When a presentation needs improvement, it is common to review the slides, the presentation content, as well as the body language of the speaker. The overall success of a presentation typically relies, at least in part, on the success of those individual elements.
However, the impact of a presentation is also influenced by something that is commonly overlooked, especially by presenters in corporate settings, and that thing is breath.
The way you breathe, and the way you use your breath when speaking, can have a significant on your success as a speaker.
Breathe Your Way To A Better Public Speaking Performance
1. Relax.
You can harness the power of your breath to relax in the weeks and days leading up to your presentation. Presentations often require many hours of researching, writing, and designing in front of a computer screen. In addition, presenters often experience an increase in stress as the day of the presentation approaches.
When you are sitting in front of your computer and working on your slides, or worrying about your presentation as you sit in traffic, focus on your breath. Notice if your breath is fast, slow, shallow, or deep; your breathing will give you insight into your state of mind. Continue to pay attention to your breathing as you practice controlled breathing:
– inhale deeply through your nose for a count of five or so, making sure that the abdomen expands
– hold your breath for a moment
– exhale completely through the mouth for a count longer than the inhalation
Controlled breathing can help you manage stress, anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate, and even potentially spark brain growth.
As I mentioned in the article, Fight Your Fear of Public Speaking – 4 Proven Methods, stress is not always a bad thing; stress has the ability to help you be more proactive, motivated, focused, alert, and energized. If you acknowledge your stress with a positive mindset, and also balance it with some controlled breathing, you will be a much more successful speaker than in if you let the negative effects of stress get in the way of your presentation preparation.
2. Project Your Voice.
Former opera singer Allison Shapira uses her operatic training to help speakers express themselves with confidence and power. Shapira tells speakers to inhale deeply, and then exhale while also speaking on the breath to project their voice with confidence.
You don’t need to use [this technique] all the time. Rather, practice this technique slowly, in the privacy of your home or office, until you can do it easily. After that, airplanes are a great place to practice breathing, followed by those endless meetings or conference calls. Practice a few deep breaths at a time, then relax and breathe normally. For 2 minutes a day in the morning, practice speaking the sentence “Hello my name is [your name]” while exhaling slowly. Over time, you can breathe quickly and discreetly between sentences, and it will also calm your nerves before stressful situations such as speeches or difficult conversations.
When projecting your voice from stage, it is important to remember to breathe from your stomach, not your throat. If you use your throat to project your voice, you will quickly get a sore throat and a eventually lose your voice. To learn more about projecting your voice, watch the video below:
Conclusion:
How do you use your breath to enhance your public speaking performances? Tweet us your thoughts at @Ethos3.
Additional Resources:
Fight Your Fear of Public Speaking – 4 Proven Methods
How Your Voice Impacts Your Public Speaking Success
