It's your first speech course. You comb through the syllabus counting how many speeches are required. Fear shutters through your body as you imagine yourself standing in front of the room, all eyes on you, the instructor ready with her red ink pen ready to scrutinize your presentation.
One important factor to remember is that everyone experiences prespeech symptoms. It's termed nervousness, stress, anxiety, even obsession. But the common denominator is fear, so assure yourself that it's a normal human response to something new. Following some basic prespeech steps can help you feel comfortable and confident in your presentation.
Instructions
1
Choose a topic that you feel confident you know well.
Choose a topic you know something about like a hobby, a favorite recipe or a cause you support.
2
Prepare a script for your presentation.
Prepare a well-organized script for your presentation. Detail the topic's main points with additional subpoints to help you to elaborate further.
3
Direct audience attention toward your visual aid.
Incorporate relevant visual aids for your presentation to help you direct your audience's eyes and attention onto your topic and not on you.
4
Practice your speech with a friend to gain confidence.
Practice your speech presentation with a friend or in the mirror to help you feel more confident about your speech delivery.
5
Prepare everything the day before your presentation, including clothing.
Prepare for your presentation the day before. Pack up all of your materials, visual aids and your speech notes for easy access when leaving your home. Preselect what you are going to wear. Wear clothing that makes you feel and look your best but does not distract your audience's attention.
6
Volunteer to present your speech first.
Volunteer to present your speech first to the class to eliminate a buildup of nervousness while having to sit through your classmates' presentations .