What your walk says about you

I’m always fascinated, and amused by new articles on bodylanguage, and this one is a real gem.

Do you have a fear of speaking in public?

An estimated 75% of all speakers experience some degree of anxiety/nervousness when public speaking.The fear of public speaking, or stage fright is extremely common, and even has its own name, Glossophobia from the  Greek word glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread.

Symptoms include:

Intense anxiety prior to, or simply at the thought of having to verbally communicate with any group, avoidance of events which focus the group’s attention on individuals in attendance, physical distress, nausea, or feelings of panic in such circumstances.

This anxiety can be grouped into physical and verbal categories.  These symptoms include acute hearing, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, increased perspiration, increased oxygen intake, stiffening of neck/upper back muscles, and dry mouth. The verbal symptoms include, but are not limited to a tense voice, a quivering voice, and repetition of “Umms” and “Ahhs”, vocalized pauses, which tend to comfort anxious speakers.

Some nervousness before speaking is good, it heightens your awareness and gives you that adrenalin rush to perform at your best. Try the following tips next time you speak.

1.Channel your nervous energy into the performance
2.Believe in yourself: never say ‘I can’t’ – you always can
3.Remember – everyone started somewhere
4.Imagine how you’ll feel when it’s gone well
5.Focus on your strengths… and don’t forget to smile!

Simply presentations run 1-1 sessions for presentation anxiety.

Why you should get Presentation Training for your Wedding Speech

A Wedding is one of the most special occasions in a couple’s life. The wedding reception is a perfect destination where cherished dreams turn into distinguished memories and such an occasion will be a lasting memory to those attending.

To become a member of the wedding entourage is an honour but also a great responsibility especially if you are asked or required to make your own wedding reception speech. Occasionally when things go really bad, someone has to intervene to cut the speech short this is what makes presentation training extremely important

Novices find it incredibly difficult to give a wedding reception speeches, and rightly so, its an extremely daunting task for people who don’t know the basics behind writing one. 

A good way to start is by getting proper presentation training. Wedding speech training includes a key foolproof structure covering the basics like how the couple first met, their relationship and a little history about them.

The given points may seem simple and easy to follow on your own. However, they can be quite tedious to do. This is simply because of anxiety, lack of experience or just mind blockage, either way professional presentation training coach can be an excellent way to calm your jittery nerves.

A good presentation trainer will teach you how to enter into the hearts of the attendees and the hosts. They will train you on your introduction and show you how to captivate the mood of the room and narrate stories associated with the couple.

There is one more thing that we need to keep in mind while giving a weeding speech. That thing is composure. Sometimes we get nervous even in front of a few people if we are asked to give a speech. Weddings big or small can be nerve breaking for someone who is new to presenting. Giving a wedding speech while your body language speaks about your nervousness can turn off both the couple and the audience. So, professional presentation training can teach you to be calm and composed.

Everyone admires and likes people having good sense of humour, a great story will hold the attention of the attendees if its well structured.


Therefore, if you haven’t yet thought about getting presentation training for your wedding speech then think and act now! Who knows, if you are single, you might just get hooked by the charm of your speech.

Editor notes

Presentation Guru is a specialist presentation training and coaching company aimed at senior managers. Further information can be found at www.presentationguru.co.uk or email john@presentationguru.co.uk, telephone 0845 899 1248.

Vocal Coaching, how to use your voice more effectively

Ever wondered what professional speakers do before a speech? Here are some tips before you get in front of that podium.

1. Stand up straight, take a wider than normal stance. It sounds obvious but standing up will be helping your voice.
2. Place your feet underneath the hipbones. This position will help support your torso.
3. Drop your shoulders. Tension in your shoulders has a detrimental effect on your voice.
4. Keep your chin level with the floor. This will prevent you squashing your neck vertebrae.
5. Release tension in your body: Do something physical to ‘use up’ excess adrenalin.  This will help you sound calmer.
6. Push against a wall
7. Roll the shoulders – 4 x forwards  4 x backwards
8. Jog on the spot

Articulation Exercises: Very important if you want to improve the clarity of your voice

1.Massage the face and the jaw
2.Snarl! (good for releasing top lip tension)
3. Repeat ‘oooo….eeee’ about 5 or 6 times. Don’t rush, this will allow the lips muscles to stretch safely
4. Now read a piece of text (something from a book or perhaps a newspaper). Read it slowly and think about beginning and ending each word.

Wedding speech tips

Everyone is going on about the Royal Wedding at the moment which brings me to my forthcoming wedding, and the implications of the speech.

Wedding speeches follow a separate set of rules, as the audience (in theory) don’t care so much about your performance, or content, but want to hear your sincerity and of course, if you are the best man, some humour.

As a general rule, include the audience as much as possible, be as colourful and detailed as you can with the stories to include those in the audience who may not know you too well (partners of friends etc), be sincere, and be short, nobody likes people droning on about themselves, aim for 5-10 minutes max, and don’t forget the toast!