If you are trying to be an inspiring leader and effective manager whom others respect and follow, but at the same time you are a poor speaker and unable publicly to present yourself and your ideas in a confident manner, you face a very difficult task. On the other hand, if you speak well in public and have no trouble giving presentations, this will have a positive impact not only on your career and management skills but also on your ability to negotiate and persuade, including away from the workplace. Here are seven tips that will help you become a truly effective and confident speaker.
Step out of your comfort zone
Generally speaking, the more often you step outside your comfort zone and overcome the fear of public speaking, the sooner you will feel better and more confident when giving public presentations.
Practise every speech
According to Brian Tracy, it helps to practise in advance each and every speech you are planning to give. Even if it is only a short monologue prior to a team meeting, try rehearsing it a few times beforehand.
Dress well
The way you dress has a big impact on how confident you feel. If you are about to give an important speech, dress in a way that will make you feel confident.
Empathise with your audience
The basic rule of public speaking is that you should empathise with the audience you are addressing, get on the same wavelength as them and speak their language.
Do not waste time on details
Nobody is interested in details. Do not beat around the bush, speak clearly and straight to the point without boring anybody with an unnecessary amount of detail.
Slow down
Nervous or inexperienced speakers tend to talk quickly. It is as if they want to say as much as possible before they lose the audience's attention. And this is precisely why people pay more attention if the speaker talks in a slow and considered manner.
Pay attention to the melody of your voice
There is little pleasure in listening to a presenter who speaks in a monotonous voice with no variation. Learn to use melody more and thus better convey your thoughts and stress important points.
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