Learning how to speak in public can change your life.

Speaking in public is a very appreciated skill in an extense range of situations, however, it is also one of the most feared situations for many people. I must admit that it is something I was not born with, but something that I have been working and I am still working on for several years now. Speaking in front of a strange mass of people is a skill one can learn to master with time and practice, but each one will need to find their own path to achieve success. I am here thus, to give some practical tips that I find very useful. Before I start, I will admit that I really like giving talks, in particular those concerning Physics. In addition, I have noticed that, since I started joining conferences and giving small talks, I have changed my way of communicating with others and I have started looking at what I say from other people's perspectives. Honestly, it is mindbreakingly difficult sometimes. However, I still make many errors and I still get very nervous when standing in front of a mass of strangers while and/or before giving a talk. As I said, this is a journey that one must follow alone in the most proper way one can find. Let us then start with the tips!

First of all, let me start with the "anxiousness". I guess most of you are worried about the nervousness you might suffer before starting the speech. During one of the first presentations I remember giving at University, I felt the deep urge to start running anywhere else ... just away from that fearsome room. I still cannot believe I did not, I saw myself already flying-fleeing from there and running through the small woods that were behind the building. This is completely normal, when you are under great pressure/stress/fear your body starts to store adrenaline in your muscles for you to be able to flee at any moment from whatever is chasing you (a predator) and your center of mass elevates (for those of you who feel vertigo). Remember that we are still animals and as such some of our most ancient instincts still remain in the darkness of our souls. There are some usefull exercises you can do with your body before speaking in public to get rid of this excess of adrenaline, try to tighten your muscles (arms and legs) by putting your palms together or by pushing a wall. Somehow, find your way to get rid of the adrenaline in your muscles. The next step is to delete the nervousness that will delate you while you speak, a nice way to calm yourself is to breath deeply and calmly. Take deep and long breaths, hold them for some seconds and then let them go. Repeat this the times you need until you feel more confident, I usually do this many times before speaking. Least but not last, try to remember the reason you find yourself in that situation. Whether you are there by your own decision or by someone else's, find your own reason to want to be there, to feel strong and to fight for yourself.

Next, we will move to the topic on "How to make people follow what you are saying". An usual question is: Should I use technical terms? Well, my friend, that depends on your audience. Technical vocabulary can make people get lost, try to use the minimum complicated language and adapt yourself to the academic training of the people your speaking to. Now, there are certain things that are useful to follow a speaker... You should stick to the "remember you are telling a story" method, tell what you came to say as if you were telling a story: there will be certain characters, there will be a storyline and you will need to guide the characters through their journey in the story with a serene and welcoming voice. A serene voicetone is very wellcoming, also the boday language is very important. You need to create some kind of bond with the audience, to make them feel welcome with what you say. Try to use your hands to explain things, if you have slides sign at them with your hands, move a little as if you felt comfortable in front of all of them showing them that they are interested in what you say... There are many other ways.

Finally, what I find most controversial: "keep people interested". For people to feel interested you need to create a bond with your audience, make them want to engage your cause and feel involved. Perhaps, you can try to mention things that can make the people that listen to you feel interest in what you say, this depends on you. Then, I profoundly recommend you to show some personality, we do not want to see the same model of talks one time and another, it becomes boring with time. If you feel very shy, just add some little spice that makes you different from others. You want to be listened, right? Well in the end, unless you are a nobel price winner, it is all about the performance (and by the way, some nobel prices give awfully boring talks). And finally, the sense of humor ... this is dangerous and sometimes very useful. My only recommendation is to "be elegant and appropiate", showing some sense of humor can make your audience stay focused on what your say (perhaps expecting more jokes). However, I have seen that an excess can horribly damage all the credibility that your audience gives you; and there is, in fact, a difference between a speech and a stand-up comedy.

Up to this point, I think (nearly) everything has already been said. I will just add a few tips: don't use in excess the same pet phrase once and again, look at the audicence (not one person, not the wall) and if you have slides... do not fill them up with too many words. I guess, you will find your own tips and tricks to make your speech amusing. Just remember that you are telling a story and find the reason why you want to do it and find success.