Confident Delivery
Everyone agrees that confidence is an important characteristic of good public speaking. Exuding confidence when all eyes are on you comes with practice, and even then, you may still feel anxious! You may not feel confident when you are giving a speech or interviewing for that dream job, but what’s important to the audience is that you look confident. In this module we will explore strategies to help you look confident and, hopefully, feel confident too!
Download the PDF worksheet Public Speaking Delivery Tips to help you present confidently.
Tips
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- Remember to breathe. Take four deep diaphragmatic breaths before you present. Breathing is critical during a presentation. When you breathe deeply, you will feel calmer, think more clearly, slow down the pace of your speech, and project your voice to the back of the room.
- Know your space. You’ll feel more confident about your presentation if you have rehearsed in your presentation room with the equipment provided. Having a sense of the space allotted will allow you to make good use of it during your presentation.
- Bring a water bottle. Iced or hot beverages can irritate your vocal cords, so avoid shocking your vocal cords by bringing room-temperature water on presentation day. Under the anxiety of presenting, our throats often feel dry; this dry mouth is often made worse when we try to project our voices to the back of a large room. A water bottle can also be used as an excellent excuse to give yourself a break from talking. Whether you need to: Take a break to catch your breath, consider a question from the audience, find your place in the presentation if you’ve gotten off track, or give your audience a moment to consider something complex that you’ve shared.
- Do vocal warm-ups. There are many options for vocal warm-ups, from yawning loudly to running through tongue-twisters. One of the most effective ways to warm up and prepare for your presentation is to run through it, either partially or completely, on the same day that you intend to present.
- Try not to avoid eye contact. Connecting with your audience and finding those friendly smiles in the crowd can ease your anxiety as you find allies. Your audience will also feel more engaged if they can sense that you are making an effort to connect with them.
Dig Deeper
Watch more
The science of stage fright (and how to overcome it) - Mikael Cho
Links to an external site.
- Science of Stage Fright video: Mikael Cho explores how biology affects speaking anxiety in this animated TED Talk.
Read more
Why Are We Scared of Public Speaking? - Why are We Scared of Public Speaking: Dr. Theo Tsaousides shares four factors that contribute public speaking fear in this Psychology Today article.
Pro Tip:
Nerves are Normal! Even the most experienced performers experience anxiety to some degree: shaky knees, sweaty palms, increased heart rate, etc. These are biological responses to a perceived threat—your audience. You know they are evaluating your ideas, your performance, you; in response, your body kicks into fight or flight mode. In other words, your body prepares you to run from or toward a threat. While this instinct is responsible for our survival as a human race, it makes giving presentations feel a bit more daunting than they should.So, how do you navigate this response that makes you feel and look less confident? Your fight or flight response is unique to you, and no one knows your fight or flight response better than you. So, begin thinking about how you can intervene to lessen the effects of your fight or flight response prior to and during your presentation. For example, if your heart races, take deep breaths, run through a guided meditation, or visualize yourself in a calming environment. Another strategy is to practice, practice, practice, particularly your introduction. The better you know your content, the more confident you will feel; if you can cruise through your introduction without incident, the initial fight or flight response will lessen as you progress through the presentation.
Interested in a one-one consultation with an expert to review your communication assignment, rubric, or activities? Looking for a workshop on teaching oral competency? How about a Public Speaking 101 workshop for your students? Visit the Sanger Public Speaking Center webpage Links to an external site.or send a message to: slc.speaking@austin.utexas.edu. Our team looks forward to empowering you and your students!