them share how they fit exercise into their lives.

"How many of you have ever felt so angry you wanted to hit someone? How many of you actually did hit someone when you were angry?" This question was used to illustrate the point during a domestic violence presentation that, even though we sometimes may feel angry enough to hit someone, most of us don't.

"On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, how many of you rank your public speaking skills between 10 and 7; how many between 6 and 4; how many between 3 and 1?" This one helps me get an idea of how the audience members perceive themselves as speakers and whether my content should lean toward basic or advanced.

Your question can also be humorous, to start off the seminar with a giggle. The important thing is to get the audience involved from the start. There is also a benefit to you in asking questions; you learn more about your audience, their interests and their needs.

Pointer #2: Use icebreakers and energizers

The purpose of icebreakers is to warm up the group, help them get to know each other and to create a bond and a positive atmosphere within the group. Energizers are to get people moving, thinking and re-energized, especially after lunch!

If you think back to some of the icebreakers you've done at seminars and conferences, you might be rolling your eyes right now. After all, not everyone wants to interact with her or his neighbor, and some icebreakers are intrusive and even embarrassing. The last thing you want to do is to make your audience members feel uncomfortable.

However, icebreakers done well are useful and fun. In addition to helping the audience members get to know each other, it also helps you get to know them. This is a great boost at an event where there is networking scheduled, or where part of the purpose is for the audience members to learn more about each other. Depending on the size of the group and the purpose of the seminar/training/workshop, different icebreakers will be effective.

Easy icebreakers can involve nothing more than one audience member turning to a neighbor and sharing a piece of information. I keep a tin filled with questions on strips of paper to be handed out in smaller groups. Some of the questions: "If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?" "What did you eat for breakfast this morning and who prepared it?" "What is your favorite time of day, and why?" More complicated icebreakers involve games, scavenger hunts, and physical activities like the "human knot" that probably everyone on the planet has had to disentangle at least once!

Here's a site with a great list of icebreaker games and websites.

Pointer #3: Break the audience into pairs or groups

At some point, you may require the audience to do an activity that requires more dialogue. Breaking the larger group into pairs (also called dyads) or small groups allows them to have a private discussion, which then can be shared with the larger group.

Some people are not comfortable talking in a large group. Some people talk more than everyone else, monopolizing the speaker. Breaking into groups encourages your audience to dig deeper into the topic while giving everyone a fair shake at participating.

Pointer #4: Ask for input

This is a great way for you to learn from your audience, and for the audience to learn from each other. Adults have a lifetime of experience and knowledge to share, and in a learning situation, it's especially important for adults to contribute to the learning process. Personal relevance and the ability to apply learning to real-life situations are more important to adults than someone else telling them what's important to know.

Bring a flip chart or overhead projector and ask the audience for their input. Write down their words and use them in your presentation. Make sure to note new ideas or concepts that might fit into a future presentation.

Allowing audience members to share some of their own experiences and expertise makes the process more relevant for them, and creates a richer experience for everyone involved. Incorporate interaction into your talks, and you're unlikely ever again to lose an audience member to daydreams.

Visit : Valentine Gift Ideas Thanksgiving Desserts