Preparing Mentally for Your First Public Speech
Giving your first speech can be a very intimidating thing to do, but once you get over that initial hump, it only becomes easier.
The first time I gave a speech in my speech class I was extremely nervous, I was standing behind the podium giving a speech about my dog. Something so simple, it was a 2 minute speech and I was so unbelievably nervous. The reason? Not because I didn’t know my content, it was about my dog which I spend a ton of time with, it was because I didn’t have experience and I didn’t have mental strength to not be nervous by giving a speech. I remember my legs visibly shaking behind the podium, and sweat running down my face. But guess what? I made it, and you can too. The next speech I gave, I was pretty much marked down because I went to long, because I was enjoying it so much. It is possible. Trust me, I am a very shy person and socially awkward in some situations (when I have to give a speech!).
Now, I am not saying that in order to give a speech you need to be mentally strong, but your mental part of the equation is the most important part.
You do not necessarily need to psych yourself up to give a speech, but more so relax and enjoy it.
The biggest thing people fear about public speaking is messing up, but guess what, even the best speakers in the world mess up from time to time, recover and be done with it.
When you are preparing mentally for a speech, remember these things and you will feel much better about it:
- I am not the first person to ever give a speech, there is nothing to fear.
- If I mess up, I can fix it, all I have to do is correct myself and move on, no big deal.
- Everyone knows people have fear about public speaking, so it is ok to be nervous, I am no different.
- A lot of people will be speaking today, I don’t have to do anything special, just get up there and talk.
Good luck on your first speech & don’t forget to check out our free report at PublicSpeakingReport.com!
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