If you are not a natural talent, you will never become a good speaker. If you are an introvert, you had better never speak publicly. Good speakers are never nervous, have their speech perfectly memorised and do not need to do anything else than speak to capture the audience. If you believe in these common myths about public speaking, it is not surprising that giving presentations and any talks to others scares you. The problem is not in public speaking but in your mind.
Toastmasters International, the non-profit educational organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs, including the Czech Republic, has just released a report which highlights the five most common myths about public speaking. Stop believing them and you will not only become more self-confident but also acquire a good base for your public appearances to be much more successful.
Myth 1: Only a natural talent can be a good speaker
Public speaking is a skill we learn in practice. Nobody is born a great speaker.
Myth 2: Good speakers don't feel nervous
Even one of the most influential people in the world, billionaire Warren Buffet, used to throw up before his presentations. Being nervous is nothing bad but it is important to learn to control your nervousness. You can master it if you start in front of smaller audiences and gradually take on greater challenges.
Myth 3: Introverts can't be good speakers
Introverts suffer from many prejudices rooted in our society. If you're an introvert looking for inspiration, start with "quiet revolutionary" Susan Cain and her globally successful TED talk The power of introverts. Cain is a great example of an introvert who has succeeded as a speaker.
Myth 4: You have to know your speech by heart
It is true that you should not read your speech. You should prepare properly, which includes rehearsing your speech and learning by heart; however, it is not necessary to memorise the whole speech word for word. You should learn the start, the conclusion and the key points. In the rest of the speech you can improvise.
Myth 5: A good speech stands on words
Words are certainly not everything. You must also be able to move, use gestures and other non-verbal expressions so that you are able to talk casually.
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