Ask Me Help Desk - Public Speaking

Public Speaking

How to develop good public speaking skills?

Hi, Alice123!

You practice doing it. You find any and every opportunity that you can to be in front of people to practice speaking in front of them.

That's one way of doing it. If you're asking about particular situations, preparations or events, it would be helpful to know that

Is there a particular reason as to why you're asking the question, please?

Thanks!

Hello Alice:

Join a group called Toastmasters. Besides learning how to speak, it's fun.

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I do hope that you return to address my response, Alice123! I'm the epitome of the kind of person that had stage fright and fear of public speaking for years. I got over it though. And, I would appreciate the opportunity to share with you how I overcame that fear.

I'm now a leader of groups of people. You could be too.

Please do respond back.

Thanks!

Thanks 4 your reply Clough. I am asking this question because even I have stage fear and I want to overcome it. I want to see myself as a confident person.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice123

Thanx 4 ur reply Clough. I am asking this question because even i have stage fear n i wanna overcome it. I want to see myself as a confident person.

Thanks for the response, Alice123!

I'm hopeful that we might be on at the same time, sometime in the near future. I do have much to share about overcoming that sort of fear.

I'm usually on really late at night here, (U.S. Midwest times).

Thanks!

Thanks again Clough...
I would definitely like you to share those times with me regarding overcoming the fear... I know it would take some time for me to come out of it... but I'll try hard...

Hi again, Alice123!

I'm sorry that we missed each other! I don't know where you're located but I'll most likely be back on here tonight at around 10:30 P.M. my time which is in the Central Time Zone of the United States.

Your post above reads 12:56 A.M. for my time.

Thanks!

Public speaking can be a scary one but I have to say that it's directly connected to yourself esteem.

The way I overcame public speaking issues was to volunteer in an old age residents or retirement home.

They are so grateful for the attention and I was so grateful for their help and their attention.

I began by visiting certain members and playing games with them. Then they taught me a card game that was for 8 people. We did that for a while and while we were getting to know one another I told this tiny group about my daughter and her tall tales she likes to write. She's something of an author. So I asked them if I could read some of her stories to the room. Well, we began doing this often. My daughter felt pride in my sharing her stories and the residence got to be entertained by my slowly growing animation in the way I'd read them.

At first it was awkward. I probably bored them to tears. At least I was smart enough to tell them about my fear of public speaking.

Soon enough I was quite entertaining... I began volunteering at my child's school (another outlet to help w/ my fear and shyness... ) and I began to withstand and thrive there too.

The more I put myself out there the stronger I get.

I currently am working on becoming more open and forthcoming with my opinions. Right now I'm doing fabulous on this site in having the right to my own opinion and saying it OUT LOUD. I've recently started applying this to my real life.

... And it's working out well! It's scary, but I'm still forging onward!

Hi Clough...

I'm sorry for replying late... actually there's no fix time for coming online... I usually come online whenever I am free... mostly in evening and at night...

I'm eager to hear from you your experiences... I hope we could meet online at same time...

Thanks...

Hi, Alice123!

I would love to share with you! But, it's really early in the morning for me and I haven't been to sleep yet! Don't know that I would be making much sense right now, and considering what you need help with, I would like to be alert and fully capable of giving you the best that I can give!

It's been a late Saturday night and I thought that I would just spend some time vegging out here. As I've mentioned somewhat previously, I'm usually on here at about 10:30 P.M. for a few hours at least. That would be Central Time Zone in the U.S.

Thanks!

Hi Clough...

That's great... coincidently we both are online... the time here is 10:51 A.M...
What's the time at your place??

Hi, Alice123!

The time here is 11:26 P.M.

Where are you located, please?

I'm finishing up working with a couple other people and will be right back. Thanks for responding! :)

I am located near India... The time difference is a bit long...

Well you were about to share some tips regarding overcoming the fear... I am eager to hear from u... u can reply anytime as per your schedule and whenever you are comfortable... I would also like to know how to recognize our true strengths and weaknesses and how to overcome them...

Thanks again...

Let's start with overcoming your fear of speaking in public.

How much opportunity do you have to speak in front of others, please?

Thanks!

Not much... only occasionally... that's very less I mean...

I know I know its hard to talk in front of a large amount of people cause you're thinking do they even care or anything but it really doesn't matter cause that's just yourself making up all those thoughts you may think they are having of you.but if that's not why you are scared of talking in public than picture them naked lol no I don't know

Get rid of self-consciousness and you ll overcome your fear of speaking in public. Just say that loud to yourself that you don't care what other people think before a speech. Most of the people that you would give a speech too wouldn't see you for the rest of your life lol so their opinion about you don't matter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice123

Not much...only occasionally...that's very less i mean...

What are some skills and interests that you have? I'm trying to look for ways for you to be able to practice speaking in front of people so that you'll gradually be able to feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by k2boy

get rid of self-consciousness and u ll overcome ur fear of speaking in public. Just say that loud to urself that u dont care what other people think before a speech. Most of the people that you would give a speech too wouldnt see you for the rest of ur life lol so their opinion about u dont matter

Speaking in public, and doing so well, takes practice. Some of the people that a person speaks to might need to be addressed on a daily basis. This could be concerning business or something else. Many times how much ability a person has to be able to speak in public can make a big difference in the types of jobs they might be able to have.

Thanks all...

Actually I am conscious of my image and I want to see myself confident in the eyes of myself as well as others...

I can see a lot many confident people around me but don't know why am I not able to become like them... I have seen the development of so many people in front of me who were shy and had no confidence changing into confident persons... but I feel inferior and no one takes me seriously... everyone treats me like a kid...

I am interested in singing and listening music... it is my hobby... I used to participate in schooldays... but whenever I come on stage and sing... my link breaks and my voice starts shivering... though whenever I'm alone I sing quite confidently...

I also like reading books...

Thanks!

Are there places where you live where people who are old go to live once they can't take care of themselves anymore or where they might just choose to move to because of not wanting to be alone?

No I don't think so... as far as I know there are no such kind of places nearby... n if there are... they would be far away...

We would call those kinds of places nursing, retirement or rest homes.

Are there places where a person can give programs for groups of older people?

I used to practice my public speaking in front of a small group of neighborhood children. They listened quietly and then, when I was finished, would give me instant feedback and excellent suggestions for improvement. They loved doing that for an adult. It made them feel special and important, and it helped me a lot!

Could you do something like that with child relatives or neighbors' children?

ADDED: And children aren't at all shy about telling you the best and the worst of your performance -- "you scratched your head four times" or "you never smiled once" or "you didn't look at me" or "your voice was boring." A few days later, I would do the same speech or reading again to find out from them if I was improving. "Better," they said. "You're getting better." Whew!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

We would call those kinds of places nursing, retirement or rest homes.

Are there places where a person can give programs for groups of older people?

Actually I don't know exactly... but I'll try to find it out...
But my family members are there...

That's an excellent idea about practicing in front of children! That's how I first got over my fear. They, or older persons would be the easiest ones to practice in front of when giving a talk, lecture or speech of some kind.

There might be an opportunity in a school where you could help to lead some children in singing or even show them about what you like to sing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I used to practice my public speaking in front of a small group of neighborhood children. They listened quietly and then, when I was finished, would give me instant feedback and excellent suggestions for improvement. They loved doing that for an adult. It made them feel special and important, and it helped me a lot!

Could you do something like that with child relatives or neighbors' children?

My family members are there...
Could you please suggest what kind of presentations I can give to them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice123

Actually i dont know exactly...but i'll try to find it out...
But my family members are there...

I would imagine that you would have those kinds of places because so many people are living longer now and more of those types of residences are being built.

Singing in a small group in front of people can also be a way of gradually getting over your fear without being all by yourself when first getting out in public and making a presentation.

Do you have any choirs or choruses where you are in which you might be able to participate?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Singing in a small group in front of people can also be a way of gradually getting over your fear without being all by yourself when first getting out in public and making a presentation.

Do you have any choirs or choruses where you are in which you might be able to participate?

Thanks again Clough... n sorry 4 late reply because the internet was disconnected...

I have a few relatives who also sing... but the thing is they all are busy with their lives...
Looking at the present situation all I can do is start practicing in front of my family members... I would like to know what kind of presentations and on which topic can I give in front of them... I mean to start practicing public speaking which topic should I start from, please?

I would suggest starting with a subject that you like and about which you have some considerable knowledge already. What you like to sing and telling about the books that you have read might be good things to talk about in front of people.

I would avoid writing down exactly what you're going to say and just reading it word for word. For awhile, I used to do that. It's okay to have an outline and some notes to go by, though.

Now, I don't need to have anything written down or even to use an outline or notes for when I give a lecture because I know the subject well enough. That is usually in something concerning music or about musical instruments.

If I were to have to give a lecture about something else, I would probably be jotting down some notes and also have an outline. But, I don't have to read word for word anymore from something that I've written because I've gotten so used to speaking in front of people.

It really does just take practice and forcing yourself to do it as far as feeling comfortable and prepared when speaking in front of people.

Thanks so much Clough... for providing such wonderful ideas... I am feeling enthusiastic about this... n I would try my best to implement these ideas in my speaking...