How to Build Confidence in Your Speech
- 1). Read historical speeches. Individuals such as Cicero were remembered specifically because of their speaking abilities. Reading famous speeches will help you compose better speeches yourself, which in turn will improve your faith in your own work.
- 2). Research your topic well. The more you know about your topic, the more confident you will become in what you have to say about it and the less you will fear misrepresenting it. Online sources are a fine place to start, but you may need to visit a library as well.
- 3). Write out a complete script for your speech. This will increase your knowledge of what you want to say and how you want to say it, which in turn will improve your certainty in actually saying it. However, do not memorize the script and do not use it while actually giving a speech: giving a memorized speech will cause you to panic if you make even a minor mistake. The important thing is to simply know all of what you want to say.
- 4). Practice, practice and practice some more. Give your speech in front of a mirror so you can observe yourself. Give your speech to a group of friends whom you feel comfortable and relaxed around and ask for their feedback. Give your speech in calm situations and in distracting environments so that you will be used to both and ready for whatever you will face.
- 5). Use a video camera to record yourself while you are practicing your speech. In reviewing the tape, look for nervous behaviors that you were not aware that you were doing, such as gripping the podium or playing with a pen. The next time you practice the speech, pay attention to avoiding these behaviors. The more certain you are that you look calm while giving a speech, the calmer you actually will be.
- 6). Scope out the location where you will give your speech before the fateful hour arrives. Not only should you know what the room will be like but also if there are any environmental factors that might affect your presentation, such as nearby railroad tracks or planes flying overhead. You will be unable to expect everything, but the more you are able to expect, the more confident you’ll be.
- 7). Dress for success. Wear clothes that you feel make you look fantastic and professional. Tailored clothes are ideal, as they fit your exact body type and hide flaws while accenting assets. However, avoid clothes that are so painful to wear that they’ll distract you no matter how amazing you look in them. Also, consider the environment where you will be presenting and dress appropriately.
- 8). Close your eyes, take a few deep, calming breaths and imagine a place or past experience in which you felt safe and calm just before giving your speech. Being relaxed will help you give the best speech possible.
- 9). Control your thoughts before giving your speech. Avoid thinking negatively and instead force yourself to imagine that the speech will go flawlessly and that you are the perfect person to give it. Even if you don’t feel that way before doing so, thinking these things will help you feel that they are true.
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