I've had to do a little bit of public speaking in my career. Every time I felt kind of like a clown. I found this video that has helped me out a bit. Check it out and tell me if it helps any of you.

http://www.howvids.com/Business-Fina...c_Speaking.ad2

This is a great video. Check out this video for additional tips on public speaking!

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Hi Tom. Like you I train people in making presentations and so on, but in the UK. Things appear to be very different on this side of the Atlantic! Can I ask if you've found the video useful/worthwhile/leading to lots of interest?

S

hey,

just performe a yahoo search and it will give a vast of video concening the subject-matter.

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Indeed.

One of which should be mine!

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omega,

You said:
One of the more useful phrases I've heard is, "Inch by inch is a cinch: yard by yard is hard." Many times when doing public speaking we take the "yard by yard" approach, putting ourselves under last minute pressure, doing last minute changes, and expecting to be able to get up and "wing it" successfully. It doesn't work.

Instead, use the "inch by inch" method. Every day, for 5 minutes a day, read over your speech or your notes. If you have a little more time, video yourself (using a laptop or desktop built-in computer camera) and then review the video. Take a note of what works and what doesn't. Do this every day. After a few weeks, you know your subject, and are ready for the "big speech" day.

You will still get nervous, but that nervous will soon become excited confidence as you know you know what you are talking about!

Inching,

Tim

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I think this is a point where the experts are going to be unhelpful and disagree with each other!

We use video feedback in our training, but only very, very carefully with a specially trained trainer/tech - doing it yourself sometimes leads to you changing your performance for the camera. (Personally I find that almost inevitable.) What's more, you develop a speaking style suited a a laptop camera/mic which isn't going to help, automatically, in the 'real world' (whatever that is!).

S

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I exactly know how you feel...

I used to go through the same agonny myself - except worse... Besides feeling my knees giving up under me at any moment, stomach cramp, etc. and feeling like my heart beats so fast that people can probably see it; after about two to three minutes my voice would start shaking and my tears flowing...

Today I'm a professional speaker.

What happened in between? I took a public speaking class (in college) which I thought I'd die in. In four months I had to give four speeches and each one was pure agony. Each time I'd be nearing the point to break down and cry, I'd take a deep breath, pretend that I was thinking... and I faked that I was alright and moved on (while inside I was a disaster, often on the verge of peeing on myself - literally)

You see, when I was a little kid, I got into street fights daily; and soon I learned that not the one who is stronger will always win, but the one who comes accross as more brave; which often translated to "who can fake more braveness". So I adopted the same to my public speaking...

But the real breakthrough came when I decided to take the same class again. Yes, call me crazy, but I did... and when I went into my first class and I saw everyone soooo scared, I felt like a pro, and right from my first speech I was humorous and confident... then I went on and took all the advanced public speaking courses too, including Poetry (which I was never a fan of in the past).

Then I joined Toastmasters. Toastmasters is a great place to practice your public speaking- even for school projects. It is a group a people just like you, who meet for the sole purpose of practicing their public speaking skills. You can find a local Toastmasters group by going to Toastmasters International - Home and locate a local group (it's a non-profit organization).

Public speaking skills are one of the most important skills that you'll need throughout your life (unless you want to work in a factory behind a machine, but even then you'll have to speak in public once in a while), so I highly recomend you PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE as much as possible. Take as many public speaking classes and courses as possible and do join Toastmasters - it's one of the most effective ways to get better at speaking in front of a crowd.

I hope this helps

Trust me - I know what you are going through, but there is a way out of it...

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E.G. Sebastian
Author, Speaker, Leadership Development Coach
www.PaidSpeaker.TV
www.egSebastian.com
www.PaidSpeaker101.com

Hi E.G. What are you doing up so early on a Sunday morning?
Do you have a video of yourself speaking. I would love to see it.
Aloha, Bob

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I'm camping with my kids... and they keep turning around... and snorring... and... the highway is closeby and the trucks are really loud... I've been up and working since 3:00 am.

I have a few recordings of myself, but I keep procrastinating on posting them online...

I'll dig a bit in my recordings and post something of me speaking live soon (this week).

till later,

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E.G. Sebastian
Author, Speaker, Leadership Development Coach
www.PaidSpeaker.TV
www.egSebastian.com
www.PaidSpeaker101.com