How to Prepare your Mind/Body to Give Great Speeches

Sure you have catecholamines ? all speakers do. (including Sir Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.) Those are the chemicals that make you sweat, make your heart beat fast and make your hands shake. Get rid of those chemical and psychological reactions by becoming message-centered and audience-centered, not self-centered.

1 Replace fear and negative noise with positive affirmations. Create new beliefs that nurture you and support you with new ways of thinking. The New Adult You! example: "I am well prepared, and the audience wants me to succeed."

2. Do a quiet meditation, visualization, or exercise before you speak. Breathe deeply. Deep breathing sends a message to your brain that you have nothing to fear. It calms you down.

3 Who cares if you're nervous? Researchers have found that most people report noticing little or no anxiety in a speaker. If you are thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness seldom shows. Prepare 150%.

4.Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk around while you practice. Use the same physical energy you plan to use on the day of your presentation.

The Coach sez. . . practice in front of your mirror .Practice in the car. If you can concentrate while driving, you will be able to pull it from your unconscious when are you in front of the group. Make your points sound spontaneous and conversational.

5. Exercise is an antidote to stress. Arrive early and take a brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or snowing outside, you can still do some body stretches.

6. Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You don't need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit and use attractive colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid too much black and white.

7. For trembling hands, place your hands on the side of your chair, and, count to 10 as you try to lift the seat. This is an isometric exercise that works and nobody will notice you doing it.

8. Don't be perfect. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. No one is perfect in real life. Get the butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation. That's how you convert your stress into speaking power!

9. Reduce your nervousness by taking several deep breaths immediately before you 're introduced. And for you chocoholics, eat some chocolate to relax your vocal chords.

11 If you experience dry mouth, chew your tongue to increase saliva flow. Singers do this. Close your lips and bite down on the entire surface. Always have a glass of tepid (not cold) water nearby.

12 Focus on a friendly face in the audience. Pretend you are having a conversation, rather than giving a speech. Just be yourself.

13 The Coach sez. . .Most of all, enjoy yourself and have fun. SMILE. After all, aren't you glad to be there? The sign of a mature adult is one who does not take himself too seriously.

14 Here is a vocal warm-up exercise used at the Ryal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Say:PaPaPaPa, BaBaBaBa, TaTaTaTa, DaDaDaDa, KaKaKaKa, GaGaGaGa Then do it backwards. (from Robert and Rande Gedaliah)

Get more speaking skills at our "Summer Sizzle" webpage: www.schrift.com/summer_sizzle.htm

©2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved

Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print fre*e of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to sandra@schrift.com. Thank you.

About The Author

Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals and organizations who want to master their presentations.

To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional Speaker, go to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/

Join complimentary bi-weekly Monday Morning Mindfulness ezine http://www.schrift.com/monday.htm

---

Giving Your Audience Great Benefits

What benefit do you provide the audience?People should listen to... Read More

How To Get Paid Every Time You Speak - REALLY!

For many, speaking or training is a full time business.... Read More

What is Public Speaking?

When we talk about public speaking, we usually think about... Read More

How Authors Can Get a Free Promotional Tour

I was a celebrity lecture agent in the college and... Read More

Ten Fatal Flaws Frequently Found from the Podium

1. No clear purpose for the presentation. What is the... Read More

Getting Yourself Known

What are the 5 best ways of getting known in... Read More

To Insure Success in Speaking: Anticipate

We all know that to be a careful driver on... Read More

Are You Talking the Talk?

"More learning occurs through emotion than through intellect" C.S. LewisEven... Read More

The Ten Habits of Highly Effective Speakers

Successful speakers do not do all the right things all... Read More

How to Build Respect with Your Audience: Positive Thinking and Outhouse Eyes

Do you believe in natural laws? Laws like:? What goes... Read More

How to Polish Your Speaking Skills: Its Time for T.I.P.S.

When requested to write an article about public speaking tips,... Read More

Five Tired, Worn Out Speaking Cliches

The subject of public speaking is riddled with tired, worn... Read More

How to Get Started In Public Speaking

Public speaking is among the five most feared activities human... Read More

The Little-Known Speechwriting Secrets That Won George W Bush The US Election

He's been accused of "mangling the language, destroying its meaning... Read More

Five Tips for Overcoming Public Speaking Nerves

Your mouth is dry, heart palpitating, and knees knocking. You... Read More

What Makes A Great Presenter?

Every day millions of people around the world make a... Read More

The Top 5 Public Speaking Questions Answered

There are a number of questions that we consistently get... Read More

Public Speaking Tips: Lessons From Former US President Ronald Reagan

If you want public speaking tips, what are the ten... Read More

Take The Fear Out Of Public Speaking

You're a bright, dynamic executive. You've been scheduled to give... Read More

Overcoming Your Fears of Public Speaking

You're waiting your turn to make a speech, when suddenly... Read More

Fear!

I am terrified of heights. The thought of skydiving, for... Read More

Shortcuts to Eloquence

You have probably had the experience of listening to a... Read More

For Speakers: Ten Tips on How to Increase Your Fees

One of the most important tools speakers use is their... Read More

Get Speaking

On a recent Sunday evening, I watched a friend 'graduate'... Read More

15 Tips For Making A Great Speech

1. Listen to your internal dialog. 2. Visualize a positive... Read More

How to Promote yourself as a Speaker on the Web

Why use the web for promoting your speaking engagements?Most people... Read More

Speech Making - Reasons Why People Dont Listen

Making a speech seems simple. You speak, others listen. However... Read More

A Quick Tip for Delivering a Great Speech

Does speaking in public leave you tongue-tied? Do you stumble... Read More

Be Brief!

Centuries ago great speakers often spoke two hours and more.... Read More

Speaking On Your Feet

Your ability to communicate effectively will account for most of... Read More

How Well Do You Speak?

The ability to speak well can enhance your career, clinch... Read More

Get Real

Humans are born storytellers, but our education system doesn't help... Read More

Ten Tips on Speaking with Authority and Power

No matter how good you are as a presenter, there... Read More