Whether you’re goal is persuading the nation or just a team of engineers, being able to speak to get your point across is the key. And if you want to get customers for your business, speaking to groups is a very effective way.
However, for many of us, public speaking is not easy. In fact, for many, speaking in front of a crowd is downright terrifying. Surveys have shown it’s one of our top fears, for some ranking in front of death as their top fear.
The only way to overcome the fear of public speaking is by preparation and practice.
Here are some resources that can help you overcome your fear of speaking and help you become an effective, persuasive presenter.
Organizations
Toastmasters - Toastmasters clubs exist all over the globe and there’s probably one near you. The clubs provide a friendly, supportive environment for you to overcome your fear of public speaking and get lots of practice. Toastmasters clubs charge dues that run in the $60 – $90 per year range. Find a club near you here.
Dale Carnegie – The Dale Carnegie organization provides training in sales, leadership, and public speaking. They provide professional seminars that can run several thousand dollars, though, so they wouldn’t be my first choice unless you are in a hurry and have the money to purchase the course. However, they are a well known brand and have a great reputation.
Local Universities and Community Colleges – These institutions usually have public speaking courses as part of their regular curriculum if you don’t mind taking a full semester’s course. However, they also sometimes have non-credit courses in speaking or presenting that are much shorter in duration.
Books
The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking – This the classic text on public speaking authored by Dale Carnegie. It is a great place for beginners to start learning about speaking. Experienced speakers can also get some good tips from the book.
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery – This is not a book for beginning speakers, but it is great for those who are looking to make their presentations more dynamic and effective. It discusses how to depart from the standard PowerPoint presentation and create a more compelling one through better slides and storytelling.
Presenting to Win: The Art of Telling Your Story – A great book for beginners and more advance presenters. Either group will find useful information on crafting your message and effectively conveying it to your audience.
Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Green Book of Getting Your Way – Gitomer’s book is focused on persuading others, whether the purpose is to sell or to lead. One of the best ways of persuading a group, Gitomer says, is by giving an effective presentation. He offers numerous tips to prepare for and deliver a speech that will influence an audience. This book is good for those who have some basic speaking experience but are looking to become better persuasive speakers.
The Story Factor – People respond to a good story. This book provides you with the tools to craft a story that will get your message across and keep your audience interested. This book is great for beginning or advanced speakers who are looking to become more effective at developing stories to communicate a message.
Comedy Writing Secrets – Nothing punches up a speech and keeps audiences engaged like humor. This book is great for all levels of speakers who think they are not funny and are not sure how to add humor to their speeches.
Videos
The Standard Deviants – Learn Public Speaking – I own the older VHS version of the Standard Deviants public speaking course and really enjoyed it. I think the group does a terrific job of teaching the basics of putting together and delivering a speech. This is an awesome resource for beginning speakers.
Online Resources
10PublicSpeakingTips videos – A series of short videos offering public speaking tips. Worth a watch. Great for beginning speakers.
Standard Deviants on Public Speaking – The group produces TV shows and DVDs on various subjects. This is a transcript from their TV episode on public speaking. It offers quite a few tips on developing and delivering your speech. This is also great for those new to speaking in front of groups.
Public Speaking Tips – Free public speaking tips from LJL Seminars.
Do you have other resources or tips you find helpful when preparing to give a presentation or that have helped you overcome your fear of public speaking? Please leave a comment to let me know.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Eric Dana Hansen // Apr 18, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Lots of good tips!
There is no real magic cure for the fear of public speaking. So here’s just another tip to throw into your bag of tricks. Use the ones that feel good and build confidence.
In my recently published Christmas novel, the main character, Ian, has to undergo some management training. However, he almost backs out when he discovers that public speaking is part of the deal!
He sticks with it, though and soon learns an interesting technique from one of his internet searches. It’s all about how to mingle and network with people before an event. He tries some of the tips by helping his new friend, Elise, with some administrative functions prior to the speech class. It gives him an opportunity to chat with some of the other class members. He discovers that they have the same fears he does. It makes him feel a lot better. And, in the process of going around the room, he feels kind of like a host. It’s a real confidence builder!
All the best!
Eric Dana Hansen, Author of “IAN, CEO, North Pole”
http://www.ianceonorthpole.com
2 Martin Ng // Apr 23, 2009 at 2:58 am
I have to add that Lions Clubs and Kiwanis are great opportunities for ‘real’ practice, in front of people you don’t know, for FREE!
3 Simon Raybould - presentations trainer // Apr 27, 2009 at 4:32 am
Hi – very useful post indeed.
Maybe I’m biased (obviously, because I’m a presentation skills trainer) but I’m inclined to regard Toastmasters more as somewhere to practice, rather than somewhere to learn.
It’s great to get up there and do your thing, so to speak, but sometimes the feedback I’ve heard when I’ve guested at various TM groups has been bland and/or downright wrong (eg: drinking cold water in the middle of a presentation).
I’m not saying they’re not a great organisation, just that they’re part of a package, not a silver bullet…. but like I said, I’m biased! :)
S
4 dman // Apr 27, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Simon,
Thanks for the comment. I partially agree with you. The feedback can be useless or trite sometimes, some of the speaking techniques taught may be out of date, and it is definitely not a silver bullet. However, that being said, Toastmasters does teach the fundamentals of developing and organizing a speech. Plus, members get to learn by watching different levels of speakers week after week, getting some tips from each as to what works and what doesn’t. And, most importantly, it provides opportunities for members to get up in front of an audience to speak. Since public speaking is a huge fear of many people, there is nothing like getting started in front of a supportive audience to deal with that fear. When I started in Toastmasters I was terrified of speaking in front of groups. And now, while I’ll probably never be completely comfortable, at least when I give a speech I don’t feel like I’m going to die.
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