If you asked me if I think I’m a good public speaker, I’d tell you I have no idea. Not because I haven’t done it before, but because every time I have, I go onto autopilot and everything is a blur.
When my colleagues ask how it went, my answer is something like, “I stopped comprehending what I was saying after the first sentence, so, I’m really not sure. I mean no one threw anything at me, so that’s a good sign, right?”
Public speaking isn’t fun for most people, but it doesn’t have to be so scary. Forbes has seven tips that’ll help you put together the best speech possible, no matter the topic, audience, or location.
My favorite? Number five—humanizing yourself. Connecting with the audience is a surefire way to break down that wall of anxiety. (Because they’re people, too, not a bunch of robots trying to zap you with their laser eyes.)