Make Your Words Come Alive in Front of an Audience

"Oh no!" you say as you hang up your phone. Your boss wants you to give a presentation at the next staff meeting. The thought of it gives you a panic attack and it is still 30 days away. How could you tell your boss that you fear public speaking?

You are up for a promotion and admitting that you have a fear of public speaking would just knock you out of the running. No, you had better do the presentation and do it well. After all, your career depends on it …

Have you ever felt like the person described above? Well, you are not alone.

Public speaking is the #1 fear of most people. It can bring the mightiest businessperson to their knees. But it doesn't have to. Speaking well in front of an audience is not a god-given talent.

Speaking well comes from confidence, and confidence comes from practice and good technique.

Speaking is more than just putting words on paper. It is making those words come alive in front of an audience. It is about making a connection with the audience so that they carry home your message. It's about painting visual pictures, telling stories and inviting the audience into your world, so they see, feel and hear your point(s).

A good speaker knows how to combine the words, their voice and their body language into a package that makes an impression on their audience. For when the voice and body language support their words, the ability to connect with their audience is maximized. That's when one can truly make an impact!

Four ways to bring success to your presentations:

• Organize your thoughts before speaking. This will make it easier for your audience to follow and for you to stay on track. Put some time into your topic. Ask yourself: What points do I want/ need to make with my audience? What is my theme? Does it relate to my audience? What do I need to do to bring the audience into my world?
  
• When you speak, fill the room with your energy. Remember, you are not just talking one-on-one. You are talking to a room full of people. Thus, the amount of energy you put out must be big enough to affect the entire audience. Be big! Be big with your voice and with your body. Your audience must see, hear and feel your energy to get your impact.
  
• Facts tell. Stories sell. One of the best ways to connect with your audience is to tell a story. Stories communicate on an emotional level and provide a powerful means get your points across. Storytelling allows your audience to feel your message and identify with it. An audience may not remember all of what you say in your speech, but if you tell a good story, you may have people come up to you years later and say, "Aren't you the one who told the story about ... ," Thus, the power of a story.
  
• Practice---Practice---Practice. Becoming familiar with your material will cause the words to simply roll off your tongue, giving you a polished delivery. The more you are familiar with your material, the better chance you have of eliminating the use of your notes. The less dependent you are on your notes, the better your eye contact.The better your eye contact, the more confident you appear to your audience.

The greater your confidence, the greater the impact on your audience. But the most important thing to remember while preparing for a speech is to be yourself.

Being authentic, or true to yourself, is the basis for being an effective and honest speaker. So often, people take on a different persona when they are up in front of an audience.

The idea is not to change yourself, but to be yourself. Your uniqueness is your power. It is your gift to the audience.

Realize that your look, your voice, your personality are what make you stand out from other speakers. Being yourself draws your audience into your message.

Forget the idea that you have to be like everyone else when you speak. Trust yourself. Know that you are great just the way you are.