Conquering the Butterfly
The Success Series: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
by Stefan Swanepoel
Introduction
As the butterflies swim wildly in your stomach, your palms begin to sweat and your heart rate soars past 200bpm. In a few minutes you must confront a few, or even hundreds, of staring eyes - whether from the stage, in a business meeting or in a listing presentation. You wonder how could you could have possibly said yes, when your entire body is now saying “No!” Public speaking is widely acknowledged as one of the leading creators of stress, so you’re not alone in your trepidation. Hopefully this 5-Point Plan taken from The Success Series (www.iSucceed.com) can help you conquer this fluttering fear.
1. Prepare
Never be sucked into speaking about something you are not comfortable with. Know your subject. Inquire, research, collect all relevant data, prepare, prepare, and prepare… beforehand that is. Develop your own style. Rehearse. Practice your talk, but never make significant changes just before speaking.
2. Map your Talk
Create a roadmap of your talk. Write a systematic logical sequence from beginning to end. Think of attention grabbers. Think of the key messages you wish to get across to your audience. Start by contributing every fact you can find and then edit ruthlessly.
3. Speak from the Heart
This is your talk. Be sincere and be humble but never begin with an apology. Take ownership of the subject and become passionate about the message. Never read your speech word by word. Talk from the heart, make eye contact and allow voice variations as emotions, commitment, and determination flow through you and your voice.
4. Use Visual Aids
It is said that one picture is worth a thousand words, and so props are used in movies the same way you should in your presentation. Never underestimate the value of being able to show something, whether in actual form or even on the screen by using Powerpoint. Present your condensed message via an easy to understand concept. Allow your Powerpoint outline to serve as talking points.
5. Relax and Connect
You’ve prepared the talk, now it’s time to prepare the speaker. That’s you. Dress comfortably and appropriately. A good night’s rest is always recommended. Get to the venue on time and ease into the surroundings. In the final hour before your talk, relax both physically and mentally.
In Closing
Claudius the Roman Emperor (10BC to 54AD) said: “Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.” So relax! You’re going to float like a butterfly, and your message sting like a bee. The audience is waiting to hear from you, the expert. Educate, entertain, and energize them with your knowledge, charisma and presence.
For more information visit www.isucceed.com.
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Read another article from The Success Series by Stefan Swanepoel:
Conquering the Butterfly - The Art of Public Speaking
The Power of One…More – Appointing an Assistant
Clockstoppers – Managing Time More Effectively
Albert Einstein – Creative Problem Solving
Bridge over Troubled Water – Cross Cultural Communications
Jumpstart your Engine – Improving your Productivity
The Chess Game of Life – Business Planning made Simple
The Buck Stops with You – Effective Delegation
Go The Distance -The Power of Perseverance
To Meet or Not to Meet – Conducting Effective Meetings
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