Public Speaking Skills For Dummies

Chapter 11

Prepping Your Mind for Public Speaking

IN THIS CHAPTER

Picturing success

Gaining and maintaining confidence

Looking to the audience

Ultimately, giving a speech comes down to a mind game. Your mouth is just an instrument.

I don’t have to tell you that your mind is your most important asset. Visualizing success is a great way to prepare your mind for your speech, but it’s also human nature to foresee and fear catastrophic failure. If you’re speaking in the role of employee or representative of your company, your speech could propel you into the ranks of executives — or not.

Negative visualization is easy, and it doesn’t just happen with public speaking. Many years ago, I ran a company that offered musical theater residencies for kids in schools. A principal contacted me and asked if I’d send him a quote regarding what my company would offer in a way of mounting a production. After I faxed it (no email — this was a long time ago), he phoned and told me that I’d hear from him by the end of the week. The week went by and there was no phone call. I waited and waited. I kept reliving what I’d said on the phone. Did I say something to offend him? I imagined him getting off the ...