By Melina Leon
Fall 2017 Intern
Just kidding . . . it’s probably
not best to make a speech on an empty stomach. But don’t worry, if you’re one
of many people with glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, there are some
tips and tricks to calm the feeling of nervousness—and, in some cases, nausea—before
publicly speaking.
This Harper’s Bazaar article
gives some great advice to get over the fear. Some good tips are to know your
audience and their expectations; find your natural voice and what you’re
comfortable with; write down notes for reference if allowed and familiarize
yourself with them; and, most importantly, breathe!
The best way to conquer nerves is
to focus on breathing, says Patsy Rodenburg, a Shakespearean voice coach who
has worked with many famous actors. Rodenburg also recommends practicing out
loud. In an article
with the Guardian, Rodenburg says,
“The body houses the voice, and the breath energizes it.” A physical warm-up is
just as necessary as a vocal one because it is all connected.
However, warm-ups are often
overlooked, which can hinder the quality of the speech. There is more to
preparing than just memorization. A simple stretching warm-up, paired with breathing
exercises, can make a big improvement in the presentation.
Not only will these exercises make
you feel more prepared, they will help ease away the nerves so you can feel
confident in how you are speaking! So long, glossophobia!
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