How to Prepare your Mind/Body to Give Great
Speeches
Sure you have catecholamines - all speakers do. (including
Sir Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.)
Those are the chemicals that make you sweat,
make your heart beat fast and make your hands shake. Get rid
of those chemical and psychological reactions by becoming message-centered
and audience-centered, not self-centered.
1 Replace fear and negative noise with positive affirmations.
Create new beliefs that nurture you and support you with new
ways of thinking. The New Adult You! example: "I am well
prepared, and the audience wants me to succeed."
2. Do a quiet meditation, visualization, or exercise before
you speak. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing sends a message to
your brain that you have nothing to fear. It calms you down.
3 Who cares if you're nervous? Researchers have found that
most people report noticing little or no anxiety in a speaker.
If you are thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness seldom
shows. Prepare 150%.
4.Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk around
while you practice. Use the same physical energy you plan to
use on the day of your presentation.
The Coach sez. . . practice in front of your mirror .Practice
in the car. If you can
concentrate while driving, you will be able to pull it from
your unconscious when are you in front of the group. Make your
points sound spontaneous and conversational.
5. Exercise is an antidote to stress. Arrive early and take
a brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or
snowing outside, you can still do some body stretches.
6. Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You
don't need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit and
use attractive colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid
too much black and white.
7. For trembling hands, place your hands on the side of your
chair, and, count to 10 as you try to lift the seat. This is
an isometric exercise that works and nobody will notice you
doing it.
8. Don't be perfect. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.
No one is perfect in real life. Get the butterflies in your
stomach to fly in formation. That's how you convert your stress
into speaking power!
9. Reduce your nervousness by taking several deep breaths immediately
before you 're introduced. And for you chocoholics, eat some
chocolate to relax your vocal chords.
11 If you experience dry mouth, chew your tongue to increase
saliva flow. Singers do this. Close your lips and bite down
on the entire surface. Always have a glass of tepid (not cold)
water nearby.
12 Focus on a friendly face in the audience. Pretend you are
having a conversation, rather than giving a speech. Just be
yourself.
13 The Coach sez. . .Most of all, enjoy yourself and have fun.
SMILE. After all, aren't you glad to be there? The sign of a
mature adult is one who does not take himself too seriously.
14 Here is a vocal warm-up exercise used at the Ryal Academy
of Dramatic Arts in London. Say:PaPaPaPa, BaBaBaBa, TaTaTaTa,
DaDaDaDa, KaKaKaKa, GaGaGaGa Then do it backwards. (from Robert
and Rande Gedaliah)
About The Author
Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and career coach
to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow"
a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals
and organizations who want to master their presentations.
To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional Speaker,
go to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/
Join complimentary bi-weekly Monday Morning Mindfulness ezine
http://www.schrift.com/monday.htm
