Public speaking

This post came out from The Straits Times (22 Feb 2012)
Title - Have no fear

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Say yes!
2. Know your topic and audience
3. Be prepared to answer tough questions
4. Practise aloud
5. Always warm up
6. Give up the idea of perfection
7. Be of service
8. Don't apologise for yourself
9. Remember to breathe
10. Hold microphone in your non-dominant hand
11. Join toastmasters, a speaking association or an acting class
12. Hire a professional coach

On Say yes!

• Offer to speak when opportunities present themselves. Most people fear public speaking and that keeps them from presenting, which leaves a vacuum that you can fill.

On Know your topic and audience

• Doing your homework and thorough research will reduce fear. Most people are very under prepared when they get up to speak.

On Practise aloud

• Planning and practising the opening minutes of your presentation is crucial. The reason is, the beginning of a presentation is when you are the most nervous and your audience is simultaneously the most sceptical. Knowing your introduction well will help you to sail through the scariest part of the presentation. 
• Many people invest time in preparing written content but the written word is very different from the spoken word. Often, the way you write may not be the way you would naturally speak. Speaking out loud will do much to prepare you. As your practise, you will naturally find yourself changing and improving your content.
• Practising aloud will also give you increased confidence because when you present, it won't be the first time that you are doing your presentation. Practise your entire presentation a minimum of three times before you deliver it. If you are short on time, practise your opening and your final call to action as much as possible.

On Always warm up

• Warming up your body and voice right before an important presentation will make you feel more comfortable and will help to relieve nervousness. 

On Give up the idea of perfection

• Many people assume that they must be perfect when they present or perform. Anyone who has been in front of audiences often can tell you that perfection is impossible. Give yourself he space to be human and permission to make mistakes and learn from them one presentation at a time. 

On Be of service

• Focus of being of service to your audience and speaking the language of "what's in it for them". This will take the focus off you and put it onto your audience where your focus belongs.

On Don't apologise for yourself

• Remember, people want you to be good. Don't apologise for yourself. Simply speak from your heart and do your best.

On Remember to breathe

• If you feel nervous, simply focus on inhaling deeply and exhaling long, slow, steady breaths. Focusing on your breathing will calm you.

On Hold a microphone in your non-dominant hand

• If you are given a handheld microphone, hold it in your non-dominant hand. You will feel more confident gesturing with your most powerful hand, which is the hand you normally write with.

On Join toastmasters, a speaking association or an acting class

• Toastmasters' groups, speakers' associations or even an acting class can teach you very important verbal communication skills and provide a supportive environment for you to practise.
• If you don't have these resources available to you, run your presentations by several family members, friends or colleagues you trust for constructive feedback. There is no substitute for practise. It is the only way to mastery. 

On Hire a professional coach

• If you have a very important presentation coming up or if your livelihood or income is connected at all to your communication skills, considering hiring a professional coach. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big