What do you do if your public speaking skills lack assertiveness and confidence?
Public speaking can be daunting, especially if you feel your assertiveness and confidence are not up to par. It's a common challenge in higher education, where presenting ideas clearly and persuasively is often essential. The good news is that assertiveness and confidence can be developed with practice and the right strategies. Whether you're delivering a lecture, presenting research, or leading a seminar, enhancing your public speaking skills can make a significant difference in your academic and professional pursuits.
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Sameena KhanUniversity of Technology and Applied Sciences
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Esmeralda Garcia, MBA🌐 Strategic Leader | Global Career Services Expert | Transformative Higher Ed Innovator | 15 Years Driving Academic…
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Kartik BaldwaExperienced Educator | Empowering Students for Competitive Success | UCLA Certified Career Counselor | | Education…
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is the first step in improving your public speaking skills. Take some time to reflect on what makes you feel less assertive or confident. Is it a lack of knowledge on the topic, fear of audience reactions, or something else? Once you identify these factors, you can work on addressing them directly. For example, if you're not well-versed in a subject, dedicate more time to research and preparation. If it's anxiety about how you'll be perceived, practice speaking in front of friends or use video recordings to evaluate and adjust your delivery.
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Pinpoint the aspects of public speaking where you feel less assertive or confident. Is it maintaining eye contact, projecting your voice, organizing your thoughts, handling Q&A sessions, or something else? Practice speaking in front of a mirror, recording yourself, or in front of supportive friends or family members. The more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you'll become. Before speaking in public, visualize yourself delivering your speech confidently and assertively. Visualization can help build confidence and reduce anxiety. Maintain good posture, make deliberate gestures, and use open body language to convey confidence and assertiveness. Avoid fidgeting or slouching, as these can signal nervousness.
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Practice Regularly: Dedicate time to practice your speeches or presentations regularly, both alone and in front of trusted friends, family members, or colleagues. Rehearsing allows you to become more comfortable with your material and delivery style. Start Small and Build Gradually: Begin by speaking in low-pressure settings, such as small group meetings, workshops, or informal gatherings. As you gain confidence and experience, gradually challenge yourself with larger audiences and more formal speaking engagements. Focus on Your Message and Audience: When you focus on serving your audience rather than worrying about yourself, you may find it easier to speak with assertiveness and confidence.
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Conheça e seja você mesmo. Certamente a oratória é extremamente importante para se passar uma mensagem. Mas nada se tira o ganho de causa. Falar bem também tem relação com saber o que se está falando. O preparo se inicia com a organização da sua fala e do material a ser apresentado, por exemplo. Ponto principal é nunca verbalizar sobre seu estado emocional e o possível déficit na oratória para não chamar a atenção para o fato negativo. Fora isso, nada melhor do que seu próprio jeito para passar aquilo que sabe.
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Firstly, practice regularly in front of a mirror or with supportive friends or family members. Secondly, focus on positive visualization techniques to envision successful speaking engagements. Thirdly, seek opportunities to speak in public, starting with smaller groups and gradually progressing to larger audiences. Additionally, consider taking public speaking courses or workshops to learn new techniques and receive professional guidance. Finally, don't hesitate to seek feedback from trusted mentors or coaches to identify areas for improvement and build confidence over time. With dedication and persistence, you can enhance your public speaking skills and become a more confident and assertive communicator.
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It has to start with knowing yourself. Whether you are the kind of speaker who thrives on jumping in and winging it or whether you need every word practiced to perfection before the event. This then guides your preparation. For those who don’t suffer from performance anxiety, they may need to put in more effort toward knowing the content, for others the content may be covered but they have to work on the delivery. The speaker is always an inextricably important part of the speech.
Your body language speaks volumes before you even utter a word. Standing tall with your shoulders back and making eye contact with your audience conveys confidence. Practice in front of a mirror to become more aware of your gestures and posture. Use open and assertive body language to reinforce your spoken words. Remember, non-verbal cues can either undermine or strengthen your message, so align your body language with the assertiveness you wish to project.
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Há um engano considerável sobre linguagem corporal. O corpo fala aquilo que se está pensando ou sentindo, ou seja, a comunicação verbal e paraverbal se inicia pelo seu interior. Erguer o braço, ficar ereto, não cruzar as pernas, tudo isso é um resultado de um contexto comportamental e não uma construção de perfil. Um ator não inicia o processo de construção de um personagem pelos gestos e postura para mostrar isso e aquilo. Se o fizer parecerá falso e ensaiado. Sentir-se confiante é diferente de parecer confiante. Faça isso e aquilo para parecer é um erro que só faz a pessoa que vai se apresentar ter mais um motivo para se preocupar.
The way you use your voice can greatly impact how assertive and confident you appear. Work on modulating your tone, pitch, and volume to emphasize key points and keep the audience engaged. Speaking too softly might signal uncertainty, while a monotonous voice can make you seem disinterested. Try recording your speeches to hear how you sound and make adjustments as needed. Varying your vocal delivery can help maintain audience interest and convey your message with more power.
Consistent practice is crucial for building assertiveness and confidence in public speaking. Seek opportunities to speak in front of groups, whether through class presentations, study groups, or local clubs. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with the material and the act of speaking itself. Each experience is a chance to learn and improve, so approach each opportunity with a positive mindset and a willingness to grow.
Constructive feedback is invaluable for improving your public speaking skills. After any speaking engagement, ask for honest feedback from peers or mentors. Listen carefully to their observations about what you did well and areas where you could improve. Use this feedback to make specific changes in your approach. Remember that feedback is not personal criticism but a tool for development.
Lastly, mental preparation is as important as the physical aspects of public speaking. Develop a routine that helps you calm your nerves and focus your mind before taking the stage. This could include deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques, or positive affirmations. By preparing mentally, you can approach public speaking situations with greater calmness and assurance, which will be evident in your assertiveness and confidence levels.
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When you're feeling nervous about speaking, it often boils down to how well you know your content. By preparing thoroughly and practicing, you'll naturally gain confidence. It also helps to observe how other speakers engage with their audience and to work on your eye contact and gestures. These nonverbal cues humanize your presentation, making it more engaging and authentic.
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