Cold sweat. Butterflies. Nausea. Maybe even shivers. No, this is not some new disease but rather common symptoms of someone who has to go out in front of an audience to deliver a speech. It can be a frightening situation but if you want to get anywhere in the business world then it's a very important skill you have to learn.
One of the most important things you have to learn is not so much in how to deliver your speech but rather in how you deliver yourself. If you show up calm and confident then you are far more likely to connect with your audience than when you show up all nervous and sweaty. Learning to stay calm is something that does come with experience although it's not something that will disappear completely. Nerves can be a good thing if it prompts you to be your best. If it dis-empowers you however, then it's a real problem and you have to deal with it. Here are 3 great tips to help you stay calm and in control.
1. Visualization
This is quite an old technique and one that still works very well. Scientists now know that mental rehearsal plays an important role in physical results. During the 1980's research into sports psychology and performance lead to some amazing results. In one study it was proven that when an athlete "runs the race" in their mind, their muscles actually respond just like when they were to run the race in real life. By preparing your speech in your mind and "seeing" yourself being confident and fluent you can get a sense of calm and produce an amazing speech.
2. Deep Breathing
We all kind of know that taking a few deep breaths can calm us down but it's much more than a habit. It's a fact. Deep diaphragmatic breathing will help to slow down your heart rate. When you get nervous your breathing gets shallow and your heart starts racing. This shallow breathing will lead to shortness of breath and sweating - which in turn are not just signs of nerves but also the cause of nerves. Before you speak, take 5 minutes to calm your mind, close your eyes and breathe. It will calm you right down and leave you ready to deliver a killer speech.
3. Focus Points
Most people have no problem talking in front of two or three people. Usually when the group gets bigger than that it becomes a problem - especially if the people are strangers or are people whose opinions matter to you. So if the actual amount of people can cause you to get nervous, simply "reduce" the amount of people you talk to. Pick out 3 to 5 people in the audience - preferably spread across the room. Then when you speak, focus your eye contact on these people. Not only will it make you feel more at ease but you will probably connect much better to your audience than when you have your head down.
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