Public speaking exercises

PUBLIC SPEAKING EXERCISES
Here's a collection of public speaking exercises covering the principal elements often requiring specific and sustained practice. (Competency is an ongoing journey!)

The 10 aspects are: breathing, warmups for our speaking equipment: face, jaw, lips, and throat, becoming conscious of the habitual unhelpful gestures we may make, recording ourselves, eye contact, sounding real (becoming congruent), speech rate, articulation, body language, and planning to succeed.

The exercises are simple, easily put into practice and will help you deliver your presentations more effectively. 

Make them part of your regular preparation routine and you'll be delighted with the increased poise, confidence, and control you develop. ☺

The first of these public speaking exercises focuses on breath because in order to speak well, we need to breathe well and that means fully using the lungs.

Being anxious or nervous is often expressed through shallow breathing which in turn affects the voice. It pushes the tone up, reducing its range and effectiveness.

Try this:

Stand with your feet a comfortable shoulder width apart.

Support the weight of your body through your hips and legs rather than locking your knees.

Consciously release and relax your shoulders.

If you're holding your stomach in, let it go.

Place your hands on your stomach. When you are breathing well your hands will rise on an in-breath and fall on an out-breath.

Breathe in through your nose to the count of 4. Count slowly: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4. As you inhale feel your diaphragm, and see your hands, rising.

Breathe out through your mouth to the count of 4 and now feel your diaphragm expanding and see your hands lowering.

Do several rounds of inhale and exhale to a 4 count while making sure you keep your shoulders, stomach and legs relaxed.

Once you have mastered the 4 count, increase it. Through regular practice you will soon be able to extend it for a 8 or even 10 count.

2. Hum, ha and yawn
Humming, ha-a-a-ing and yawning will help you relax and tune-up your vocal equipment. A double win!

Hum a single note, simple tune or a scale gently, making sure your lips and cheeks are relaxed. You'll feel the vibrations resonating through your face and throat.

To 'ha' take in a full breath and on the release or out breath say 'ha-a-a-a-a-a-a' gently until you run out of air. Make sure your mouth is open and relaxed. Repeat several times.

Yawning releases tension in the jaw and if you're at all anxious, this is a place you'll feel it. Let that tension go by opening your mouth and yawning widely without strain. Add sound. 'Ahhh', 'eeeee' or 'oooooo' - until all the air in your lungs is gone. Repeat until your throat and jaw are relaxed.

PUBLIC SPEAKING EXERCISES