5 Tips on Being More Confident Speaking in Public
In the business world, most of us face speaking in public sooner or later, no matter how many times we’d wish we didn’t have to. Whether you have to give a presentation or something similar, but you tend to lack the confidence to deliver to a larger audience or speak in a meeting, you face the same issues as millions of people worldwide. If you have never been on stage for industry events, conferences and more, you probably feel the need to face your fears and own the stage as a first-time public speaker.
Dress for Confidence
Confidence boosters are necessary when you speak to a large group of people, especially if it’s your first time doing it. Studies show that your brain will link a certain type of clothing to someone you consider powerful and confident, so you are more likely to adopt those attributes yourself. You can emulate that by picking your favourite outfit or something closer to what a confident public speaker happens to wear. Dressing in your favourite outfit will boost your confidence, and the audience will feel how you walk, talk and interact with them.
Practise, Practise, Practise
You need to keep this in mind — practice improves your skills. The more familiar you are with what you want to present, the more comfortable you will be when you’re giving your presentation. Practice is how you can move across the stage, utilising props if you have any and making it seem effortless. If you practise, you won’t have to worry about fumbling on stage or forgetting what you should talk about. You should do it with friends, coworkers and family and have them give you as much feedback as possible to improve your skills and confidence. That way, you can see what you need to improve and what goals you’re meeting, so look forward to any criticism and do your best to address it. If you don’t have access to an audience of sorts, then you can do the next best thing and stand in front of the mirror. Record yourself as you speak and see how it feels, then try to change what you don’t like about it.
Meditate to Reduce Nervousness
Imagine yourself on stage in a spotlight, facing hundreds of thousands of people, waiting to hear your every word. You will probably feel uneasy, and that’s completely normal. A great way to reduce anxiety is to turn to meditation for help. It may not even be meditation itself, but the practice of yoga or something similar allows you to have a few moments to yourself where you can focus on your breathing. Look inward, let your body and mind relax and prevent the jitters of fear from keeping you from the spotlight. You’ll thank yourself later.
Get Plenty of Sleep
You should make sure you’re well rested the night before you need to speak in public. Nothing will prepare you for your speech as a good night’s sleep would. When you have slept well, you will be more alert, focused, and overall better at everything.
Take Tips From the Experts
You can look for public speaking courses online or in person, giving yourself a chance to expand your skills and confidence. You should be open to looking for advice from experienced public speakers and professionals. You may also draw inspiration from other public speakers, like those on TED talks.
