Did you know that public speaking is thought to be as stressful as divorce?? Yikes!
And yet, it is one of the most important professional skills that leaders can have. So how can we calm our nerves, reduce our stress and succeed as public speakers?
Last week, we welcomed back Arden Clise, the Pacific Northwest’s resident expert in business etiquette, to share her secrets for getting more comfortable with public speaking. Here are Arden’s top 10 ways to control nervousness:
- Know the room – Arrive early to check out the room, the microphone, and lectern. Practice using your visual aids before the presentation begins.
- Know the audience – To whom are you speaking? What are they expecting to hear?
- Know your material – Practice, practice, practice!
- Breathe – Put your hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose and feel your belly expand. Exhale through your mouth as your belly empties. Do this 10 times.
- Do physical exercises – Hold the Power Pose: put your hands on your hips with your legs wide and hold for at least 30 seconds, up to 2 minutes. Or get your blood moving – shake your arms and hands to a count of 20 (they should be tingling), do some head rolls, practice shoulder rolls.
Shake it out 
Wonder Woman Power Pose 
Another Power Pose - Visualize yourself giving a successful speech.
- Perfect your opening and closing lines – Memorize both, but have them printed in front of you just in case. Keep bulleted notes at the ready for the rest of your speech.
- Realize people want you to succeed.
- Turn nervousness into positive energy.
- Gain experience.
Want to see the full page of public speaking tips from Arden’s presentation? Email Megan: megan@wawomensfdn.org
Tips Courtesy of Arden Clise
Business Etiquette Speaker, Trainer, Coach and Author
Arden’s new book Spinach in Your Boss’s Teeth: Essential Etiquette for Professional Success will be available on Amazon on April 20.
206-708-1670
To receive semi-monthly etiquette tips click here or visit www.cliseetiquette.com.
Through our groundbreaking model of women-powered, collective philanthropy, Washington Women’s Foundation has given out $15 million in transformative grants that enable not-for-profit organizations to improve lives, protect the environment, advance health and education and increase access to the arts throughout Washington state.
We invite all women to join us to make a more powerful impact in our community. The challenges ahead of us are never as great as the power behind us. www.wawomensfdn.org