¡ã10Tips for Succesful Public Speaking¡ä
¡ÊTOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL¡Ë

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial. But too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

­¡Know your material.
Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use personal stories and conversational language ? that way you won¡Çt easily forget what to say.

­¢Practice. Practice. Practice!
Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary.

­£Know the audience.
Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It¡Çs easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.

­¤Know the room.
Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.

­¥Relax.
Ease tension by doing exercises. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

­¦Visualize yourself giving your speech.
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping ? it will boost your confidence.

­§Realize that people want you to succeed.
Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They don¡Çt want you to fail.

­¨Don¡Çt apologize
for any nervousness or problem ? the audience probably never noticed it.

­©Concentrate on the message ? not the medium.
Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.

­ªGain experience.
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.