How to Manage Anxiety When You Have to Give a Speech

Stage Fright

Public speaking causes many people extreme anxiety. So, what do you do when there is no escaping the podium?

Some folks find a drink or 2 helps. This is a tricky one. One drink might help, but two isn't always better. More could even lead to a disaster.

When delivering a speech it's important to be in control. Your audience will forgive a little nervousness. They'll remember forever if you're sloppy drunk.

If stage fright is overwhelming, ask your doctor for help. A mild sedative may be the answer. Remember not to mix drugs with alcohol.

Tip for Delivering an Exceptional Speech - Breathe

Just Breathe when giving a speech

Breathe! 

When you are practicing your speech, make a mark on the paper to indicate when you should breathe. This will help your speech sound more natural. Sometimes in high-stress situations, like speaking in front of a group, we forget to breathe. These marks on your script will ensure that you don’t get to the end of a long passage and gasp for breath.

What is an informative speech?

Tip for Delivering an Exceptional Speech

Breathe! 

When you are practicing your speech, make a mark on the paper to indicate when you should breathe. This will help your speech sound more natural. Sometimes in high-stress situations, like speaking in front of a group, we forget to breathe. These marks on your script will ensure that you don’t get to the end of a long passage and gasp for breath.

What is an Informative Speech?

An informative speech provides information about a specific subject to an audience. The aim of an informative speech is to help your audience understand and to remember the information you are presenting.

This type of speech uses descriptions, demonstrations, vivid detail, and definitions to explain a subject, person, or place. An informative speech makes a complex topic easy to understand.

What is a Valedictorian Speech?

Graduates

A valedictory is a speech that is delivered at the graduation ceremony. The speech is usually performed by the valedictorian or the person with the top grades in the graduating class.

How many words are in a 2 minute speech?

Woman giving a speech

The average person speaks at somewhere between 125 and 150 words per minute. It's always better to speak more slowly than quickly. Thus, if you're speaking for 20 minutes, you want a total word count of about 2,500 words. 

Key Elements of the Father of the Bride Speech

Father of the bride delivering a speech

The father of the bride is usually the first speaker. He warms up the audience. The father of the bride is in charge of making everyone feel welcome.

Guide to the elements of the Father of the Bride speech:

• Welcome everyone and thank them for attending.

• Offer a special thanks to the people who planned and set up the wedding.

• Let everyone know how wonderful your daughter is. This is the main job of the Father of the Bride speech. Include a few anecdotes from her childhood. 

• It's fine to add touches of humor, but the Father of the Bride speech is usually heartfelt and sincere.

• Mention the groom, and welcome him to the family.

• Your speech should conclude with a toast to the couple. 

• Father of the Bride speeches are short and sweet, usually between 3-5 minutes.

When Delivering a Speech, Practice Makes Perfect

Practice your speech

Most people are a little nervous when they have to stand in front of a group and deliver a speech. Some people are really nervous. Practice won’t entirely get rid of nerves, but it will do a lot to make the process of delivering a speech less painful and scary.

Step 1.

Craft an excellent speech. (Or hire a speech writer to craft one for you)

Step 2.

Practice. Practice. Practice. Read your speech out loud. Change the words that cause you to stumble. Read your speech in front of a mirror. Practice looking up from the page. Sometimes, printing the speech with extra large font helps with this.

Step 3.

Deliver your speech to a friend or loved one. Ask for feedback. Repeat Step. 2.

Tip for Giving a Great Speech

Audience listening to a speech

One thing to remember that can make the chore of giving a speech less scary.

Some people are born knowing how to deliver a speech. For the rest of us, it’s a bit more of a challenge. Most people would rather scrub themselves with sandpaper and bathe in a vat of vinegar rather than speak in front of a group. But the time comes for almost everyone when they have to deliver a speech.

Remember: The Audience wants you to succeed

When you are up there at the podium it might feel that the audience is scrutinizing you to find every flaw. In most instances, that is not the case. The audience wants you to succeed. They want to be entertained or informed. Remember that no one wants to sit through an uncomfortable speech. If you make a mistake, just keep going. The audience will forgive you.