Public speech is the act of performing the speaking to the live audience. This kind of language is intentionally structured with three broad intentions: To communicate, to persuade and to hold. Public speech will be regulated by various rules and structures. For instance, lectures about conceptions do not necessarily have to be structured in any particular manner. Nevertheless, there is a method behind making it effective. For this kind of language, it would be better to distinguish the idea with lessons that may relate to the audience’s experience
There are different types of public speaking.
- Speaking to inform
- Speaking to act, arguments, motivate
- Speaking to entertain.
What are the problems faced by speakers?
Even though many do give speeches or presentations for school or work, they may still face problems to stand in front of others and talk. Some speakers may become so full of thoughts that they might not know where to stop or what to say, they don’t know how to keep the audience interest and how to calm themself. Many of the anxiety related problems can be solved if you focus on overcoming the problems rather than focusing on the problem. Here are some of the common problems faced by the speakers.
1) Lack of Confidence
The most important thing in public speaking is confidence. If you aren’t confident, you will estrange the audience. Being nervous is problematic because when we become nervous we sound negative and slow, and the listeners will be more focused on the negative vocals.
2) Lack of Attention
Your presentation will be unsuccessful if you do not know your audience. Knowing your audience is pretty much also important to make your public speaking a successful one. Researching their ages, values, culture is important in shaping your speech’s tone and content. Failing to relate the material to the audience and to read their expression can affect you negatively, interrupting your speech and your morale will be down.
3) Lack of Preparedness
One of the most important things in public speaking is to practice before speaking. Most speakers fail because they don’t practice their speech properly before delivering them. The listeners may feel your lack of confidence in your speech when you are not confident enough thus inviting a disaster.
4) Panic Attacks
This is believed worse than anxiety. Studies have found out that 15‐35% of people face panic attacks before the speech. This may lead to shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. This may also tear down your confidence. This is very common in public speakers and makes the speaker look as if he is under great stress.
5) Post Traumatic Stress
This problem happens when you have an experience in public speaking when it went terrible for some small reasons. So, whenever you think of public speaking or currently doing it. Those experiences may haunt you, you will keep going back to that moment where it was traumatic for you. Later on, this will create stress on your brain distracting you from your speech and you will end up messing everything.
6) Using too many filler words
It is very much common that most people use filler phrases such as “like”, “you know”, “so that” both on and off the stage. It’s fine until it becomes a problem when the start getting noticeably overused. They can make you come across as less intelligent or less experienced.
7) Speaking too fast or slow
Many times we do get nervous and try to cover up a large thing in a short period. To do so we start speeding through our speech, racing through to complete our speech. The speedy racers confuse and exhaust the audience limiting the amount of information absorbed by the audience. At the same time speaking too slow or at monotonous speed can bore the audience making them lose interest in your speech.
How to Prevail over the fear of Public Speaking?
To become good in public speaking the most important thing is to practice. The more you practice the better you become.
Here are some of the steps that may help you to get better at public speaking
- Get organized – The more you are organized the less you be in complications. The less you be in complications little you will be nervous. Carefully plan out the information before the speech. If possible visit the place of speech before and review the equipment before your presentation.
- Practice, and then practice more – Practice your presentations many times. Do it in front of your friends or in front of anyone with whom you are comfortable with and ask for their reviews. Make a video of your presentation so that you can watch the video to correct yourself.
- Know your topic – You become more confident when you know about your topic. The more you care about the topic lesser you will make mistakes or get off track. And if you do get lost you will recover quickly.
- Maintain an even speed – Don’t rush while giving a speech to cover more information or don’t go too slow just to cover up the time limit. You may change your expressions or tone but don’t change your speed.
- Be calm – Being calm before your presentation is also very important. Don’t get over‐excited because you have prepared well or don’t get low thinking about the negative part. Always be positive.
