The cat is out of the bag. You’re an introvert. Public speaking is not something you look forward to with pleasure and confidence. Your book is coming out and you already have a number of speaking engagements lined up. Your palms are sweaty and a migraine is edging in.
Take a deep breath and pop a Tylenol. Now pull out that flyer from your local community college, the one slated for the recycle bin. Sign up for an acting class or a public speaking class ASAP. This is a great way to prepare for a speaking engagement. Consider joining a local Toastmasters club to get needed experience. Or hire an acting coach. A couple of hours of coaching may be all you need to put the necessary polish on your speaking skills. Psych yourself up with the power of expert knowledge.
After you’ve armed yourself with decent public speaking skills, you might be still experiencing the jitters about the upcoming event. It’s important that you practice. Plan to run though your speech at least 5 times before you show up for the event. Always practice in front of a mirror so you can watch for body tics and bad posture. Try recording yourself so that you can play back your speech and get a read on whether it is professional or not. Lighten your talk with some humor. It doesn’t have to be laugh out loud funny, but levity will draw in your audience. Never read your speech. There is no bigger turn-off than a speech reader who has her nose glued to a sheet of paper.
Finally, purchase some nice clothes for the event and be sure they are comfortable. Get your hair and nails done; this advice is for both men and women because you want to have a professional appearance. Get plenty of rest the night before the event. Wear comfortable shoes. Arrive early. Do this to scope out the venue and make sure that you can get the audio-visual equipment working. Nothing is more frustrating for a newbie speaker than technical difficulties. Head these off at the pass by getting things set up ahead of time. Moments before the event, take a minute to do some deep breathing. Slow, deep breaths will oxygenate your blood, giving you a boost of clarity.
It’s time to speak. Your excellent preparation will now pay off. No need for a pep talk. Go out there and dazzle them.