Public speaking is an essential skill in today’s world. Nevertheless, a 2016 survey found that 25.9% of respondents were either afraid or very afraid of public speaking. While fears about crime, government, economics, and disaster ranked higher, public speaking was the second highest personal fear. It is difficult to make a public speeches without any trainings and professional courses.
Traveling is a surprising way to become a great speaker. In this article, we will see how traveling can help you change how you speak. Let’s take a look.
Be out of your comfort zone
Awesome speakers have fantastic personalities. To become a great speaker, you have to grow as a person. Be out of your comfort zone. Reading books, learning poems by heart and training it while looking on the mirror can help you become more self-confident. Discover new countries, new things, and new people.
Every county you visit will change you. In every trip you can develop and see something new. You can see different lifestyles, traditions, and customs. If you are a freelancer or you work remotely, you can try to hire a van.
It is quite convenient to travel in a van. You can work and travel at the same time. Our company provides different types of vans. To check on cheap vans for hire rental24.co.uk. On the website you will explore different options to hire a car for your trips. There are huge variety of car groups and types so you are able to find a suitable match for your wallet.
Practice in every place you visit
Practice in every place that you can. In an airport, in a hotel room, in a hostel. You can even practice in your car (or van). In live presentations, anything can happen, from mobile phones ringing to people shouting feedback from the audience.
If you practice somewhere noisy, you can work through the distractions and tune them out while focusing on the concepts and messages you want to get across. This way, nothing will phase you during an unexpected presentation moment. For developing your public speaking skills you should practice it in each suitable situation when having couple of free minutes and some inspiration.
Record your speech
Such a record can be a good starting point in your studies. Record your speech on camera. It is not necessary (although it is desirable) to be a public speaker: not everyone can speak in front of an audience. You can even use a recording of your conversation with someone on Skype. You can talk in front of your friends and ask them to record you. Listen to the recording and note all the weak points of your performance. It may be:
- Poor diction, swallowing sounds.
- Too quiet a voice.
- Too fast speech.
- Unsure look.
- Too intense, strange gestures, or their absence
Once you understand what needs improvement, start working on the weak points. For example, to practice diction, learn colloquialisms, and learn to read them clearly and distinctly. Even professional TV and radio presenters do exercises to improve their skills and “warm up” before the broadcast.
Ask your friends or loved ones for help
If you travel in a van with your friends, you can ask them for help. You can try to speak in front of them. They will give you feedback. They can tell you what you should improve in speaking or body language.
Improve your self-confidence
People have a fear of public speaking because they constantly think about how the audience perceives them. “What will they think of me? What if I’m silly? What if they don’t like me?” That’s not the right mindset to have.
The more you travel, the more you see different people. You understand that everybody is different and that’s OK.
You should still focus on the audience, but differently: “What can I do to make this interesting for them? How can I give more value?” That’s the kind of mindset that makes the experience suitable for the audience.
Embracing Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness Through Travel
Traveling serves as a bridge to myriad cultures, enveloping us in a tapestry of diverse customs, traditions, and perspectives. It isn’t just a journey through varied landscapes but also a journey into the essence of societies, fostering cultural sensitivity and awareness. This heightened understanding is pivotal for effective communication, allowing speakers to relate to a multifaceted audience.
When we explore different cultures, we learn about distinct communication styles and social norms. This knowledge enables us to tailor our interaction styles, becoming more inclusive and respectful. For example, while direct communication is appreciated in some cultures, others value subtlety and indirect expressions. Being cognizant of such nuances allows speakers to connect more profoundly, creating an environment of mutual respect and understanding.
Cultivating Mindfulness and Presence in Speech
The essence of a family vacation for example, is in being present, absorbing the beauty and complexity of the moment. This practice of mindfulness is invaluable for speakers. It aids in mitigating anxiety and sharpening focus, enhancing the overall quality of the presentation.
Practicing mindfulness techniques like focused breathing or visualization before a speech can create a tranquil mind-space, allowing speakers to deliver with more clarity and confidence. For instance, taking a few moments to practice mindful breathing before addressing an audience can significantly reduce stress levels, paving the way for a more coherent and captivating delivery.
Connection
You want to communicate with the audience during the performance. Make eye contact with specific people and use body language to emphasize important points. And be mindful of your pace: novice speakers almost always speak too quickly, which can convey nervousness and make the speech difficult.
The trick is to speak more slowly than usual and use dramatic pauses to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and give them time to digest important concepts.
Another sign of an excited and inexperienced speaker is a wandering gaze or a blank stare. Eye contact is significant. It will help you get a feel for your audience and connect with them.
If you are communicating with one person, you should constantly look in the eyes. If there are not many people, try to look at everyone in turn. If the audience is large, find a few random listeners listening most attentive to you and speak to them in favor. When you say for someone specifically, it always sounds more convincing than when you talk “for everyone” at once.
Develop communication by inviting audience participation. You can ask a question that requires people to raise their hand if they agree. You can even bring an audience member into the presentation (if they’re comfortable). You can practice with friends and invite them to your presentation.
Final thoughts
Travel can broaden your horizons and change the way you think and speak. Especially when you travel and work at the same time. On our website, you can find different vans for hire.
All these tips on how to speak can help you master the art of public speaking. However, remember that all of them will only be useful with practice. It is better not to know the theory and constantly practice than to master everything perfectly but not work on yourself.
We are sure that our advices were useful for you and you will improve your skills as soon as possible.
