Not everyone is an extrovert and if you dread standing before an audience then, the Public Speaking Pointers for Small Business Owners here are something you take into consideration. If you want to promote your business in an effective manner and take it to the next level, there will be times when you will have to stand on a podium and address people. And if you cringe at the very thought of it, this fear is something you should get rid of as soon as possible.

Your speech need not and may not always be perfect, but it’s important that you be able to stand there and address people at meetings, conventions or conferences even.

Here are some pointers that will help you hone your public speaking skills:

• Preparation– You should make every effort to put your speech together; it should have a logical flow and you should add an interest quotient to it by adding some props, examples, etc. You can try watching videos of great orators and that may give you some inspiration. You can also give your speech more fluidity by practicing it regularly.
• Accentuate what’s positive– Become more aware of what your public speaking strengths and weaknesses are. Don’t attempt to change what you are. Instead, it’s better to focus on the things you do best. Whether you have a very good sense of humor or not use these things to your advantage in your public speaking.
• Focus on your audience – It’s important that you be in sync with what your audience wants; their expectations or the problems that they want to solve etc. In short, ensure that you give them what they are looking for. You need to give your audience a reason to listen to you and when you start your speech; the opening statement has to be impactful enough to hold their attention.
• Get into a more comfortable space– You should check out beforehand the location at which you will be speaking. This can help make you much more comfortable. You can take this aspect one step further and plant some good friends and supportive family members in your audience. This can boost your courage

In addition to these things, you should also focus on your appearance.Start your speech with a smile. It’s also a good idea to start off with some kind of story and try to make the session more interactive.  Follow these pointers and soon you will see that you are much more comfortable with making speeches in public.