There are many benefits of public speaking and practicing your speech is one of them. It not only helps you perfect your delivery, but it also prepares you for any scenario that may arise. For example, if you accidentally turn on the sound during your speech, you must wait until someone fixes it, or you might have to take a sip of water before continuing. No matter what, great speakers never stop practicing. There are a few things you can do to make the experience a little less nerve-wracking.
Avoiding nervous gestures
Aside from using your hands to support your ideas, avoid displaying inappropriate hand gestures. For example, the Laurel and Hardy gesture is inappropriate because it gives the impression that you are a novice speaker, and the comforter gesture is inappropriate unless you are a girl with long hair. Moreover, gestures are interpreted as an attack by an audience, and you do not want to appear unprepared. The comforter gesture is a psychological reaction to a situation of threat, and it does not give you the best impression.
Another common mistake that most speakers make when speaking in public is crossing their arms. Doing so gives a closed impression, and can give a false impression of superiority. Hands should be held by your sides when speaking in front of a large audience, or at a table. Similarly, cross-eyed people should avoid using their hands for gestures in public speaking. This is one of the biggest mistakes that will ruin your credibility.
To avoid these pitfalls, presenters should use a whole-body approach to ground their speech. This approach will also help them to control their nervous gestures. Speakers who are nervous tend to tense up their bodies and move their hands in floppy motions that mimic penguin flippers. By using the whole-body approach, however, the speaker will be able to move their hands more naturally, while avoiding the unnatural and insincere gestures.
While there are several tips to avoid these hand gestures, one of the most important ones is to maintain your natural style. Gestures show your character and convey your thoughts, so it is crucial to avoid any overly-polished style. Instead, a neutral posture is ideal for stabilizing your movements. It is also important to avoid any unnecessary hand gestures that could make you look nervous. The best way to stay calm and confident is to practice before your speech.
People often pace back and forth when they are nervous, but this is not a good idea. You want to avoid pacing or brisk walking back and forth across the stage. Although some movement is normal, excessive movement will distract your audience from your message. A confident speaker has no fear of being near their audience, so avoid nervous gestures as much as possible. This is important when you are nervous. In addition to pacing, avoid swaying or pacing.
Avoiding overpowering your audience with shouting or speaking too loudly
There are a number of ways to ensure your presentation is as impactful as possible, without overpowering your audience. While you should never shout or speak too loud, you should avoid speaking in a small space. If you do, you risk being heard over the din of the other audience members. Speak slowly, and avoid rushing through your speech. It’s also a good idea to avoid speaking for too long, as you will lose your audience’s attention.