THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

People who are good public speakers always have an edge over others who do not know the art of public speaking. If you want to master the art of public speaking then correct training & technique are a must. Preparation and practice alone can help you overcome the fear of facing a large audience. Below are some tips on mastering this art and becoming professional public speakers.

1. It is commonly observed that when a person is about to enter the stage to address a large audience, his heart starts beating frantically, some even develop cold feet. People often s experience a nervous feeling like butterflies in stomach. The main cause of such a feeling is often the pressure to do well. This is the time to take deep breathes, relax, move slowly towards the stage & begin the speaking. The fact that these are the initial jitters experienced by many and it is quite natural, should help you keep relax.
2. Your actions speak louder than words. Correct posture reflects great confidence. Your posture should be relaxed with one foot little forward.
3. Unnecessary gestures can leave a bad impression. Gestures should be in co-ordination with the topic.
4. Eye contact is another important factor which radiates confidence and helps to build a rapport with the audience. Make sure to maintain eye contact with each and every person in the audience. Do not make the mistake of looking up at the ceiling or down at the floor.
5. Focus on word-stress, as emphasis on the wrong word can give different messages to people.
6. Taking a pause is equally important while maintaining a good flow of speech. A good rule is to take a pause of 2 seconds after a coma & 4 seconds after a full stop.
7. A good voice level ensures that your voice reaches people sitting at the back. Also it radiates your confidence as a speaker. Your volume speaks volumes about you.

There are many course conducted on Public Speaking. These courses & books related to public speaking can be very useful in overcoming any fear. Convey enthusiasm through your body language & speech and you’ll surely win over your audience.

CHANGING YOUR CAREER

Switching over to a different career is a crucial decision. There are a lot of uncertainties involved in it. There are chances of success as well as failure. This decision can be a turning point in one’s life. One must weigh the pros and cons carefully. If the current career is not working for you at all then changing a career becomes inevitable. Let us see what steps can be taken to ensure a smooth transition.

•  Plan: in order to ensure that you face as few hurdles as possible during your career change you need to plan well in advance. It is possible that your new career may not give you profits for the first few months. In such a scenario how will you survive? Take into account your monthly expenses and also ways to meet your expenditure till you start getting money out of your new career. Get information about any skills that you need to acquire for your new career. Evaluate the growth prospects in that career and study the market trends.
• Inspiration: During this phrase it is also essential keep yourself motivated. Keep yourself surrounded by as much positivity as possible. One good way is to read the success stories of achievers, especially those who dared to change their careers. It will definitely keep your motivation level high. You also need to interact with the right kind of people who can guide you regarding your new career. You can benefit by listening to their experience and considering their advice.
• Evaluate your Skills: Skills never go waste. The skills that you already possess can be an added advantage in your new career. So assess your skills and try to make maximum use of your acquired skills.
• Introspection: This is the time to introspect. Think over it many times before taking this important decision. Make sure that it is not a hasty decision and that the timing is right.
• Act wisely: Begin by taking small steps. You can look out for some part time jobs first while keeping your present career. It would be better if you don’t jump directly to the new career. Part time or weekend jobs related to your new career can help to make you comfortable and build your confidence before taking the giant leap.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR CAREER

Different people have different perception about a fulfilling and successful career. To many, a successful career would mean a good pay package, to others it can mean the work which gives them job satisfaction and some will consider both equally important. The perception generally changes with age and position. Ideally a good career would be the one that you build with planning, taking into consideration your interest and aptitude.

One can, infact, build the right career with proper planning. There are three steps to follow:

• Step 1: To begin with one needs to some soul searching. Spend some time with yourself and think that work which you would enjoy doing again and again and never get tired off. See what is your passion. See what it is that you always dreamt of doing. This introspection will provide you with answers. Then move on to the next step.

• Step 2: After dream comes action .Once you have chosen the career, you need to check whether you have the skills and qualifications needed for it. If not then check how they can be acquired. Also do self-analysis. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. It is very important that your skills match the career that you have chosen.  For example; if a person has chosen Graphic Designing as a career option and he also has a genuine interest in art and a good hand at sketching then definitely it is a smart decision. Now think of a person who has poor communication skills and he lands up in the field of marketing, he is definitely going to have a tough time. He either needs to enhance and work a lot on his communication skills or quit the career.

• Step 3: The third step would be to study the market trends, industry norms and growth, prospects related to that career. For example; if a person chooses to become a chef as per his passion and aptitude then he also needs to be aware of the minimum and maximum remuneration that can be earned. Building a career requires a long term planning. Switching a career at a later stage can be damaging and unfavorable for growth.