(This is the second of a 3-part series. Please see my post from 9/6/18 for Part 1.)

Tip 4 – Know the Room

When I first saw this item years ago, I did not give it much thought. After all, how can one room really differ from another?

Man, was I wrong.

Rooms can vary greatly from other rooms. Here are just a few ways:

Lighting: good? bad? how to adjust? do they create heat?

Stage: high? low? number of steps? no steps? no stage?

Lectern: is there one? room for notes? microphone attached?

Microphone: handheld? Lavalier (lapel)? Countryman? headset?

Chairs: theatre style? lecture style?

I could go into more detail, but I hope that is enough information to convince you to do what I have done for years now: GET THERE EARLY! If you are going to give a talk – even if it is in a place with which you are familiar – always get there early. You never know. Sometimes things about the room change over time. You really do not want to be surprised.

Tip 5 – Relax

I know, I know. This is easier said than done. There are books you can read, breathing exercises you can do, and seminars you can attend to teach you how to relax. Those are great, and if you feel they will help you, please do not let me stop you. With that said, let me pass along to you two things that have helped me more than anything else outside of prayer:

– Practice – A LOT (see Tip 2 from Part 1 of this series), and;

– Plan a reward for yourself for sometime soon after your speaking event. It can be something basic and inexpensive (like ice cream), or something more costly (like a trip). When you start to get nervous about your talk, just remember your reward for doing it. It has always helped me to look forward to something that I have planned following a task that could make me nervous.

Tip 6 – Visualize yourself giving your speech

I know this sounds hokey to some of you. I know that because that is exactly what I thought years ago when I first heard about visualizing. It helped me to understand it more when I thought back to a Winter Olympic event I saw many years ago.

I do not recall the athlete’s home country, but I vividly recall seeing this man who was about to compete in a downhill skiing event with his eyes closed – but moving his body. The announcer said that the country’s skiing coach had taught all of his team members to visualize the entire course. What I saw was a man who was seeing himself go down the steep course, while simulating his every body movement to perfection. By doing that multiple times, the athletes were much more relaxed – and more confident – about their performances. The same technique can help you, too.

In my next post (on 9/13/18) I will cover the last four Tips. These ten Tips, worked on consistently, will help you become a much more confident – and better – speaker.

Even if you are just talking to your kids.