Do you often make choices before you speak? Who frequently has to bear the effects of fast speech? Whose heart races before you address a crowd? We understand the emotion.
One of the most desired abilities in the world is the ability to talk with impact, but many people still do not realize how crucial this ability is.
Here are 6 key tips to help you boost your confidence
1. Prepare your speech beforehand
Who has time to prepare a speech beforehand, you might be asking. The good news is that you will have many chances to do so. Wherever and anytime, you can practice public speaking, whether you’re driving, staying at home, or simply walking around town. Make sure your rehearsals sound natural from beginning to end by practicing them aloud.
2. Please keep moving even if you make a mistake
The first thing you need to understand is that it’s all right to make mistakes. While speaking in front of an audience, it’s important to carry on because, as long as what you say after making a mistake is valuable, nobody will care much about your earlier mistake!
Speaking in front of an audience can be frightening for many people, including introverts. First of all, keep continuing even if you make a mistake. Having a backup plan for when things go wrong is a good idea (have a friend in the audience who will help or bring your speech on index cards).
3. Face the audience with confidence, even if you’re not feeling confident inside
Even if you don’t feel confident inside, show confidence toward the audience. The more eye contact you make with your viewers or listeners, the more probable it is that they will be able to relate to what you are saying and find common ground.
Smile! People often feel joyful when they watch someone else smiling, especially when it’s captured on camera. And keep in mind that everyone in the room has been waiting patiently for you to speak for up to 10 minutes; as a result, don’t rush through your presentation out of nervousness; take the full 10 minutes, just like any other speaker. – If at all feasible, stand up when speaking in front of a podium so that your voice may be heard more clearly throughout the room without having to rely only on microphones, which can lead to feedback problems.
4. Speak from your heart, rather than reading off of notes or a script
Your mind is looking through the paper as you write, looking for meaning. Speaking creates a direct connection from your mind to the minds of other people. As we read aloud, our brains begin attempting to make sense of the text and frequently become focused on potential outside distractions. This implies that there are fewer external distractions when we attempt public speaking without notes or a script.
5. Tell yourself “I can do this”
Saying to yourself, “I can do this,” is the first step in developing confidence in public speaking for introverts. Before the presentation day, it’s critical that you have confidence in your abilities and self. Throughout your speech, if you begin to have any doubts or concerns about failing, just think back to how you got here: YOU! Nobody else has gone through it as you have; you have put in the effort and are ready for this moment. The only person who is aware of how challenging it was to get to where they are now is themselves. If there is anything an introvert needs while speaking in front of an audience, it’s a little more self-confidence, so tell yourself with conviction, “I am going to kill it!”
6. Keep breathing! It helps calm down nerves
You need to be in the zone before beginning since public speaking is a sort of performance art. Deep breathing is one method for doing this; it will help you relax. Take many calm, deep breaths through your nose for at least 10 seconds each, followed by another 10 seconds of slow, comfortable exhalation via pursed lips or nostrils. Repeat this until you are relaxed enough to talk.
