How to Prepare your Mind/Body to Give Great Speeches
by Sandra Schrift
Published on this site: July 8th, 2004
Sure you have catecholamines - all speakers do. (including Sir
Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.) Those
are the chemicals that make you sweat, make your heart beat fast
and make your hands shake. Get rid of those chemical and psychological
reactions by becoming message-centered and audience-centered, not
self-centered.
- Replace fear and negative noise with positive affirmations.
Create new beliefs that nurture you and support you with
new ways of thinking. The New Adult You! example: "I
am well prepared, and the audience wants me to succeed."
- Do a quiet meditation, visualization, or exercise before
you speak. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing sends a message
to your brain that you have nothing to fear. It calms you
down.
- Who cares if you're nervous? Researchers have found that most
people report noticing little or no anxiety in a speaker. If you
are thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness seldom shows.
Prepare 150%.
- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk around
while you practice. Use the same physical energy you plan to use
on the day of your presentation.
The Coach sez. . . practice in front of your mirror .Practice
in the car. If you can concentrate while driving, you will be
able to pull it from your unconscious when are you in front of
the group. Make your points sound spontaneous and conversational.
- Exercise is an antidote to stress. Arrive early and take a
brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or snowing
outside, you can still do some body stretches.
- Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You don't
need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit and use attractive
colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid too much black
and white.
- For trembling hands, place your hands on the side of your chair,
and, count to 10 as you try to lift the seat. This is an isometric
exercise that works and nobody will notice you doing it.
- Don't be perfect. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.
No one is perfect in real life. Get the butterflies in your stomach
to fly in formation. That's how you convert your stress into speaking
power!
- Reduce your nervousness by taking several deep breaths immediately
before you 're introduced. And for you chocoholics, eat some chocolate
to relax your vocal chords.
- If you experience dry mouth, chew your tongue to increase saliva
flow.
Singers do this. Close your lips and bite down on the entire surface.
Always have a glass of tepid (not cold) water nearby.
- Focus on a friendly face in the audience. Pretend you are having
a conversation, rather than giving a speech. Just be yourself.
- The Coach sez. . .Most of all, enjoy yourself and have fun.
SMILE. After all, aren't you glad to be there? The sign of a mature
adult is one who does not take himself too seriously.
- Here is a vocal warm-up exercise used at the Ryal Academy
of Dramatic Arts in London. Say:PaPaPaPa, BaBaBaBa, TaTaTaTa,
DaDaDaDa, KaKaKaKa, GaGaGaGa Then do it backwards. (from
Robert and Rande Gedaliah).
To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional Speaker, go
to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/
Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career
coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow"
a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals
and organizations who want to master their presentations.
To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional Speaker, go
to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/
Join my free bi-weekly Monday Morning Mindfulness ezine http://www.schrift.com/monday.htm.
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