How well your presentation goes the next time you step up to a podium depends on several factors.  But one factor you can control completely is your script.  The way you organize your content and how you present the material to that crowd can either totally captivate them and drive them step by step to conclusion or it can bore them to sleep.  Its all in how you construct your presentation and how you present what you want them to know throughout the talk.

The difference between a great talk and a boring one is simple.  A great talk is compelling.  A great talk gets to the heart of a common experience.  It addresses something we all go through and deals with a need we all experience.  In short, a great talk solves a problem.  So to create a presentation that reaches out and grabs your audience and holds them for the entire time of your presentation, you have to create a problem for them.  And then you have to solve it.

The point when you create the problem is in your opening comments.  Now don’t shy away from being a bit melodramatic in your opening.  Remember the goal of the opening is to grab the audience’s group attention and rivet it on your talk.  So present the problem statement in a personal way, how it is meaningful on a personal level to the audience and to you.  A about 20% of the time to the creation of the problem statement.  By the time you have created that big monster in the room, they will be ready for you to guide them toward the solution.

With the audience “in the palm of your hand”, you can move directly into the description of the perfect solution.  The solution phase of your talk can be broken into two parts.  First describe what the perfect solution would look like.  You would not even directly bring up your solution just yet.  Base your description of the perfect solution on the problem statement so you have an aspect of the solution that fits every possible problem created at the first part of your talk.

The next phase is the next to the last and comes about 50% into your time.  Now you have the audience in a perfect place to hear your solution.    Use about 30-40% of your total time on the proposed solution, fitting it perfectly to your discussion of the problem and the outline of what a perfect solution looks like.  By this time the audience is eager to know the solution.  All you are doing now is closing the deal.

If we followed a standard “term paper” approach to a program, the final phase would be to sum up and go over what you just talked about.  Btu we are not going to follow that pattern because this is the time for the “pay off”.  In your closing statements, you finally disclose the action to be taken.  By giving your audience what they can do to take the first step on putting your solution into motion, you are cashing in on all that energy you created in the first 80% of your speech.

Now close the deal by giving them concrete and “right now” things they can do to recognize the problem and start the wheels turning on making the solution a reality.  If its possible make the first step of implementing that solution happen right there in the room with you. That might be signing up for a newsletter, giving you an email address or going to another room for further counseling and discussion.  You know what it is.  But by using that  energy, you convert passive listeners to active participants.  And you did that with a very well designed and a well executive presentation plan.

To say that there is no ego in a person who does public speaking regularly or for a living would be clearly a false statement.  But for those of us who only speak from time to time, when you see a speaker who can walk out in a room of 30 people or a auditorium of 3000 and literally “own the room”, it really is an amazing transformation.  To imagine how  you could ever be that much larger than life is mind boggling.

But in a lot of ways, when you step out to talk to a group of people, you do become larger than life.  That is because you are doing the impossible.  You are having a conversation with dozens of people all at once.  Now, whether you feel like you are having that conversation or not isn’t important.  If your talk is not interactive, you may not know the dialog is happening.  But in the minds of every single individual in that hall, they are interacting with you.  What you are saying is getting down inside of them and they are reacting to it.  But even more than what you are saying, how you are saying it is having an even bigger impact.

So are there things you can do to “become” larger than life?  Well there are some ways of behaving in front of a crowd that differ from daily life.  We do have to accept that you will develop a “stage persona” that is different from your daily personality when you speak to a group.  Does that make you a phony?  No.  Both of those personalities are you.  It is just a different you when you relate to a group than to people one on one and it seems strange because that form of you only comes out on stage.  But it isn’t a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde thing.  Just as you speak to a child differently than you speak to an adult, you will develop a way to talking to a group that differs from speaking to an individual.

Part of becoming larger than life is learning to what they call “own the room”.  This sound egotistic and strange but it really does work when you are about to speak.  Owning the room simply means that when you step out in front of that crowd, they are no longer some random group of people, they are YOUR people.  They are there to listen to you and what you say is of value to them.  If you had any ego problems before you stepped out in front of that audience, check that ego problem at the door.

You must assume that you are adored when you speak to a group of people.  This doesn’t mean you strut about like God’s gift to the world.  But it does mean that you recognize that your value to this group is as a speaker and that your services are wanted and needed here.  In fact, the only way you will be an effective public speaker is if you own the room.  Treat that room like it was your home and these people came here just because being with you is just that great.  If you step out there with that attitude, the audience will buy into your attitude and they will give you the room and be glad you took it over.

It can be a bit strange if you watch yourself become larger than life.  But you can be humble about it and just recognize it is part of the craft of becoming a great public speaker.  And if being good at this art you are gifted to give to the world means owning rooms and becoming bigger for an hour or so, well then why deny the world that experience? Enjoy it and let others enjoy it too.

The very words “public speaking” strike fear in the hearts of many people. It’s a fact that the vast majority of people are afraid of speaking in front of a group. Often this so called fear begins at an early age, perhaps at school where we are often forced to stand in front of a class and give a speech.

For others it is something that simply creeps up on you in adult life where you are suddenly expected to speak to a group but have no idea how to do it.

Public speaking is a wonderful thing to master. Once you can speak confidently in front of people, your whole life changes.
Gaining this confidence however can be a long process, but one that is not impossible.

Public speaking fears can manifest themselves in various situations such as job interviews, employee meetings, wedding speeches and anywhere that requires you to speak in front of more than one or two other people. Often it is the negative thoughts in your head that bring about public speaking woes rather than the act itself.

Some of the most important aspects of public speaking are:

- Body language: Everything counts here from your hands, body, posture, stance, eyes and facial expressions.
- Notes: don’t over use them. Your audience does not want to see you reading a script; rather they want to know what is on your mind. Cue cards are fine, but ensure that you don’t keep your head down for too long.
- Eye contact: aim to look towards the back of the room and even at individual people as much as you can.
- Tone: if your subject can be humorous then use humour. Always know your audience well and speak to them in a way that you know connects with them. Don’t use a monotonous tone; instead inject enthusiasm and passion into your speaking.

The best way to master public speaking is prepare! True, one can not prepare for an on the spot speaking engagement however if you have taken measures of preparing for your speeches in the past then you will not have negative doubtful thoughts in your mind when it comes time to deliver that impromptu talk. Instead, you will recall the last successful speeches you gave and these positive thoughts will flow through to your current speech. This positive flow on effect is how you gain confidence in public speaking.

Public speaking training is the best way to conquer your fear of talking or performing in front of people. This phobia affects an extraordinary number of people worldwide. It is thought that around 75% of Americans suffer from fear of public speaking! That makes it the largest phobia, even greater than the fear of death.

To become a confident public speaker you should undergo some training and practice. This can be done in a professional group with other like minded people. Here no one will laugh at you and everyone is there to support each other. This is an excellent way to increase your confidence in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.

Public speaking training consists of a variety of different exercises and modules. You will first learn how to ease your nerves and how to think positively. Your mental attitude is the only aspect that stops you from being a confident speaker. Once your nerves are calmed and you are in the right frame of mind, your speech will flow. This is what public speaking training will teach you.

A good training course will also show you the best way to prepare your speech. This includes tips on using props, how to use cards effectively as well as gestures and body language. The last thing you want to do when speaking is to read entirely from paper and never lift your head. By mastering the use of cue cards you will learn how to read points and expand upon them in your speech.

Handouts are another great way to enhance your speech. Giving them out at the appropriate time. Let your audience know that you are going to hand out a presentation outline; this saves them taking notes during your speech.

Further learning in a public speaking training course is that which extends to include scenarios such as question and answer sessions at the end of a speech. Often the best public speakers stumble at this point as the questions asked by audience members are unexpected. The best public speakers will not only be great at giving prepared speeches but also at answering impromptu questions from the audience.

Public speaking training is simply the most ideal way to beat your phobia of group speeches. Like anything in life, the more you face your fears, the less you will fear them.

Without a doubt you will come out feeling a lot more confident and ready to tackle that next speech!

Public speaking phobia is highly common all over the world. If you suffer from the fear of public speaking then it’s about time you learned to conquer it!

Here are some public speaking tips that are sure to give you the confidence you need to deliver fantastic speeches that your audience will love.

Plan and Prepare!
Preparation is the key when it comes to conquering your nerves. If you know what you are going to say then all you need to be thinking about is HOW you are going to say it. To be prepared you need to read through your speech many times. You don’t want to be reading straight from cards so make sure you are familiar with it.

Know Your Audience
You absolutely must know as much as you can about your audience. This includes their demographic and interests as well as anything else you can think of that will affect the content and presentation of your speech.

Practice!
Rehearse your speech in front of friends and family. Ask for their opinions and gauge their response. This is a key way to determine if your speech is going to work on a broader scale and how your audience may react.

Crowd Interaction
Interacting with the crowd will actually calm your nerves rather than make you more nervous. Rather than standing there thinking about what the crowd thinks of you, you can make them laugh or ask them questions. This gets them into your speech rather than have them sitting there judging you.

Use Visual Aids and Props
Visual aids can help greatly in diverting attention from yourself. It also garners interest from the crowd as some people are easily bored by a person giving a speech. PowerPoint presentations are a popular aid but use it wisely. Don’t over do the animation, and make sure your presentation is prepared in advance so that you know it off by heart.

Think Positive!
Your thoughts will determine the success of your speech. Tell yourself you are going to be great and you will be great. Focus on the negatives and you will fight a constant battle of fear of failure. Be positive!

They are just a few tips for improving your confidence in public speaking. Remember that you really need to practice on a regular basis. Practice makes perfect is the old saying and in this case it couldn’t be more true!

Public speaking skills come natural to some people whilst others seem to have to work their entire life to gain the confidence to speak in front of a group of people. Whether it be a work meeting or wedding speech, there is no doubt that having good public speaking skills allows others to respect you and often think of you as a highly confident, successful person.

There are several ways to improve your public speaking skills. By utilizing a variety of methods and techniques your confidence will greatly improve.

The first is of course to be prepared for your speech! There is nothing worse than being lost for words so make sure you jot down your main points of conversation and of course revise them many times. You don’t want to be constantly reading from your cards or paper so you’ll need to have a good idea of what you are going to talk about and in what order.

The second way to minimize nervousness is to make eye contact with the audience whilst you are speaking. You may think that this will make you nervous however it’s the best way to gauge your audience. You will often find yourself becoming more relaxed as you see people in the crowd smiling and nodding. This gives you the momentum you need to kick on confidently with your speech.

Use visual aids such as PowerPoint presentations, slides and projectors to divert attention to what you are saying rather than to you yourself. Depending on the nature of your speech (obviously this won’t apply say in a wedding situation), you can often demonstrate your words more clearly with images or diagrams. People will also enjoy this interaction.

Practice your speech in front of various people before the big day. Family and friends will give honest opinions on your format, presentation and the speech itself. Once you iron out the bad points, you’ll only have good points left and this will leave you feeling confident.

It is very common for people to talk rapidly during their speech when nervous. The audience can pick up on this, so you will want to be conscious of your speed. Make use of pauses throughout the speech so you don’t become out of breath and race through the presentation.

Public speaking skills are far from impossible to master. Practice and confidence is all you need to conquer your fear of public speaking.

Fear of public speaking (official called glossophobia) is a highly common occurrence.

It is actually believed that glossophobia is the most common phobia in the world! Many people are actually more scared of public speaking than they are of dying. If only they knew that conquering this fear is not as hard or frightening as one might think.

Even some famous people have admitted to suffering from social phobia or fear of performance. They include Barbara Streisand, Dusty Springfield and Peter Gabriel. These people still put on performances despite their fear, so how do they do it?

Without a doubt they have gone through some sort of public speaking training. This is mandatory if you know you have to speak publicly on a regular basis but are afraid to do so.

Some symptoms of public speaking fear include sweating, shaking and rapid heart beat in the moments, hours or even days leading up to the speech or event. Difficulty in sleeping and loss of appetite are extreme symptoms of glossophobia. Often all thoughts are focused on the speech and this makes a person even more nervous as they are constantly thinking about failure rather than thinking positively about it.

Fear of public speaking can be brought upon by past events in which a traumatic incident occurred, such as someone laughing at a person as they gave a speech or perhaps a speech not going quiet as planned. This sort of event can result in years of self doubt when it comes to giving more speeches.

To conquer your fear of public speaking you must be prepared to tackle it head on. You need to continue speaking publicly as this will give you practice. If you shy away then your confidence will only wane. Practice speaking in front of groups of friends and family. Often this can actually be harder than speaking in front of strangers so if you feel confident here then you are well on your way to beating the fear of public speaking.

There are also special support groups set up for people who want to improve their speaking skills. You can take classes at night or on weekends. You should be confident in knowing that you will have support from your classmates and that you wont be judged.

Being afraid of performing or speaking is not something to be ashamed about. As long as you have realized your fear and begin taking steps to conquer it then you will without a doubt become a much more competent and confident person.