Abraham Lincoln dreaded speaking to an audience. Mahatma Gandhi once got 10 words into a speech and had to get an aide to finish it for him. Despite a fear of public speaking, they managed to deliver speeches that changed the world.
Have you ever found yourself giving a speech and being at a loss for words? That moment when everything becomes quiet; your palms get sweaty and your legs start shaking.
One way to overcome the fear of public speaking is by developing improvisation skills. Improvisation, or improv, is the ability to deliver a speech by thinking of what you will say as you say it and not preparing it beforehand. Below are a few tips, tricks and exercises to help build your improv skills and make yourself a better public speaker.
Get warmed up.
Just as you wouldn’t run a marathon without warming up, you shouldn’t head into your next speech without physical preparation. When presenting a speech, you will use your voice for longer and with greater intensity than usual. Taking a few minutes to prepare will make you feel more comfortable and reduce the likelihood of straining your voice. Get warmed up through facial exercises such as Lemon-Face/Lion-Face or taking very loud, obnoxious yawns before your speech. The exaggerated actions will warm up the muscles in your face and throat, as well as make you giggle, which can help alleviate any lingering nerves.
Embrace positivity.
One of the central tenets of improvisation is “Yes, and…” This concept means we approach any new situation with a willingness to accept it and contribute positively. Accepting new situations with a positive outlook helps you engage more fully with your audience when delivering a speech. With the “Yes, and…” mind frame, you will start to see questions from the audience not as a critique of the presentation you have just delivered, but as an opportunity to explore the subject further and share knowledge. You can practice your “Yes, and…” abilities with your classmates. Together, select a random topic for discussion. Each person is allowed to say one to two sentences. The next person to speak must build off their comments by saying “yes, and,” then adding to the story line. You will be amazed at how crazy your conversation can become.
Demonstrate your passion.
Another rule of improvisation is that there is no right or wrong way to do public speaking. Improv techniques can make you more effective at conveying your messages, but aim for authenticity rather than perfection. These techniques can help you find the style of delivery that works best for you, because ultimately, your audience is there to listen to YOU. Show them your passion and enthusiasm through your voice, facial expressions and body language. One exercise to help you find your groove is called Commit to the Bit. The next time you practice your speech, try delivering it with different emotions, like being excited, angry or secretive. Or perform your speech in different styles such as Shakespearean or like you are in a musical. The more you use this exercise, the more comfortable you will be performing.
Public speaking will show up in many facets of your life. Developing these skills early will set you up for success down the road. To learn more about ways to practice your public speaking skills, and these improv techniques, research the public speaking competencies in various career and leadership development events.
