Public speaking can be a scary experience. It comes naturally to some people and some it doesn't. I'm offering to share little tidbits that may be of help to you when you have the next big speech. You'll gain self confidence and the respect of the audience.

Let's start with the basics. It's important for everyone to remember that some people are naturally born with the gift of gab and some aren't. You may be surprised to know that a lot of public speakers are uncomfortable speaking in a natural setting. Some people can speak to a large group of people and have a hard time talking with a complete stranger in a one on one conversation. If you're someone who can speak to a complete stranger but not a crowd, you know how troubling it can be if the roles were reversed.

When talking to a crowd of three or more, remember not to have anything in your mouth. That includes chewing gum, stuff on teeth, and anything else you might think of. It will act as a distraction and it may stifle what you have to say. You want people to hear what you have to say right? Of course you do.

Some people find it easing to stand behind a podium to speak. There's nothing wrong with that. Most men prefer that, in case a zipper may be faulty or something. Using a podium can also act as a stand for you to place things on. I recommend using a podium if you think it will help you speak better. It also works as a barrier between you and your audience.

You can speak with your hands. It will help get your points across too. You don't want to over do it of course, but if you do it moderately it will help you. Some speakers find it helpful to hold a pen in one of their hands. The pen will act as a stress killer. If you're feeling tense, you can squeeze the pen. No one will notice you doing so either.

It would be wise to have water close by. If you feel that you're getting choked up, take a sip of water. Ice cold water will restrict the vocal passage, so it would be better if you had the water at room temperature.

Don't worry about stumbling over words. Just talk about things you know and look at your notes. Try to make random eye contact with whomever your speaking to. Also, try not to focus on one person for the eye contact. It might make the person uncomfortable and you wouldn't want that. Ask the group questions, get interactive with the audience. People love that. No one likes to just sit there and listen to someone talk for a long time. You'll want to get the crowd to interact.

The worst thing you can do is rehearse the speech over in your head. If you get off track, you'll start to panic. Just float with it and you'll do fine. Smiling doesn't hurt but it's a bad idea to do it the whole time. Your audience will know public speaking isn't easy and you'll have their respect. You'll gain self confidence and that's the important thing.

Jeffery S. Miller
http://www.freewebs.com/jefferysmiller