Lesson: Be a More Confident Public Speaker/ExerciseL1

Listening Exercise

Ok, just get up on that podium... Alright I'm here. That was easy! Now I just need a – oh my gosh! How many people are in the audience? A hundred? A thousand? Don't count! Ok, I can do this. I'm gonna

on my notes. Where did I have them written down again? Ah, hello my - uhhhh. Ok, if this sounds like your worst nightmare, you're not alone. Actually you're one of the estimated seventy

of the population that has an intense fear of public speaking. And that's ok, because on today's Wellcast we've got our Triple-P Method, that will get you through

get you calm during that next oral report. And keep your breakfast where it belongs. Are you ready?

Many polls list public speaking as the most commonly

phobia among Americans. It's

glossophobia meaning literally “fear of the tongue”. A study by Texas Christian University tested forty-eight women and forty-eight men enrolled in a public speaking class and found that those who exhibited high-trait anxiety had the

physical symptoms of

when speaking publicly. So what if you're the

of person whom any bit

social acrobatics is tantamount to

a lion's den? Hey, calm down! Ok, I'm just kidding. But seriously, calm down, alright? We've got

Triple-P method that will get you through that

public speaking gig. Pause and print

Wellcast worksheet.

Step 1: Prepare, prepare, prepare!

We said it three times

it's that important. There are two things that go into being prepared: Number one, knowing your subject backwards and forwards. Two: Knowing exactly how you're gonna

it step-by-step. In your Wellcast worksheet, write down the

points that you want to get across to the audience. Get the ideas out of your head and onto the paper. In the next column to the right, start ordering these points in a logical manner. Arguing your

to the audience and winning them over as like a boxing match. First, start with some fancy footwork: A fact or an anecdote that will hook the audience in and get them to pay

to you. Then, throw a

of swings: Support the evidence for your arguments. Stance: Personal stories, something that will start to convince the audience that you're taking control. And finally, the Knock out: A

blow out statement that's memorable,

, and sums up your speech's position.

Alright Step 2: Posture and Physicality are key!

Part of keeping your anxiety at bay while giving a speech is knowing what to do with your body. Before your speech, avoid large meals or dairy products, which will make you feel like you need to clean your

incessantly. Bring a bottle of water on stage if you're allowed. Don’t be afraid to take sips throughout your speech. It'll keep your voice natural and it gives you a

to pause and regain the composure, if needed. Stand naturally not too stiff or slant. Good

will help you breath and speak easier and it will let your audience know that you're calm and in control.

Step 3: Pander to your audience.

The best public speakers know how to work the room. Don’t be completely serious unless the occasion calls for it. Don’t read entirely out the cards, keep a natural cadence and pace. Throw a

or aside in, it'll draw in a laugh. If there is a silence, then turn that into a joke. Stay natural, self-effacing facing and the audience will be on your side.

Let's recap: You'd rather face a poisonous reptile than public speak huh? Well, follow the Wellcast triple-P checklist. Prepare extensively for your speech. Know your content backwards and forwards and figure out the absolute

way to present it and to win over your audience. Watch your posture and physicality, this

everything from standing naturally to breathing from your diaphragm and pander to your audience. Keep them in the

of your hand and with an easy demeanor, natural cadence and of course, jokes.