Learning What It Means To Be A Good Public Speaker
Many of us believe that being a good public speaker is a natural skill. We think that it is a skill that we either have or we don't have. This is far from the truth. Public speaking is something that is studied and learned like everything else. Even the best public speakers still practice before a big speech!
Many of us feel anxiety, fear, and other negative emotions associated with public speaking or presenting because we fear judgment from our peers. As our own biggest critics, we nitpick every little thing about ourselves: "Does my voice sound weird?", "Are they looking at my pimple?", "Did they notice how much I'm sweating?", "Am I standing weird?". Your audience most likely did not notice the pimple you have been battling with for the last couple of days or the fact that you are sweating a little. Most of the judgment we feel that we face is all in our heads and based on our projections. Letting yourself get into your head too much can be detrimental to how you perform. Allow yourself to let go of those insecurities and be comfortable being yourself in these situations. This will allow you to carry your presentations with ease. You will find your flow and authenticity.
You may ask. What if I make a mistake? That's okay! We are all human and it would be odd if we didn't make a mistake once or twice. What matters most is how you bounce back and use it to your advantage. Perhaps you may be able to show a charismatic side to your audience members. Being "good" does not equate to being perfect. Embrace the mistakes, and awkwardness, and learn from both the good and bad moments. This is what makes you a "good public speaker".