Unlike the fear of spiders, confined spaces or even death, speech anxiety can be hugely disruptive to professional development.

 Why?

 Public speaking is the fastest way to increase sales as a business entrepreneur.

 Confident professionals and business owners that take advantage of speaking engagements exponentially increase opportunities to improve sales, secure investments, build relationships and give people they network with the impression that they are worth knowing. The ability to speaking confidently to a group is invaluable and can yield incredibly lucrative results whether you’re getting behind a podium at a conference or simply actively working the crowd at a networking event. 

 Fear of public speaking jeopardizes your ability to take advantage of these opportunities.

 The good news is that even if you don’t have a natural ease speaking in front of other people, you can become a skilled – even engaging – public speaker.

 I am fortunate to feel comfortable speaking with and in front of others in both professional and social settings, but I know many capable speakers who used to be horrified at the thought of speaking at a board meeting or pitching a product to a group of prospective clients.

 The reality is that if you struggle to speak publically, it will take work to overcome your discomfort. The more intense the fear, the harder the work to overcome it, but it is possible, and the payoff is well worth it.

 Here are 7 tips to keep in mind if you want to earn the positive attention of your audience:

 1. Don’t forget: it’s a speech, not a conversation. Naturally, we use conversational language when we speak with clients or investors in person. However, when you deliver a formal presentation, it’s important to differentiate your language to ensure you come across professionally. Review your speech to ensure your word choices fit the occasion and are appropriate for the audience before whom you’re speaking.

 2. Speak slowly and deliberately. Many nervous speakers fear silence. To avoid it, they fall into a habit of peppering their speeches and sales pitches with ‘filler’ words (think: “y’know”, “um”, “like”, etc.). When you resort to filling space with these words, your message comes across as weak and confusing. To combat the tendency to use these filler words, make a conscious effort to speak more slowly, and don’t be afraid to take a pause to collect your thoughts.

 3. Remember to breathe! Do you feel anxious before taking to the podium, making an important sales call or introducing yourself at a networking event? Believe it or not, working on your breathing is one of the best ways to improve your speech presentation and sales skills. Take a few breaths before you begin speaking. You can also dramatically improve your speaking ability by taking a conscious breath after each sentence. When you breathe, you stay focused, communicate more clearly, and give your audience the opportunity to digest your message.

 4. Be engaging. Another key to holding your audience’s attention is maintaining consistent, audible volume and an engaging tone. If you let your volume drop, your message gets lost in translation. Never put your listeners in a position where they have to strain to hear you speak. Don’t trail off at the end of your sentences, mumble, or speak too quickly. It’s equally important not to shout at your audience! To ensure that your message is being delivered in a comprehensive, captivating manner, s-l-o-w down, smile and enunciate your words.

 5. Know your material. When speakers don’t know their material or are uncomfortable with it, their delivery suffers. They tend to read off note cards or slides verbatim, leading to a flat, emotionless delivery. It’s critical that you become intimately familiar with your material. When you rehearse adequately and prepare notes or an outline, you are better able to speak in your own words and draw from personal experiences.  Speak from your heart, and your audience will resonate with your message.

 6. Smile and maintain eye contact. Research shows that when you smile, you make your audience feel happier and more comfortable. This is true even when the smile is forced. At your next presentation, give the audience a smile before you get started. Inevitably, at least a few members of the audience will smile back at you, giving you a confidence boost and leaving you more relaxed. Although a smile can initiate a connection with your audience, eye contact allows you to maintain that connection throughout your presentation. Make sure you know your material so you are able to make eye contact rather than having to refer to your notes.

 7. Practice makes perfect. Don’t panic if you aren’t a naturally gifted public speaker. Consistent practice allows you to steadily improve your delivery skills and confidence level. Start off by practicing with friends and family. As you become more comfortable, work your way up to larger groups. Record yourself on audio or video to become more conscious of your public speaking habits. A great way to get out of your shell and work on speaking to new people is attending networking events.

 As you push yourself to find and create more opportunities to speak publically, remember one thing:

 The worst mistake you can make is not speaking at all.

 If you’re a salesperson, entrepreneur or business owner interested in learning how to use speaking and networking opportunities to expand your business and “Double-Plus” your business this year, visit Celeste Giordano Coaching  today. I’ve helped many clients overcome their nerves about public speaking and develop the skills and confidence necessary to create new connections, exposure and leads.

 Every business entrepreneur has a voice and a message. I look forward to hearing yours!