5 Ways To Prepare Yourself Before Giving a Big Speech
Public speaking is often among people’s top-ranked fears. It makes sense, because giving a speech is public, making you feel vulnerable and at the mercy of being judged. Even professional public speakers still get butterflies before giving big speeches.
Whether you’re a salesperson looking to “up your game,” speaking at your best friend’s wedding, or giving a career career-changing presentation, preparation is key to feeling and being successful. You don’t have to be an incredible public speaker to give a great speech. You just have to put in the time and energy to do your best. Here are five ways you can prepare yourself for giving a big speech.
Hire a secret weapon for a great speech
Are you feeling nervous, because you’ll be the focal point while you speak? Are you concerned about remembering all the points of your speech? If you have a great visual aid for your big speech, everyone will be looking at the physical presentation instead of looking at you. Having a physical representation of what you’re talking about gives your words shape and helps you remember the through-line of what you want to say without needing notecards.
A presentation designer can help you create a presentation that’s truly persuasive. If you’re not an expert on making presentations, collaborate with someone who is. If you work with a company like Stinson Design, their team will be able to take your presentation to the next level. It might just help you close that sale or truly inspire the change you want to see.
Give yourself some peace of mind
Giving a speech can be very stressful. You need to set yourself up for success. If you think your anxiety might get the best of you, consider handling it with alternative methods.
Intoxicated groomsmen and maids of honor have given a lot of bad speeches, so you need to have your wits about you. Similarly, if you’re giving a presentation for your job, you can’t be under the influence of something that will break company policy or even just the law in general. In that case, turn to something more holistic that won’t have any psychoactive effects, won’t break the law, and should give you some relief from your nervous jitters.
Before stepping up to the microphone, take time to prepare your mind by smoking part of a hemp CBD flower. If you’ve never explored CBD, it’s important to turn to an expert company, like Plain Jane. They’ll be able to point you to the product that will work best for your situation since they’re an authority on all things CBD.
A little pep talk can go a long way
When preparing for your speech, it’s important to remember that your audience wants you to succeed. Don’t get in your own head. In the day, weeks, or moments leading up to your speech, practice positive self-talk. If you keep repeating to yourself that you’re going to fail, even if your speech is great, you’ll feel like a failure. Be kind to yourself. Put a positive foot forward. Your audience will be able to read your mood.
Practice like you want to play
The performative aspect of giving a speech is very important to practice. Make sure how you hear it in your head is actually how it’s going to come out of your mouth. Is there a part that’s a bit of a tongue twister? Practice it several times until it feels less challenging. Practice giving your speech to someone you trust out loud. They’ll be able to help you find where to pause for emphasis and hold for laughter.
Stretch it out
Don’t stretch out your speech. That might make your audience antsy. Rather, do some physical stretches before getting on the podium. Find a private space to loosen up. If your body is stiff, your speech will be as well. Stretching will also help you relax. When your body is feeling more focused, your mind will follow suit.