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Quote of the month:
"There are two kinds of speakers: those who are nervous and those who are liars!"
–Mark Twain
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Does your pulse rate skyrocket when you address staff, give a speech or presentation? If so, you are not alone. Even experienced speakers suffer from stage fright. The degree of stage fright varies from person to person, amd from situation to situation. It can range from nominal nervousness to paralyzing panic.
A degree of nervousness is a good thing and is a normal part of presenting. It tells you that what you are going to do is important to you and reminds you to do your best. It gives you the extra rush of energy which can result in a more animated, passionate and powerful delivery.
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Tips:
- Believe in your message – Choose a topic about which you're passionate. Be clear as to the message you wish to impart and how it will benefit people. Having clarity and confidence in your message will make it much easier for you to relax, since you will focus more on the message and its benefits for the audience rather than on yourself. SPEAK FROM THE HEART AND THEY WILL LISTEN.
- Prepare – Put as much time and effort into the delivery of your speech as you do into the writing of your content. Know your material: Practice, Practice, Practice! PRACTICE STANDING UP to ensure that your body language matches your words. Study and fix in your head the outline of your speech's main points and their sequential flow, as opposed to memorizing your speech word for word, which will make you more nervous.
- Memorize – ONLY THE BEGINNING and THE ENDING. This will help you be more confident and secure at the start as that's when you're most nervous and at the conclusion , so you'll be assured of a strong powerful ending.
- Prepare mentally – Visualize the outcome you want: a successful presentation. Remember the power of POSITIVE THINKING.
- Smile – When you smile, you feel happier and it makes you appear more relaxed. Remember you rarely look as nervous on the outside as you feel on the inside. Smiling people appear more confident, comfortable and in control. Smile and the audience will smile with you. Try it....you'll like it!
- "Stage Time" – Darren LaCroix 2001 WCPS states that there is no substitute for standing up and speaking in front of an audience as often as possible. The more you speak, the more comfortable you become, the more effective you become.
- Believe that the audience is fully supportive – The audience is not your enemy. Keep in mind that if it is enjoyable for you, it will be enjoyable for them too, so they want you to be successful.!
- Make eye contact – Making eye contact creates a warm, inviting, friendly conversational format. Remember a speech is a conversation. You communicate verbally but also with your body. If you're fearful of making eye contact, deal with that specific fear right at the start! From the moment you walk up to the front, pause, connect with your eyes, and smile.
- Focus on your body – Before speaking, breathe slow, deep, focused breathing (don't hyper ventilate and pass out!!) Also relax your shoulders, sit straight before you walk to the front and then walk confidently by standing tall, straightening your back, head up and smile. The position of your body can affect the way you feel.
- Remember to HAVE FUN! If you do, so will your audience. Your audience will reflect whichever emotion you're demonstrating. They're your mirror!
The Little Engine That Could said:
I Think I can, I think I can!
In closing, I challenge you to say:
Say: I KNOW I can, I KNOW I can!!
..........AND YOU WILL!!
Please feel free to share this newsletter with others whom you feel may benefit from reading it.
In closing, I would like you to think about which of these tips you have adopted in the past. If you're at the point where you feel these tips for overcoming your fear of speaking are not needed, please feel free to share this newsletter and others with new speakers whom you feel may benefit from reading them.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR HOW THREE WORLD CHAMPIONS OVERCAME THEIR PANIC ON THE PLATFORM TURNING IT INTO POWER ON THE PLATFORM? Click here and check out the CD I co-created with Craig, Ed and Darren: "PANIC TO POWER." You too will be more powerful on the platform after listening to these simple speaking strategies!
I invite you next month, when we examine the letter G for use of GESTURES in speaking, so you can enhance YOUR speaking skills!
kathryn@kathrynmackenzie.com
416.489.6603
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www.kathrynmackenzie.com
© 2007 All rights reserved
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