Public Speaking

For some people, just the name of this post would make their heart race and their hands get sweaty. For others, including me, public speaking is a nice opportunity for an easy A. However, no matter how you feel, you have to do it. So just take a deep breath, try to calm down, and prepare, prepare, prepare.

As any Boy Scout could tell you, you should always be prepared. Fortunately, you have a lot of different options for how to prepare. If your project is about a book or a specific topic, read the book or research the topic. You'll be a lot less nervous if you don't have to make stuff up on the spot. Next, organize your thoughts. Note cards are usually a good and permitted method that you can use in your speech. Remember to think about your introduction and conclusion, not just the actual content. I usually find an outline most helpful for that, since you can divide it up in advance. If you need to make a visual aid, only put your main points on there so you don't get reprimanded for reading directly off of it. The same should go for your note cards. You can use a little more detail on there, but you shouldn't just read through them. Know your topic well enough that you can elaborate on the ideas you've written.

The next step of preparation is practice. Practice articulating the material, and make sure it fits in any time constraints. Make sure you know the order of your points so you don't accidentally skip around and have to go back. If it makes you feel better, practice it in front of your family or friends. The only way to get more comfortable with public speaking is to do it a lot.

Once you're prepared, you might still be scared. That's understandable but unnecessary. You know what you're going to say and you know how you'll say it, and if you try to stay confident you'll be great. Plant yourself, look your audience in the eyes, and jump right in. Feel fabulous and you'll be fabulous.

~Jamie