A lot of people will you that they have a fear of speaking in front of large crowds, and most people who are not afraid of speaking in front of large crowds are people who have done so quite a number of times and are now experienced enough to not get the jitters or just do not let that hold them back. In this article we want to show you how you can get to that confident space were you deliver you speech with charm and eloquence.

#1. Practice Beforehand

Practice, Practice Practice. Since a speech is not necessarily interactive only you can mess it up. This means you have to take up chances to make a speech or presentation, whenever they come by.

#2. Work the Room

Keep eye contact with as much people as you can but if you find this distracting or difficult then keep eye contact with someone from all sides of the audience in front of you.

#3. Prepare with Relaxation Techniques

Prepare for you speech with any technique that relaxes you and focuses your mind. Due to the range of activities that relax people this could be anything from mediation to listening to music.

#4. Do not Read Your Speech

Reading your speech not only makes you seem unprepared and selfish, it also makes it seem as if you are not sincere with what it is you have to say. The ideal delivery technique requires you to connect with your audience at all times through eye contact, evident passion and spontaneity that makes you seem more genuine.

#5. Stand up Straight

Poise. Stand up straight, this not only looks better but it also forces you to do other things you should do correctly such as keep eye contact, adopt a confident posture, not use hand gestures that are distracting etc etc.

#6. Keep it Simple

Have one theme to focus on and three stories that explain the point you want to make with that theme and that’s it. Short, impactful, funny, wise is what we are going for here. Did I say short?

#7. Keep it Short

Yes I did, how short is short? As short as you can get away with, reasonably without seeming like you have other reasons why you cannot deliver a ten min speech.

#8. Speak Up!

Your voice must fill the room. One technique that can be used apparently is to breath out into the end of the room and imagine your voice reaching there. When you speak, you make sure you are heard. A speech is nothing more than your time to be heard. Make the most of it.

#9. Use Body Language that Makes you Appear Confident

Stand with authority! back straight, chest out, hands firmly on the side of the lectern. No slouching of shoulders.

#10. Slow Down

Do not talk too fast, and be conversational. Not talking too fast gives you time to make additional comments and spontaneous additions to what you have planned that makes you seem more confident and polished.