Does your heart pounds as strong as mine while giving a speech? When you see all eyes are staring at you and all ears are directed towards your voice? It can make you fumble and overwhelmed at times but this can affect the way you start your speech. The first word that comes out of your mouth will be the anchor that will decide whether the audience will stick to what you say or not? It matters. There are ways to overcome the fear, anxiety, and nervousness to be the point of attention. So let’s get started and find ways that will keep your heart away from your throat; on its right place.
Here is how to give a speech that will be remembered and appreciated.
Be Yourself
While thinking about how to give a speech; the most common mistake that people make is worrying too much about the wrong things. Like what they are wearing. Or whether their hair looks good. Appearance matters, but there are things which matter even more. This is the time to calm yourself down and be yourself. Be the real you. Talk to yourself before talking to others. Clear all your doubts and make a move.
Keep in Mind
These things helps you a great deal as you enjoy being yourself and this also helps you to regain the confidence and wipes away any doubts that you have for yourself. What most speakers mostly do in order for their speech to sound different is to make it complex. This is where they try to impose things on themselves and get lost somewhere in that dungeon of extra doings. The main focus should be on keeping it simple and easily understandable.
How to start a speech: Your first word
You head for a good start because once that is done; your confidence level will increase like energy after a cup of coffee. This is the point where careful considerations are to be made. While giving a speech there are sentences you should not start with.
It’s a pleasure to be here; I am really thankful
This is not going to take long
I was asked few minutes earlier to deliver this speech
I am not prepared still I made an appearance
Things like these turn off the audience as they are not investing their time to hear excuses or the lines which they have been listening from childhood. If the opening statement is not strong enough and you are not focused, people will make their mind that the speech will be boring and you will lose your chance to leave an impact over them. This will also make the entire speech clumsy and as you will not be able to connect to the audience; the confidence level will decline with each passing minute.
Be prepared
There is nothing like being fully prepared in whatever you do. One important step in making yourself confident is to know all about what you are going to say and being sure about it. If you are not fully prepared and lack knowledge on whatever you are going to speak on; will make you nervous and concerned and this will flow to your audience.
While planning your speech, take enough time to prepare the way you should prepare and make sure it comes out naturally. Your words and actions shouldn’t look forced or make-upped. Walk around the area and practice out loud, make expressions. Do not try to memorize your speech word by word, just talk it out as you normally do.
There are few tips that experts share; these are:
You must know what your pitch is. Whether are you speaking high or low. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed easily and panting, take a break and modulate your tone. Try to relax and stand in a comfortable posture. Now start speaking while breathing properly; this will make your tone more pleasant and composed and you will sound more prepaed. This will in turn help you to start your speech with confidence.
The diaphragm training helps clear projection. This makes your voice loud and clear so that the audience can hear you properly. Breathing in and out by keeping the hand on the diaphragm can help a lot. This will prevent your voice sounding exhausted and cramped. You will deliver each word with clarity. This will make the opening statement flawless and you will feel more confident, having a power in your vocal quality. If the opening statement goes well. The rest of the game is yours.
If you know how to start a speech with confidence and power; you can do wonders with your presence. This is an important tool as people get inspired by clarity, wisdom, confidence and all this coming in clear, easy to hear attitude.
By Clinton Loomis
