Success series.

Conquering the Butterfly
The Success Series: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
Introduction
As the butterflies swim wildly in your stomach, your palms begin to sweat and your heart rate soars past 200bpm. In a few minutes you must confront a few, or even hundreds, of staring eyes - whether from the stage, in a business meeting or in a listing presentation. You wonder how could you could have possibly said yes, when your entire body is now saying "No!" Public speaking is widely acknowledged as one of the leading creators of stress, so you're not alone in your trepidation. Hopefully this 5-Point Plan taken from The Success Series can help you conquer this fluttering fear.

1. Prepare
Never be sucked into speaking about something you are not comfortable with. Know your subject. Inquire, research, collect all relevant data, prepare, prepare, and prepare. beforehand that is. Develop your own style. Rehearse. Practice your talk, but never make significant changes just before speaking.

2. Map your Talk
Create a roadmap of your talk. Write a systematic logical sequence from beginning to end. Think of attention grabbers. Think of the key messages you wish to get across to your audience. Start by contributing every fact you can find and then edit ruthlessly.

3. Speak from the Heart
This is your talk. Be sincere and be humble but never begin with an apology. Take ownership of the subject and become passionate about the message. Never read your speech word by word. Talk from the heart, make eye contact and allow voice variations as emotions, commitment, and determination flow through you and your voice.

4. Use Visual Aids
It is said that one picture is worth a thousand words, and so props are used in movies the same way you should in your presentation. Never underestimate the value of being able to show something, whether in actual form or even on the screen by using Powerpoint. Present your condensed message via an easy to understand concept. Allow your Powerpoint outline to serve as talking points.

5. Relax and Connect
You've prepared the talk, now it's time to prepare the speaker. That's you. Dress comfortably and appropriately. A good night's rest is always recommended. Get to the venue on time and ease into the surroundings. In the final hour before your talk, relax both physically and mentally.

In Closing
Claudius the Roman Emperor (10BC to 54AD) said: "Say not always what you know, but always know what you say." So relax! You're going to float like a butterfly, and your message sting like a bee. The audience is waiting to hear from you, the expert. Educate, entertain, and energize them with your knowledge, charisma and presence.

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Articles in The Success Series

Go the Distance
The Power of Perseverance

The Chess Game of Life
Business Planning Made Simple

Jumpstart your Engine
Improving Personal Productivity

Albert Einstein
Creative Problem Solving

Clockstoppers
Managing Time More Effectively

The Buck Stops Here
Effective Delegation

Conquering the Butterfly
Mastering the Art of Public Speaking

To Meet, or Not to Meet
Conducting Effective Meetings

The Power of One.More
Appointing an Assistant

All for One and One for All
Managing Teams

Bridge Over Troubled Water
Cross-Cultural Communications

The Art of Diplomacy
Delivering Negative Messages