3 Tips for Public Speaking

Each week, I'm given an opportunity to teach a class of some form, whether it is Bible study, preschool classes, or after school care programs. Public speaking is something I have had to do quite a lot of. Over the years, I believe I have gotten better at my delivery. If you are in a place where you are being asked to lead a Bible study or teach a class, here are few things you can do to help out with your public speaking. 

1. Make Notes

I still make notes that are easy to read when I am leading a Bible study or teaching a class. Instead of writing every word of the speech I need to give, I just create a simple outline of things I know I want to talk about. As you speak more often, the notes may become shorter. It is still very important to create a guideline, or you will kick yourself later on for not touching on things that you wanted to talk about. When you write your notes, try to use different colored pens or highlighters to make certain points stand out. The goal is to have notes you can quickly glance down at. 

2. Record Yourself

For a more formal speech or speaking engagement, it might be a good idea to record yourself giving the speech. If you are asked to give your testimony or lead a large group of women, this may be the perfect way to make sure you don't become nervous. When you record yourself, you will be more likely to ignore mistakes and keep going with your speech. Also, when you are done, you have the ability to review what you said. It is important to listen to yourself. 

3. Look Above Their Heads

Public speaking can make many people feel nervous. The best thing to do to keep from being nervous while speaking is to pick a place on the wall, floor, or empty chair to look at. Try not to make eye contact if you are speaking to a large group. In a smaller group, eye contact usually won't make you feel as nervous. You certainly want to make sure that you look engaged with the audience, so picking a place that you can stare that is in the line of site as your crowd will go a long ways in boosting crowd participation. It is best that you avoid staring down at your notes the entire time you are speaking. That is a sure fire way to loose everyone's attention. 

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These are just a few things you can do to prepare for a public speaking occasion whether it is a large venue or a small Bible study. 

Feel free to visit me at Love Hope Adventure, where I talk about the marriage relationship and other relationships in the home. 

I created these pictures at LifeTricks.