Strategies for Public Speakers

Whether you are preparing for a poetry reading class, a project presentation in front of your colleagues, or making that speech for your best friend's wedding, public speaking may be an inescapable part of your everyday life.

You may find yourself panicking right before your speech starts. No matter how prepared you are, you sometimes feel that hyperactive butterflies inside your stomach. Increased heartbeat, sweaty palms, dry throat and the list goes on...

Here are some strategies for public speaking:

1. Know your audience and tailor fit your speech according to your audience. Make sure that your points are relevant and that your comments are relevant to the group you're speaking to. For example, if you are speaking to a group of teenagers, tailor your comments to items like driving your first car or being at school – rather than references to social security or what it's like to have your children leave home for the first time.

2. Don't Be Late! By arriving earlier than the set schedule you will have ample time to familiarise yourself with your audience as well as the venue. And by checking the venue, you will avoid experiencing technical difficulties while you make that big speech.

3. Don't Eat Before Performing. If you tend to get nausea or butterflies in your stomach, then it is best to not have anything in there to begin with. Avoid food for at least two hours before performing.