How to master the magic moment at the beginning of your presentation
How do you feel when you have to speak in front of an audience? Will you climb the podium fearlessly and just get started? With a lot of safety and stability? Or are you, like the majority of people, one of those speakers who come forward with rather weak knees and nervously line up in front of the "dangerous predator" audience?
In this case, is your first impulse "Escape – I want to leave again?" Since fleeing is usually not an option in such moments, you might want to think about how you can make this situation more bearable for yourself.
Show your point of view
It becomes more bearable a live speaking situation immediately by taking a firm stand. A surface that carries you well without making you appear "stiff" and like a puppet. How do you achieve this?
- Imagine you are on a wide surfboard swinging on the water. And you are now preparing for the first wave by going into a springy balance.
- Feel your shoulders and elbows release and you're ready to balance.
- Pay attention to how your neck straightens.
You are currently activating your diaphragm to the maximum. This is the basic prerequisite for a fuller, stronger, more voluminous and clearer voice. But, don't speak yet! First, you need to connect with your audience!
Don't start talking right away
To do this, look at preferably silently directly into the hall. This may feel strange on the first attempts. The seconds will seem like minutes, the mass of faces in front of your eyes will blur. But never forget what power you have right now. The "dangerous crowd of audiences" down there will have to wait until you're ready. Enjoy this moment as the director of your own performance. Your listeners love excitement and will certainly not hold it against you! When you have the full attention of everyone present and even the last one has stopped whispering, only then do you begin to speak.
A small hurdle usually still exist, because now you may be wondering: "What should I do with my hands during the lecture? – That's simple: nothing at all. Once you're standing firm and balanced and in dialogue with your audience, your hands will move on their own and do just the right thing.
So one of them stands even with strong body language speech, nothing stands in the way, as you should now feel safe from your fixed surfing level and can concentrate fully on your content! Try it!
You
Arno Fischbacher
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The author:
Arno Fischbacher is a business voice coach and rhetoric expert, speaker and author. He prepares executives and employees of the top companies in Germany and Austria for negotiations, presentations and media appearances. Fischbacher is the author of several books, past president of the German Speakers Association (GSA) Austria, chairman of the European Network of Voice Experts, stimme.at.
If you would like to learn more about specific training opportunities with Arno Fischbacher, make an appointment here free information talk.
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