In these days of websites, blogs, Squidoo, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, it’s easy to forget a very powerful form of business promotion: public speaking. Don’t get me wrong, a strong web presence can and should be used by those looking to promote their careers or businesses. But don’t forget that a face-to-face connection still means a lot to a lot of people. And a well crafted and delivered speech can get your message across like nothing else.
Consider Barack Obama, whose powerful speech and delivery before the 2004 Democratic Convention helped propel him onto the national stage. While he certainly used the internet and social networking sites to his advantage during his campaign for president, it was his incredible public speaking skills that helped him deliver his message of hope and change to the nation.
Of course, not many people have the oratorical skills of Barack Obama or John F. Kennedy or Bill Clinton. Some people are just born public speakers. But, even learning some basic public speaking skills can go a long way in promoting your business.
How Public Speaking Can Help Your Business
How can giving a great speech help your business? Giving a speech puts a face on your business. It can help you drive others to action, like buying your book, visiting your website, or using your services. And when people like what they hear, they will tell others about you.
Where to learn to give a speech
The first place you can learn how to give an effective speech is by watching great speakers, whether on television, the Internet, or in person. You can watch Barack Obama’s 2004 speech from many different websites, as well as other great speeches or parts of speeches by other great speakers. YouTube is a great place to start to find a great speech to learn effective speaking techniques from.
Books containing the texts of great speeches can also help, although you don’t have the benefit of hearing them delivered. However, you can spot certain techniques when reading a written speech, such as the way the speech writer uses the technique of repeating key phrases at the beginning or end of sentences, which can be very effective in moving the audience.
Of course, seeing a great speaker in person is the best way to observe good public speaking techniques. Watching a speaker on TV or the Internet can also be very effective, but it’s nice to see a speech that isn’t made better by good camera work or editing. A great speaker knows how to give a great speech without the help of a foreground. It’s also good to watch how a speaker works with or without a podium, or how they handle audiovisual equipment or other visual aids. Most big cities attract well-known speakers for speaker series, which can be a good opportunity to watch a great presentation.
You might also consider taking a speech class at your local community college, joining a Toastmaster group, or attending a Dale Carnegie course.
How to deal with the fear of public speaking
If you’re afraid of public speaking, it’s probably no surprise that stage fright, or the fear of public speaking, is one of the biggest fears people have. It even overcomes the fear of dying! What can you do about it? For many people, using hypnosis to overcome their fear of public speaking has been of great help. Visualizing or imagining while in a trance allows people to “trick” their minds into thinking they are not afraid. While in a hypnotic trance, you can imagine giving a speech without any anxiety. You may also be given an “anchor” such as touching your index finger and thumb whenever you begin to feel anxious, which can help lessen the effects of stage fright.
Although most people don’t want to hear this, the best way to deal with the fear of public speaking is to practice. Again, if you have a crippling fear of standing up in front of others and giving a speech, you may want to consider hypnosis. But, for those with mild fear, or those who have undergone hypnosis or other relaxation techniques for their anxiety, practicing speaking is vital. Practicing will not only give you confidence, but it will also show you that your fear of giving a speech is much worse than giving one.
Where to practice giving a speech
Joining a Toastmaster group is one of the best places to practice giving speeches. Not only will you gain confidence by standing in front of people, but you’ll also get feedback on the areas where you’re doing well, as well as the areas where you need to improve.
For those who have a business or service to promote, giving free speeches to community organizations or chambers of commerce can not only give you public speaking practice, it can also help you promote your business to potential customers. And reaching potential customers is your ultimate goal.