|
|
|
You see, mostly when we talk to ourselves we keep it as an internal dialogue that nobody else can hear. But whenever we open our mouths and actually make a noise in front of another person were speaking in public hence public speaking. So why do so many people find it so scary? I think its the eyes. All those sets of eyes fixed on you..... BORING into you. Its unsettling. So would it be any easier if your audience was ignoring you and all looking the other way? What if they all dozed off so it WAS as if you were talking to yourself? (Have you ever been a Rotary after-dinner speaker?) Whatever the reason, the fact is that before getting up to speak, even the most seasoned professional will have some butterflies, whether they choose to call the feeling nervousness or excitement doesnt really matter. Rest assured, we all experience it to some degree. If I had one tip to pass on, if I was asked to tell you the most important lesson Ive learnt over the years Ive been presenting, it would have to be to stress the absolute necessity of being totally prepared. Now this may sound obvious and Im sure youve heard this before, possibly many times, and like a lot of important messages it tends to become diluted the more we hear it Oh yes, I knew that, now what else?. And yet, knowing this, some people will be outside in the car park seconds before they have to deliver their sales pitch scribbling it out on the back of a business card. I know, Ive been there. When I talk about being prepared, I mean you should know your talk off by heart. You should be able to give it verbatim, standing on your head, without even having to think about what comes next. Now some of you may be thinking Yes, but I dont work like that. I like to keep the spontaneity or Yes, but I want to tailor my talk to the occasion or Yes, but that would be boring because Id just be on auto pilot. But actually, thats not what happens. In effect, the opposite is true. When you know your talk by rote, it gives you the freedom to change it around, to add, to subtract without losing your direction. Its like driving from A to B. If your route is set from the outset and you know it well, you can safely veer off and browse in a few antique shops and have a pub lunch in a picturesque village off the beaten track and still get back to where you were to complete your journey. But, if youd just set off in the general direction with no main route to which to return, youd soon get lost if you were to be diverted and youd have difficulty picking up that thread again. You see, there are so many things out there that can throw the speaker, and lots of unexpected things can occur when youre dealing with the public. No matter how good you are, you will become distracted, so knowing your material to the nth degree is absolutely crucial. If something happens that needs your attention, youll have to stop and deal with it, but you can return to your talk with barely a glitch and appear calm, collected and hence the ultimate professional. You see we all get nervous. We all stick our feet in our mouths sometimes. We dont ever operate in a hermetically sealed environment, especially when exposed to other humans. But prepare, prepare and over-prepare and not only will you enjoy the confidence of knowing that nothing can phase you because you know your material, but if youre forced off your chosen route for any reason you can return smoothly and appear to be the consummate professional speaker. And after all, if you cant or wont speak about your business, who will? |
加入最爱