What do you think of the video? Would you like to see Professor Hans Von Puppet in more videos here at IdeaLady.com? Let me know by posting your thoughts in the comments.
Do you have a fear of public speaking? Lots of people, even accomplished speakers, do. But don’t let it stop you from giving a great speech. Here are some tips to help you get past the fear.
Prepare. Know what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. But don’t memorize or read your speech. Focus on the key points.
Get to know the audience. Mingle before your talk and meet a few people. If you already know some of them, that is a bonus.
Don’t open with a joke. As the saying goes, dying is easy, comedy is hard. Unless you are a professional comic, skip the jokes.
Don’t announce that you are nervous. The audience probably won’t notice, so don’t bring it to their attention.
Smile. You will feel more relaxed and confident with a smile on your face.
Talk to friendly faces. Find the people you met earlier and look at a few of them while you speak. Don’t stare, though. Move your gaze around the room.
Too uncomfortable to make eye contact with anyone? Look just above the heads of people in the audience. It will seem that you are making eye contact, even though you are not.
If you make a mistake or forget what comes next, stop and take a deep breath. You know your talk, so pausing for a moment will let you collect your thoughts and get back on track. Don’t keep talking, hoping that your brain catches up with your mouth.
Know how you are going to end. Don’t just stop talking and stand there. Close with a brief message that you want the audience to remember.
Remember that the audience wants your talk to go well, too. They are investing their time and attention and they are on your side. They are rooting for you, and so am I.
I love it. So much good advice in such a short presentation. The puppet’s enthusiasm for his talk was not mentioned, but it was a big part of his message. I have found the more animated I am when speaking the more likely it is that my audience will stay with me.
Margaret Reece recently posted…Anatomy Lab Tests
Thanks for the comment, Margaret. I love the professor, and will have him back here again on other topics. Soon!
Cathy Stucker recently posted…Conquer the Fear of Public Speaking
I love this! I love puppets. It’s great advice, exactly what I’ve been needing this week. I like how condensed it was, with the points written beneath.
Ella Birt recently posted…Stop Beating Yourself Up – Create Your Inner Reality
Glad you liked it, Ella! I wanted the video to be short enough that people would watch it, but still have a lot of good content. Sounds like I got the mix right!
Thanks for your comment!
Cathy Stucker recently posted…Free Newsletter
What a great idea using the puppet. It was very engaging and creative…and memorable. Great job! Looking forward to more content rich ideas and presentations.
You TRULY are full of great “Ideas!”
As an expert who helps professionals speak with ease, I truly felt that this strategy would be very welcomed. People need to remember that our subconscious is 6 times more powerful than our conscious mind….and the idea of a “puppet” presenting to us is less “threatening.” Good job!
Eileen, I love the professor–he gets attention and makes it fun for people to listen.
We need to get him back for another video…I’ll get on that!
Thanks for the comment!
Cathy Stucker recently posted…How Multitasking Destroys Your Productivity