In this post, I will share my first secret to improving your confidence and getting excited about public speaking. These secrets will help you overcome fear in public speaking. So without further ado, the first secret I’d like to share is…..
Public Speaking Secret #1: Know your audience
In public speaking, knowing your audience is critical if you are going to be a success. Make it a priority to be keenly aware of who is in that audience and why they came to hear you.
Here are 3 steps to consider:
- Speak to the organizer of the conference or the meeting. Ask questions about the group like how long have they been in existence? How many members? Also ask questions to gain an understanding of the audience demographics including age, where they come from, gender, why they belong to this group, what causes them pain, how do they want you to fix it? Understanding your audience helps you to target your message by using proper examples and referencing things that make sense for the them.
- If possible, survey the group in advance to get to know their needs. This helps you understand what is important to them.
- Keep in mind that public speaking is not about YOU, it’s about THEM. Your goal is to make your audience aware of what’s in it for them. The world’s best speakers know this.