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TITLE: Eliminating Speaker Jitters
AUTHOR: Sandra Schrift
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[email protected]COPYRIGHT: ©2006 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved
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Eliminating Speaker Jitters
1. Nervousness is fear of failure. Here is the secret of conquering anxiety. Become message-centered and audience-centered, not self-centered. Stop thinking of yourself, and start thinking of your message.
2. If you are thoroughly prepared, your internal nervousness seldom shows. Prepare 150%.
3. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Talk out loud, and walk around while you practice. Use the same physical energy you plan to use on the day of your presentation. Practice in the car. If you can concentrate while driving, you will be able to pull it from your unconscious when are you in front of the group. Make your points sound off-the-cuff and conversational.
4. Practice in front of your mirror. Practice in the car. If you can concentrate while driving you will be able to pull what you need from your unconscious when you are in front of the group. Make your points sound spontaneous and conversational.
5. Exercise is an antidote to stress. Arrive early and take a brisk walk for at least five minutes. If it is raining or snowing outside, you can still do some body stretches.
6. Abstain from caffeine and alcohol before you speak. You don't need more jitters. Always wear your favorite outfit use attractive colors. Women, go simple on the jewelry. Avoid too much black and white.
7. For trembling hands, place your hands on the side of your chair and count to 10 as you try to lift the seat. This is an isometric exercise that works... and nobody will notice you doing it.
8. Don't be perfect - give yourself permission to make mistakes. People are not perfect in real life.
9. Remember, you want to be nervous. It can be a positive reaction. You don't want to eliminate the butterflies in your stomach; you want to get them to fly in formation. When that happens, you will have converted your stress into speaking power!
10. Most of all - enjoy yourself and have fun. SMILE. After all, aren't you glad to be there? The sign of a mature adult is that you are not taking yourself too seriously.
New! Do you want to learn how to give a compelling speech? Would you like to know what sets leaders apart? Are you ready to prepare a speech that hits your audience's hot buttons? Now you can. Buy the audio CD (available as an MP3 download).
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About the Author
Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals and organizations who want to master their presentations.
