Speaking Tips:

It's Okay to be Nervous

Sooner or later it creeps up on most of us. The public speech. Whether formal or informal, public speaking is one the scariest things we can do. Even with experience, many of us feel nervous when we're asked to stand up and speak in front of others.

But, experienced speakers also know that nervousness helps them make better speeches. Tom Mytruk, a member and Past President of Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters Club says, “Start by recognizing that almost everyone feels nervous before speaking, and you're not alone in wishing you were somewhere else right now. And, you can learn to use that nervous energy to make your speech more exciting.”

Tom offers some practical tips to first-time speakers, “While you're being introduced to the audience, take a deep breath and then let it out slowly. After you stand up, pause for a moment and smile at the audience.”

Start your speech with some memorized material, maybe a sentence or two. “Don't try to memorize the whole speech, though, because you'll worry about trying to remember everything. Instead, use notes made up of keywords that fit on one piece of paper. Make eye contact with people in the audience; you'll find lots of listeners who encourage you through their responses. They want you to succeed, and you will.”

Tom adds, “Public speaking is like many other things we do — hard at first, but the more you do it, the better you get and the more you enjoy it. I still feel nervous before speaking, but it's also a thrilling and satisfying experience once I get started.”

Other Speaking Tips articles from Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters:

Show and Tell, Adult Style

Word Wise

How to Persuade Your Audience

How Should I Speak?

Making Introductions

Members of the non-profit Airdrie Discovery Toastmasters Club help each other learn to speak confidently, introduce other speakers, and more. For more information, visit our home page at: http://www.airdrie-toastmasters.com

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