If you are like many, public speaking is your greatest fear or one of your greatest fears. You may have excuses why you can't give public speeches. Anything can be learned.

Public speaking is highly important in both your personal and professional life. Public speaking is a major way to influence others. It is difficult to be a powerful leader without public speaking skills.

Your fear could be making a fool of yourself. This fear will be less if you know the information you have will change lives. Your presentation skills are important; however, if your message is extremely valuable to your audience they will focus more on the content than the delivery.

Qualities Of A Good Public Speaker

Knowledge: If you are a subject matter expert and you know it, your anxiety and fear will be greatly reduced. Take reading seriously and read as much as you possibly can.

Preparation: Work and rework your speech until it is the best possible.

Language: Your choice of words makes a difference.

Message: Make sure your message is tailored to the audience.

Self Confidence: Don't apologize about what you have to say. Some may say that it is OK to say you are not a good public speaker if it reduces some of your anxiety. If you intentionally bring out your weakness, the audience will be more likely to pick up on it. If you say nothing about your inexperience, they may or may not notice.

Enthusiasm: Your enthusiasm about your topic will excite and inspire the audience.

Listening Skills: Maybe your public speech will not have direct feedback from your audience, but often there will be participation from the audience.

This entails a couple different categories of listening skills to includeEmpathetic listeningComprehension listeningCritical listening

Sense of Self: You portray your sense of self to your audience.

Integrity: Your message is not everything. Your character also matters. People will value your message a lot more if they know you live what you preach.

Some Do's And Dont's With Public Speaking

• Don't hide behind the lecture stand.
• Do rehearse. Try to rehearse your speech during normal conversations.
• Don't read a speech word for word unless you have no other choice.
• Do give your speech from notes. This causes your emotions and feelings to shine through. Audiences want to feel emotion and only super skilled speakers can do this with reading a speech word for word.
• Do speak from your heart. If something comes to your mind while you are speaking say it.
• Do extensively edit your speech.
• Do eliminate all redundancies, except the intentional ones.
• Don't give out handouts, unless it is a workbook.
• Do constantly improve your vocabulary.
• Do frequently study grammar.

Public Speaking Articles

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