PUBLIC SPEAKING

Whether you're making appearances as the reigning Queen or preparing for the interview process during the competition, this information should make you feel more at ease.

Many of us can relate to the symptoms of public speaking anxiety: pounding heart, cracking voice, shortness of breath, shaky hands, dry mouth and sweaty palms. Public speaking is one of the most common fears in America, so realize that you are not alone. The most important part of your task is to prepare for your presentation so that you have a good command of the material.

In order to calm down these symptoms, try something the pros use in this situation called diaphragmatic breathing. It's easiest to learn while lying down. Once you get better at it you can try it while standing up and then progress to using it during practice sessions of your presentation.

Here's the technique:

Gently place your hands over your stomach.

When you inhale, think about inflating your belly with air so that your hands get pushed outwards

As you exhale feel your hands sink back inwards

Breathe slowly and deeply.

Do this for about 10 breaths and note the more relaxed feeling coming over your body.

Practice this breathing frequently in the week prior to your presentation to perfect your technique and strengthen your body's response to it.

As we all know, practice makes perfect.

When preparing for a speech organize your presentation in three parts:

An introduction, including an overview of what you will cover and what you expect the audience to gain from listening to you.
The main body of the talk, including the bulk of the information you want to present.
A conclusion, including a brief review of the material you covered.

Throughout the talk, pay careful attention to your posture and speech, making sure not to speak too quickly or too slowly. Remember to breathe, pause, and establish eye contact with members of the audience. This will create a connection between you and your audience.

There are great books about public speaking available in libraries and at bookstores; it might be helpful for you to look at a few. Remember that practice makes perfect, so find a friend who can listen to your presentation and give you feedback. Successfully presenting your speech to an audience of friends will make you more confident and less anxious on the big day.