Published By: Sougata Dutta

The Art Of Public Speaking : The Ways To Reduce Stage Fear

Be a confident speaker.

Many professions require public speaking. There may be times when you need to give a presentation at a small meeting, update the company as a whole, or give a presentation at a conference or other event. No matter what it is or how difficult it is for you, there are steps you can take to prepare and improve your skills.

1. Understand expectations and details

Gather all information about the venue, technical environment, performance time, dress code, avoidance, type of presentation, etc.By having all of this information in advance, you can prepare a presentation that fits the occasion and resonates with your audience.

This also helps you avoid technical or logistical problems that can cause unnecessary stress. You don't want any surprises when you realise you need to bring a laptop or paperwork.

2. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is just as important as understanding the topic you're going to be talking to them about. Make sure you fully understand the level of knowledge and adjust your presentation accordingly.You don't want to bore them with details they already know or overwhelm them.

3. Plan and structure your speech

Public speaking tips often focus on how you say your words in front of an audience. These things are undoubtedly important, but before we get to that, you need to think about what you're saying.

You may have excellent expression and  presentation skills, but if your words and structure get mixed up, people won't remember what you said.It's 100% easy because when you speak in front of a live audience it's so fleeting that people don't remember what you spoke if you have multiple points and  stay on a tangent rather than a straight path stay around.

4. Be confident

Easy enough to say, but how do you do it? You have to trust that the audience is rooting for you. If you’re nervous, that’s fine. Acknowledge it and focus on something external. Take a moment to breathe deeply to stimulate the vagus nerve, as this will help calm you down. Nicole also suggests distracting yourself before the event to help you maintain peace of mind or burn off some nervous energy.

 5. Do not overload slides

When using slides for presentations, be careful not to overload them with too much text. Think about how you want to be presented. Few of us like an 80-slide presentation where the person  reads everything to us.