(Or read: 3 Audience Tips For Advanced Speakers )
If you are new to public speaking, fear is understandably a major concern. These tips will help you feel more at ease in front of an audience.
Tip #1: The Audience is on Your Side
The worst speaking experience of my life occurred when I was 14 years old. I was next to speak at the Optimist Club’s speech contest in Rochester, NY. I was petrified. I didn’t know whether I could actually get through the speech. As I wobbled out to my speaking position, I spotted a tall man in the second row, as relaxed as he could be. He leaned back with a clipboard propped up on his knee – and smiled.
It was at that moment that I realized the audience wasn’t out to get me. Today I know that I was creating most of the tension I was feeling. Today I always remind myself that the audience is on my side. Think about it: no one walks into an auditorium and says to their friend: “I hope this speaker stinks!” Even if we suspect we might disagree with the speaker, as audience members who are giving of their valuable time, we always want the speaker to succeed – to entertain, to inform, to provoke.
Your audience is looking for reasons to like you. Relax, and give them what they want!
Tip #2: Know Your Material Cold – and then Relax
People seeking better presentation skills often ask, “Why am I so nervous when I get up to speak?” There’s no mystery – the usual culprit is too little practice.
Imagine someone getting ready for a different type of performance – a musician or an athlete. They have practiced a lot and wouldn’t dream of scheduling a performance unless they were thoroughly prepared. So ask yourself, as a speaking performer, have you practiced enough?
When you know your material well, you can relax and focus on the other components of pubic speaking. You have to know your speech before you can work on your delivery.
Tip #3: Ninety-five percent of Your Nervousness is NOT Noticed by the Audience
As a 14-year-old giving my speech at the Optimist Club, I was so nervous during the speech that I could feel myself getting overheated. I was sure my face was beet red. My classmate Dick Marone actually won the contest; he did a great job. I congratulated him and he returned a compliment. I told him that I was embarrassed because my face was so red. Dick said, “Andy, your face looked normal during your speech.” He swore he couldn’t detect my overheated state.
Most speakers assume the audience can detect their nervousness. However, the audience does NOT notice ninety-five percent of the nervousness you feel. By keeping that fact in mind, you can pass over the minor flaws in your speech and move on.
Each of us has an internal dialogue – that little voice that’s always evaluating and criticizing. If you forget what you planned to say, or mess up, the best option is to be silent until you are ready to generate the next part of the speech. Do NOT explain what happened. (“I knew this part cold last night,” or “I forget and then I freeze”). Nobody really cares about why you lost your place. Recover in silence – and then move on with your speech.