Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking is one of the things people dread the most. If we are suffering from fear and anxiety, it can make us feel anxious to stand in front of a large audience because we are afraid of getting embarrassed by saying the wrong thing. Because of this, our fight or flight response becomes activated, making us feel the pressure even more which affects our ability to enjoy the experience. To overcome the fear that comes with public speaking, here are some tried and tested tips:

Be prepared

Research your topic, nail your content and plan your communication appropriately. Think about how you are going to structure your speech. Put together your speech in a sense that flows logically and fluidly. You may get inspiration from other great speakers by watching videos online. Once you have written your speech, practice it aloud until you become comfortable delivering it.

Keep calm and composed – breathe and use pauses

Before your presentation, try breathing exercises to relax. This will slow down your heart rate and steady your blood pressure, helping you deliver your speech in a more relaxed manner. Remember to build pauses into your speech. This gives you time to stop, breathe and think, and you come across as a better communicator too.

Engage with your audience

Try to engage with your audience when speaking. This will make you feel less isolated whilst keeping everyone involved in your speech. Acknowledge their presence the moment you get on stage and keep a conversational tone when talking. Make sure to constantly converse with your audience to get their attention.

Alter your outlook

Thinking positively can go a long way especially if you want to steady your nerves. Instead of thinking about negative thoughts, visualise that your presentation will be successful and that you will be making a positive impact by imparting this information to the audience. By changing your mindset, you can use your energy to your advantage.

Consult a Hypnotherapist

Hypnotherapy can help manage negative subconscious thoughts that can cause irrational fears. It can also change your body’s reactions when you are in front of a crowd, so you will feel more relaxed and at ease. Through this, your confidence and control will be restored and you will be able to improve your public speaking skills.

Hypnotherapy uses the power of positive suggestion to influence a change in our behaviour and the way we respond to our thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is a form of ‘supplementary’ therapy that uses talking therapy and hypnosis to help people make positive change, promote relaxation, and have a better quality of life.

To further help you manage your fear of public speaking, consider incorporating Hypnotherapy into your life. From established actors and musicians to successful Entrepreneurs, Annette Sloly has helped clients perform to the best of their ability using Hypnotherapy. You may read some of her clients’ personal accounts and stories here. Take the first step to meet her in her clinic at Comfort Health in Clifton, Bristol. You may also reach her at hello@annettesloly.com or on 0117 214 0706 to make an appointment.