One of the best thing you can do as a newbie in public speaking is to get advice from more seasoned speakers. To get you started, I've asked readers of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook to share their top advice for new speakers or presenters--and I've added links to resources that will help you act on their wisdom. Here's what they advise:- Jennie Poppenger urges new speakers: "Know your audience!" Always good advice--but how do you do that? I've got 5 ways a speaker can find out about your audience, opportunities for you to discover more before you start to speak.
- Jennifer Roberts reminds you to "Practice, Practice, Practice." I couldn't agree more, but sometimes it's tough to find the time to practice your speech or presentation. Try my 5 stealth ways to find time to practice to get over that barrier.
- Anne Balcer wants you to get used to the space where you'll be speaking. She advises, "Get in to where you will be speaking before the event, and pace around where you will stand, claiming the space for yourself. Makes an unbelievable difference in your confidence level!" When you do that, take along my checklist for sussing out your speaker space as a guide.
- Dorie Hightower suggests that you "make eye contact with the audience and smile before you launch into your talk." Try these 5 eye contact tips for speakers to get started, and read Confidence: Fake it until you make it to find out why smiling helps you not only to connect with the audience, but to mask your fears and improve how you feel physically.
- Cherisa Zafft speaks from experience: "Breathe from your diaphragm." Check out how to breathe like a baby (with a link to how the diaphragm works) and learn about how to use breathing to control your stress about speaking in When the speaker needs to catch her breath.
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