Richard Kaloust

Free Ways To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

By Frank Rolfe

Particularly on the internet, you are besieged with offers of “Free Public Speaking Advice”, “Free Public Speaking Podcasts” and “Free Examples of Persuasive Public Speaking”. These offerings, however, are not really effective tools except to lure you into public speaking seminars with the intention of costing you more money. There really are many free ways to improve your public speaking that are not a con.

The first is to read books on public speaking from your local library. While this may have no impact on your abilities, it will at least get you started on the concepts of eye contact, hand gestures and other essential skills. Many of these books more honor public speaking and speakers than they do teach. They are free though, so don’t complain.

The next is to join your local Toastmasters group. This may be too scary a concept, or too time consuming for you. With executive presentation, and executive presentation skills, there is no substitute for practice in a real environment of crowds and fear.

Another way to develop your presentation skills is to tape yourself and listen to the result. A $20.00 cassette recorder will do just fine. See if you are loud enough, talk to fast, have a nervous twitch, use fillers such as “um” or use a monotone. It’s amazing how different you sound on tape.

Better yet, if you have a video camera, make a video of yourself. You won’t need a public speaking feedback form to fill out, just see what you think. Then try it again and again. Keep recording and critiquing yourself until you like what you see.

The next option is to convert your car into a public speaking workshop. Buy, or get from your library, some CD’s on public speaking and listen to them while in your car on the way to work. Make up your own topics and start practicing speaking while you drive. In the age of speaker phones, passing drivers will just think you are on the phone.

A free activity if you have time, is to read articles about public speaking, readily available on the internet. Often, the articles do not have the hidden sales content that podcasts and the like contain.

 Fear Free Public Speaking

By John J. Lim

The Major problem that most people facing when comes to public speaking is the unnecessary stress created from their fears such as fear of loss, fear of the unknown, fear of embarrassment, fear of losing faces… these are the major causes of all the needless pressures that hinders their performances, be it a toss over the dinner table, business presentation or large scale social events. So how shall you get rid of all these pointless tensions and make a fear free public speaking?

Here are some quick tips for you.

1. Be prepared
Do you remember President Abraham Lincoln and all his famous addresses such as the Gettysburg’s address? His has been honored to be one of the best public speaker in the history and his speech touches thousands and millions of souls even after he’s dead for so many years. He said “If I have 8 hours to chop down a tree, I would spent the first 6 hours sharpen my axe.” This has shown that how important the preparation means. Of course, you would never be him and he’s long gone. One good way to prepare yourself is keep practicing your speech in front of a mirror until you are confident enough to go for the real thing. Remember, practices makes perfect!

2. Be early
Present yourself at least an hour earlier at the venue where you suppose to deliver your speech. This will give you a great opportunity to control the ground, practice your speech and getting along with this “hostile” environment.

3. Be Friendly
Greet, talk and befriend with everyone in the room. This is a sure way to quickly eliminate your anxiety and fears; also you make new friends.

4. Be Funny
Of course, not asking you to try anything funny or talking bad about yourself, but don’t you agree that when you share your bloopers with the audiences, all your fear will be gone immediately? But please don’t overdo it.

5. Be honest
Speak with your heart, you cannot share or deliver something that your heart doesn’t feel. People will pick up your sincerity and will react spontaneously to what you say. This technique not only is the best way to eliminate your fears and anxiety, it is also the best way to deliver your speech effectively!

Richard Kaloust Fear Free Public Speakin