How to stand up and make a speech (without having to kill yourself afterwards)

But that need not be the case...

There are those who seem impervious to nerves and anxiety when the time comes to say their piece. These lucky few adopt a god-like status. Their ability to stand up and speak with comfort, decorum, and sometimes even wit and charm, is akin to Superman's ability to fly about in his underwear, see through women's clothes and deflect cannon fire with his eyeballs.

A lot like Kryptonite

For the rest of us, public speaking and speechmaking is a lot like Kryptonite: it leaches away our strength and sucks out our spine, leaving us powerless behind the podium.

So how do they do it? Is it magic? Is it drugs? Is it a weird inborn ability that makes them scoff at fear? The good news is that the answer is no. It's good news because the secret to acing public speaking is accessible to all of us.

Here are some basic tips and tricks that will help you when a sea of expectant faces is staring at you; when that long, slow quiet has settled over the room:

1. The cold open. A cold open is a technique that governs how you treat the first moments of your interaction with an audience. A cold open is an introductory moment that is essentially unrelated to the subject matter of your speech, but that sets the tone of the your presentation. Using a cold open is a brilliant way to allow the audience time and space to key into the dynamics of your speech or presentation.

2. Breathing space. No matter how nervous you are leading up to your speech, the worst moment usually comes just as you get to the podium and have to start talking. This is a crucial time as it's your audience's first impression that governs how they receive your presentation. A really good tip is to take a tiny moment for yourself when you get to the podium: just stand for a moment, have a look over your audience and BREATHE. Then, when you're ready, start talking. This is also a great technique for silencing a rowdy audience. Nothing commands attention like stillness.

3. The mind's eye. This isn't some hunka-runka visualisation exercise where you picture your power animal pirouetting through your happy place and weaving chakra symbols out of unicorn hair. This is a simple way to prepare yourself subconsciously for making a speech. Try, as much as is possible, to see the space you'll be in and the conditions of the environment when you'll be making your speech. Ask yourself questions like: Is it a large space or a small space? Will there be lots of people or only a few? Will it be brightly lit or dark? By having these answers and pictures in the back of your mind as you write or prepare your presentation, you'll feel much more comfortable when the time finally comes.

4. Give yourself some time. Writing and preparing a good speech or presentation takes longer than most people expect. Make sure that you give yourself some breathing room when you're scheduling time to prepare your presentation. Rather budget too much time than too little. And when you run out of time, stop.

5. It's just talking. Remember that - despite the hours of preparation, the fancy PowerPoint presentation and all the nerves and anxiety - at its heart, a speech or presentation is a simple communication exercise. It's basically just people talking to each other, and that need not be hard or scary. Keep telling yourself that.
   

These five points will help you to take control of your public speaking, and alleviate some of the crippling symptoms of nervousness and anxiety.

Only so far

But there is often only so far we can take ourselves.

The real secret to perfecting your public speaking is simple: where possible and feasible, seek help from a speaking professional.

If you have a cold, you go to the doctor. If you have a leaky roof, you phone a roofing specialist. If you want to make chicken soup, you consult a recipe. Or you could try to sort out all of these problems yourself - and land up lying in bed with pneumonia, getting dripped on, while drinking gunky chicken soup that tastes like socks.

Public speaking is no different. Whether you're making a speech in front of family and friends, addressing a thousand strangers at a conference, or presenting to a small group, enlisting the help of a professional is the way to go.

Five reasons

There are five reasons why a professional speechwriter or coach can help:

1. There are specific techniques and principles that apply to public speaking, speech making and corporate presenting. Finding a professional to teach you these skills and train you in using them is the best way to improve your ability to stand up and speak.

2. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to public speaking, and everyone's strengths and weaknesses are different. A person with a trained eye, who can assess your individual pros and cons, is invaluable in developing a tailor-made solution that addresses your personal needs.

3. Learning how to properly prepare and rehearse for a presentation or speech is the magic silver bullet that will slay all of your demons and catapult your speeches and presentations onto a new level - so that you can wow your audience, whether it's composed of friends, families, colleagues or strangers.

4. Confidence is key. Without it, it's impossible to enjoy making a speech or giving a presentation. And if you can't enjoy it, your audience won't be able to either. Finding the fun in an otherwise daunting and terrifying experience is very important, and it's surprisingly easy when you have some help from a pro.

5. Getting any old somebody to help you can be dangerous. It's important that the person you're working with has the skill and know-how to access your voice and your personality. A really good speechwriter can help you to find your perfect public speaking persona, and make that style and delivery method work for you.
   

Getting up in front of a crowd of people - everyone's eyeballs glued to your face - and speaking your mind does not need to be a tortuous trip to hell. And the solution to feeling like Superman when you're doing it is no more complicated than fixing your golf swing: prepare as much as you can alone, find the right person to help if you need to, follow their advice, relax, and smack that ball into the heavens.