You can be a Superstar at Public Speaking

You can be a Superstar at Public Speaking

Business Speakers

To create real sustainable and meaningful success, you need to enhance your ability to sell your ideas. Expand your sphere of influence and connect with people that can make a difference in your life. To become great in all of these areas, you need to learn the art of presenting.

We all speak in public on a regular basis. This may include offering your ideas in an office meeting, chatting to a friend or interviewing for a new job. As you can see there are numerous situations everyday where we are required to speak in public.

The more effective you are at public speaking, the more effective you will be at life. The more effectively you are able to present and speak in public, the greater will be your income and level of achievement. This is most certainly a skill you must develop if you are determined to become a super achiever.

Public speaking is the no 1 fear described by people. Death comes in at no 2 and drowning at no 5. As crazy as this may sound, most people would rather have their heads pushed under water until they were dead than speak in public. I have illustrated that your level of success is dependant on presentation and public speaking abilities. Do you still think that you would rather die than learn this simple skill? I have not heard of anyone dying from giving a poor presentation.

The fear of public speaking is based on the need for our brain to keep us safe. Predators would always prey on individuals that stood out from the herd, with no way to defend themselves and with no cover to hide behind. Does that not sound very much like someone standing alone in front of a crowd of people, all with their eyes fixed on them?

The fear response that makes public speaking such a traumatic experience is based on our primordial need not to stand out from the herd. It is very unlikely that standing in front of a group of people will result in you being attacked by a lion or a pack of wolves. Does it not seem illogical then to allow our instinctive responses that are totally out of sync with our modern lives? To dictate how we perform one of the most important functions that will promote our future success, namely speaking in public.

Answer the following questions:

1) What is the worst thing that can happen when you are speaking in front of a crowd?
2) When you are sitting watching someone else speak in public, how much do you care about criticizing them?
3) Are you judging every word the speaker utters?
4) Do you wish the speaker is successful when they speak?
5) Do you want the speaker to fail?
6) Do you think other people are just like you when they are sitting in an audience?

People are not there to see the speaker fail; they are not judging them as much as you think. They want to see the speaker deliver a successful speech as much as the speaker wants to succeed. People are not as judgmental as we would like to think.

Should something disastrous happen and your equipment fails or you trip and fall. Think of this as the best opportunity possible, you have the audience’s undivided attention. Anything you say or do will be remembered for ever. The apparent disaster is an opportunity to leave an indelible mark on your audience. This is a great opportunity to do some real good as your presentation will have a more lasting effect on your audience.

Change your focus away from yourself and rather focus on your audience. Move the spotlight off yourself and focus on them and the difference your presentation will make in their lives. Try to really connect with your audience.

Author: Andrew Horton
http://www.andrewhorton.co.za